The Toyota Avensis Verso has been voted Used Car of the Year 2008 by Warranty Direct.

The independent automotive warranty specialist combined the opinions of the nation’s top motoring journalists with data held on the reliability of more than 60,000 vehicles.

The Avensis Verso received the most votes from 40 models across 8 categories shortlisted by Warranty Direct’s unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.co.uk).

The Nissan X-Trail and Honda Jazz were second and third overall in the poll to claim the 4x4 and Supermini of the Year titles, respectively.

Honda’s Swindon-built Civic model may have been grabbing the headlines lately with a handbrake recall, but its low frequency of failure and low running costs, saw it pick up the Small Family accolade. Overall, Honda had more models voted for than any other make, with four.

The highest-polling non-Japanese vehicle, the recently replaced Ford Mondeo, was voted Family Car of the Year.

Table to show vote results for top two in each category

German cars, also famed for their dependability, scored highly again in the survey, with BMW and Audi consistent presences in the top three shortlisted for each category. 

“Once more, Japanese cars have proven to be top of the tree when it comes to buying a used car,” said Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher. “Not only are they consistently the most reliable cars on the road, but they clearly tick all the right boxes when it comes to appealing to the buying public.”

 www.warrantydirect.co.uk