Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Family hatchbacks with the fewest MOT fails

Q: Which family hatchbacks have the fewest MOT fails?

12,979 MOT tests at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years put the Audi S3 first: 40% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage; ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Lexus CT. Next is the Lexus CT: 39% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which family hatchbacks fail their MOT most often?

82,229 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years put the Citroen C4 Cactus last of the 50 in this list: 55% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 21,003,731 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Audi S3 ranks first among family hatchbacks (95% rank range 1–2, level with the Lexus CT): 40% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (12,979 MOT tests) ^[1].

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50 models and generations ranked, 5 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 21,003,731 MOT tests ^[1]
Lexus CT is next: 39% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (122,611 MOT tests)
Citroen C4 Cactus is last of the 50: 55% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (82,229 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Audi S3, 40% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage (statistically close to #2)
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Lexus CT, 39% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: Subaru Impreza, 32% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Toyota Prius, 29% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Family hatchbacks: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 50 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 20 of 50. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
11–2	Audi S3family hatchback	40% fewer fails (37–42% fewer)	14.4%all cars: 23.9%	14.7%	12,979at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years	Audi S3 common problems
21–2	Lexus CTfamily hatchback	39% fewer fails (39–40% fewer)	15.6%all cars: 25.8%	15.9%	122,611at 3 to 14 years	Lexus CT MOT fail rate · Lexus CT common problems
3certain	Subaru Imprezafamily hatchback	32% fewer fails (30–34% fewer)	27.6%all cars: 40.7%	27.3%	10,729at 12 to 15 years	Subaru Impreza MOT fail rate · Subaru Impreza common problems
4certain	Toyota Priusfamily hatchback	29% fewer fails (28–29% fewer)	17.7%all cars: 24.8%	19.7%	543,018at 3 to 15 years	Toyota Prius MOT fail rate
55–7	Honda Insight (first used from 2009)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.78 (0.77–0.79)	29.3%all cars: 37.6%	30.1%	31,500at 10 to 15 years	Honda Insight MOT fail rate · Honda Insight common problems
65–7	Volkswagen Golffamily hatchback	21% fewer fails (21.1–21.4% fewer)	20.6%all cars: 26.1%	21.4%	2,847,847at 3 to 15 years	Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Golf common problems
75–8	Toyota Corolla (first used from 2019)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.80 (0.79–0.81)	9.7%all cars: 12.2%	10.8%	180,747at 3 to 6 years	Toyota Corolla MOT fail rate · Toyota Corolla common problems
87–8	Audi A3family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.80 (0.80–0.80)	21.0%all cars: 26.2%	22.1%	1,461,887at 3 to 15 years	Audi A3 MOT fail rate · Audi A3 common problems
99–11	Skoda Octaviafamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.83 (0.82–0.83)	20.0%all cars: 24.2%	21.8%	723,901at 3 to 15 years	Skoda Octavia MOT fail rate · Skoda Octavia common problems
1010–12	BMW 1 Seriesfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.84 (0.83–0.84)	21.6%all cars: 25.8%	22.5%	1,432,565at 3 to 15 years	BMW 1 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 1 Series common problems
119–13	Toyota Corolla (first used before 2019)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.84 (0.82–0.86)	35.0%all cars: 41.8%	36.6%	18,499at 13 to 15 years	–
129–16	Infiniti Q30family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.85 (0.82–0.88)	16.3%all cars: 19.1%	16.8%	18,386at 5 to 9 years	Infiniti Q30 common problems
1311–14	Hyundai Ioniqfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.85 (0.84–0.86)	12.0%all cars: 14.1%	13.4%	150,694at 3 to 8 years	Hyundai Ioniq MOT fail rate · Hyundai Ioniq common problems
1412–14	BMW 2 Seriesfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.86 (0.86–0.87)	15.4%all cars: 17.8%	15.3%	476,626at 3 to 11 years	BMW 2 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 2 Series common problems
1514–16	Toyota Aurisfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.88 (0.87–0.88)	24.7%all cars: 28.2%	25.0%	557,421at 3 to 15 years	Toyota Auris MOT fail rate · Toyota Auris common problems
1614–19	Volkswagen ID.3family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.87–0.92)	10.2%all cars: 11.4%	10.4%	45,162at 3 to 5 years	Volkswagen ID.3 MOT fail rate · Volkswagen ID.3 common problems
1716–18	SEAT Leonfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.89–0.90)	20.5%all cars: 23.0%	21.9%	676,671at 3 to 15 years	SEAT Leon MOT fail rate · SEAT Leon common problems
1816–19	MINI Clubmanfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.90 (0.89–0.91)	18.0%all cars: 19.9%	17.8%	108,337at 4 to 13 years	MINI Clubman MOT fail rate · MINI Clubman common problems
1917–19	Honda Civicfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.91 (0.91–0.91)	26.1%all cars: 28.6%	26.6%	742,109at 3 to 15 years	Honda Civic MOT fail rate · Honda Civic common problems
2020–21	Volkswagen Jetta (first used from 2006)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.94 (0.93–0.96)	31.4%all cars: 33.3%	33.0%	38,682at 6 to 15 years	Volkswagen Jetta MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Jetta common problems

