Fuel Card News Motoring Updates: Best vehicles for coping with crumbling roads revealed
04/01/2012
New research by Potholes.co.uk has revealed that Honda cars are the most resilient to pothole damage and could save motorists hundreds of pounds each year.
The study analysed around 150,000 policies issued by Warranty Direct over three years and found that while the average payout for pothole-induced suspension damage is £309, some recent claims have been as high as £2,420.
The road maintenance campaign website also compiled a top ten list of the sturdiest and most pothole-resilient vehicles, concluding that the top ‘pothole-proof’ manufacturers after Honda are Toyota and Hyundai, with less than two percent of their cars suffering axel and suspension damage which is attributable to potholes.
Duncan McClure Fisher, spokesman for Warranty Direct, said: "With last year's road damage barely dealt with, a repeat of those harsh winter weather conditions could see our highways deteriorate to the worst state they've been in for a generation.
"As councils struggle to solve the pothole problem, consumers can at least be smart about their vehicle of choice. We've found some cars have an uncanny ability to absorb the jolts from even the most severe road craters, while others aren't so resilient.
"Particularly surprising is that high-end manufacturers are just as vulnerable, if not more so, than 'value' manufacturers. However, we wouldn't lambast those at the bottom of the pile because the roads are just so bad."
The top ten most resilient manufacturers as determined by Potholes.co.uk and Warranty Direct are:
1. Honda
2. Toyota
3. Hyundai
4. Nissan
5. Kia
6. Mitsubishi
7. Mini
8. Suzuki
9. Ford
10. Mazda
While the top ten least resilient are:
1. Chrysler
2. Smart
3. Mercedes-Benz
4. Land Rover
5. Jaguar
6. Saab
7. Fiat
8. BMW
9. Seat
10. Vauxhall
In other motoring news a new report by road safety campaigners ProMOTe reveals that proposals to scrap annual MOT testing will hit both motorists and the UK economy hard.
Did you know you could save on average 2 to 3 pence on diesel pump prices when using a fixed-price fuel card? Visit www.fuelcards.co.uk for more information.