MG Named Most-Improved Brand as Reliability Jumps into UK Top 10

MG has been named the most-improved car manufacturer in the 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey, climbing into the top ten for the first time as its latest generation of cars continues to strengthen the brand's position in the UK market.

The manufacturer achieved an overall reliability score of 92.0%, placing it ninth in the national survey and representing a significant improvement for a brand that has undergone a considerable transformation over recent years.

MG's latest models also performed strongly individually. The new MGS5 EV finished first in the small family electric SUV category, while the practical MG5 electric estate took third place among electric cars.

The results come as MG invests heavily not only in developing its next generation of vehicles, but also in the infrastructure supporting customers once those cars are on the road.

A new generation of MG

MG has become an increasingly significant player in the UK car market, initially building much of its modern success around competitive pricing, generous standard equipment and its seven-year warranty.

However, the latest generation of MG products demonstrates that the company is increasingly competing on more than price alone.

Rivervale Group Marketing Manager and reviewer Ben Freakley recently spent time driving the new MGS5 EV and came away particularly impressed by the step forward MG has made.

“What stood out to me with the MGS5 was how much more mature the overall product feels. MG has always been very competitive on price and equipment, but the S5 feels like a much more rounded car. The quality, refinement and driving experience all feel like a noticeable step forward.”

That improving product quality is now being accompanied by encouraging reliability results.

MGS5 EV tops its category

The MGS5 is one of the most important cars in MG's current line-up, competing in one of the UK's busiest areas of the market: the family electric SUV sector.

Its first-place finish in its class in the 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey therefore gives MG another useful selling point in a segment where buyers increasingly have a huge number of electric models to choose from.

The survey assesses more than simply whether a vehicle has experienced a fault. It also considers factors such as repair costs and how long vehicles spend off the road, meaning the strength of a manufacturer's aftersales operation can have a substantial impact on the ownership experience.

For MG, that has been another major area of investment.

MG invests in UK parts distribution

A new MG parts warehouse and distribution centre opened in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in November 2025 in partnership with XPO Logistics.

Operating between 6am and 10pm, the facility handles approximately 2,500 orders every day.

MG says more than 96% of parts orders have been fulfilled first time during 2026 to date, while participating dealerships can receive qualifying parts before 8am the following morning when ordered before the relevant cut-off.

Parts availability may not receive the same attention as vehicle range, infotainment or performance when choosing a new car, but it can have an enormous effect on the ownership experience.

Getting the right component to a dealership quickly can significantly reduce the length of time a customer is without their vehicle when a repair is required.

Training more MG technicians

MG has also invested approximately £500,000 in expanding the Cecil Kimber College MG Academy at its historic Longbridge site.

The training centre has doubled in size to around 1,000 square metres, with workshop ramps increasing from four to nine.

The facility now incorporates five classrooms and an auditorium, while maximum delegate capacity has risen from 24 to 100.

More than 2,000 technician training attendances were recorded during 2025, and MG has expanded the programme beyond technicians to include service advisers, parts managers and warranty specialists.

This is particularly important as cars become increasingly complex.

Electric powertrains, advanced driver assistance systems, connected technology and sophisticated vehicle software mean diagnosing modern cars can require a very different skillset from maintaining vehicles of even a decade ago.

MG's 'flying doctors'

MG has also introduced a three-tier technical support system for its dealer network.

Dealership technicians can escalate more complicated problems through increasingly specialist levels of support, with the most challenging cases passed to highly trained field engineers.

MG refers to these specialists as its “flying doctors”.

The engineers can visit dealerships to assist with difficult diagnoses and repairs while also providing additional practical training for workshop teams.

New digital diagnostic equipment has also been introduced across the dealer network, enabling technicians to carry out tasks including software updates and diagnosis more efficiently.

Replacement cars and customer support

MG has also expanded its mobility programme for customers whose cars require repairs following qualifying breakdowns.

The scheme can provide eligible customers with a replacement vehicle while their own car is being repaired and extends support beyond the company's previous 96-hour provision.

According to MG, more than 3,000 customers had already received support through the expanded programme by autumn 2026.

It forms part of the manufacturer's attempt to improve the entire ownership experience rather than concentrating solely on the initial vehicle purchase.

Reliability becoming increasingly important

The automotive market is changing rapidly.

MG now competes alongside both established European, Japanese and Korean manufacturers and a growing number of newer Chinese-owned brands entering the UK.

Price remains important, particularly as the cost of buying or leasing a new car has increased, but value alone is unlikely to determine which manufacturers build long-term customer loyalty.

Reliability, dealer support, parts availability and the ability to resolve problems quickly are all becoming increasingly important differentiators.

MG's Managing Director for the UK and Europe, William Wang, said the improvements formed part of a long-term strategy centred around customer care and satisfaction, with continued investment planned across parts availability, technical expertise and customer mobility.

MG continues its transformation

MG's climb to ninth place in the What Car? Reliability Survey is another indication of how quickly the modern MG brand is evolving.

Its seven-year warranty and competitive pricing remain important attractions, but newer vehicles are increasingly showing greater sophistication in areas including interior quality, technology and refinement.

The MGS5 is a good example.

Having recently spent time with the car ourselves, it feels representative of a new generation of MG products that no longer need to rely solely on being cheaper than their rivals to make a convincing case.

There is, of course, an important limitation to any reliability survey. Results are based on the experiences reported by participating owners, rather than providing a guarantee that an individual car will never experience a fault.

The 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey collected 39,332 responses overall and assessed cars up to five years old.

Nevertheless, achieving a 92.0% score, entering the manufacturer top ten and topping an increasingly competitive electric SUV category gives MG plenty to celebrate.

More importantly for customers, the investment taking place behind the scenes suggests MG understands that producing a good car is only one part of building a successful automotive brand.

Keeping those cars on the road is just as important.