DRIVERS in the UK have never been happier with their cars.

That's the message from the 2014 Driver Power car owner survey which reveals that satisfaction levels have increased significantly from when the poll first launched in 2002.

The Skoda Yeti emerges as Britain's best car to own for the third year running with an overall score of 92.7 per cent, with the Czech brand's Citigo and Superb models taking a close second and third place with 92.6 per cent and 91.6 per cent.

And the Yeti was also voted easiest car to drive, with the Citigo the most affordable to run.

Best performing British car was the MG6, assembled in Longbridge, West Midlands, which received an overall satisfaction rating of 90.9 per cent.

The survey, which this year received over 50,000 responses, covers issues that matter most to motorists, with drivers rating their vehicles on factors like build quality, reliability and performance.

 In 2014, the average satisfaction rating of a car in the Driver Power Top 100 was 88.36 per cent - a rise of seven points over the comparable figure of 81.75 per cent in 2002.

Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of Auto Express magazine which runs the survey, said: "The UK car market is booming at the moment with over two years of consecutive growth and new car registrations up three per cent is no surprise given the Driver Power results.

"Britons are happier than ever with their cars, scoring their vehicles much more highly than in previous years.

"Skoda has done a brilliant job of building cars that people love. They entered the crossover class with the Yeti in 2009 and it proved an instant hit, with demand outstripping supply as soon as dealers opened the order books.

"The car's appeal hasn't waned, and the company kept its latest update very simple. It's great to see the Skoda Citigo in the top three too - it's a fantastic city car that appeals across many levels."