JAGUAR and MG Rover cars have soared up new customer satisfaction tables.

The two companies were the most improved manufacturers for reliability in a survey of readers of Auto Express magazine.

Both companies also had models in the top ten for the best ride, while two Jaguar cars were considered good enough to be in the top 10 for the best car overall.

But there was less good news for Vauxhall, which came 28th out of 34 in the best manufacturer table, while the Rover 25/200 model was 96th out of 100 in the table for the most satisfying car to own.

Based on replies from 25,000 readers with cars up to four years old, the survey revealed:

For reliability, Jaguar improved from eighth last year to third this year, while MG Rover was up from 27th to 16th;

The Jaguar XJ and the Rover 75 took first and second places in the ride quality table;

The Mazda 6 was named best car overall, with the Jaguar XJ sixth and the Jaguar S-type eighth;

Lexus was best manufacturer and Fiat the worst, while the Land Rover Discovery was nearly at the bottom (96th) in the 100-car table for reliability; Of the motorists interviewed, 54 per cent said their car had developed a fault at some stage, while 39 per cent said their vehicle was the best they had owned;

Just 1 per cent said their current car was the worst they have had.