CAR manufacturer Honda has roared to glory as the UK’s most reliable used car manufacturer for the ninth consecutive year.

The Japanese firm, which has its UK plant based in South Marston, retained its crown in the poll conducted by What Car? Magazine and Warranty Direct, with low failure rates and average repair costs sealing the victory.

Independent researchers analysed 50,000 live Warranty Direct policies for cars aged between three and eight years old to calculate a reliability index of 37 car manufacturers.

The index accounted for failure rates, car age, mileage and cost of repair to give an overall reliability score.

The research also revealed the Honda Jazz to be the most reliable used car in the UK market, Jim Holder, editor of What Car? magazine, said: “Honda’s success in the Reliability Index is chiefly down to low failure rates.

“However, when things do go wrong, the cars are also relatively cheap to fix.

“Reliability is always one of the key attributes buyers look for when considering a used car purchase, so manufacturers that consistently demonstrate durability will always do well with the consumer.”

Philip Crossman, managing director of Honda (UK), added: “To be named most reliable manufacturer by such authorities as What Car? and Warranty Direct is a real achievement, and to take the title for the ninth consecutive year is fantastic.

“Our success is built upon the trust that customers have in our brand to keep them on the move with great products and great service.”

Swindon is speeding to success as the base of Honda UK Manufacturing (HUM) with the car giant showing its commitment to the town economy when it announced in March the Swindon plant will be the world manufacturing hub for its next-generation five-door Civic car.

In a move that will safeguard jobs, Honda is investing £200m into the Swindon plant with production due to start in summer 2016.

This will also provide more than 3,000 jobs at the South Marston plant in Highworth Road.

Civic production began at Swindon more than 20 years ago and Honda has now invested more than £2.2bn in the Wiltshire plant since 1985.

Speaking about the Civic production, Honda Motor Europe president Toshiaki Mikoshiba said: “This announcement sends a clear message of the strategic importance that Honda places on producing cars at our plant in swindon.

”Honda is the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world behind General Motors, Volkswagen Group, Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group, Ford, Nissan, and PSA