Show all 50 models and generations

Ranks 21 to 50, against cars the same age and mileage. 24 of them are about average (within 20% once sampling error is allowed for).

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, about average
Mitsubishi Lancer, about average
Mercedes-Benz CLA, about average
Skoda Scala, about average
Skoda Rapid, about average
Ford Focus, about average
Volvo C30, about average
Volvo S40, about average
Vauxhall Astra, about average
Mazda 3, about average
Alfa Romeo Giulietta, about average
Volkswagen e-Golf, about average
Volvo V40 (first used from 2012), about average
SEAT Toledo (first used from 2012), about average
Nissan Leaf, about average
DS DS5, about average
Kia Ceed, about average
Citroen Xsara, about average
Chevrolet Cruze, about average
Peugeot 308, about average
Hyundai i30, about average
Volkswagen Beetle, about average
Nissan Pulsar, about average
Fiat Bravo, about average
Citroen C4, 31% more
Renault Megane, 33% more
Chevrolet Lacetti, 34% more
DS DS4 (first used before 2021), 35% more
Fiat Tipo, 53% more
Citroen C4 Cactus, 55% more

Most MOT fails in this list

The models with at least 20% more fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages).
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
5049–50	Citroen C4 Cactusfamily hatchback	55% more fails (53–57% more)	25.8%all cars: 16.7%	25.5%	82,229at 3 to 9 years	Citroen C4 Cactus MOT fail rate · Citroen C4 Cactus common problems
4949–50	Fiat Tipofamily hatchback	53% more fails (51–55% more)	25.4%all cars: 16.6%	26.2%	49,050at 3 to 9 years	Fiat Tipo MOT fail rate · Fiat Tipo common problems
4847–48	DS DS4 (first used before 2021)family hatchback	35% more fails (34–36% more)	37.7%all cars: 27.9%	39.6%	57,677at 5 to 13 years	DS DS4 MOT fail rate · DS DS4 common problems
4745–48	Chevrolet Lacettifamily hatchback	34% more fails (30–37% more)	54.8%all cars: 41.0%	51.6%	4,431at 13 to 15 years	Chevrolet Lacetti common problems
4646–47	Renault Meganefamily hatchback	33% more fails (32–33% more)	42.7%all cars: 32.1%	44.3%	354,840at 3 to 15 years	Renault Megane MOT fail rate · Renault Megane common problems
4545–46	Citroen C4family hatchback	31% more fails (31–32% more)	36.7%all cars: 28.0%	38.2%	507,153at 3 to 15 years	Citroen C4 MOT fail rate · Citroen C4 common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 40% fewer MOT fails

Audi S3

Why it ranks here: 40% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.58–0.63), from 12,979 MOT tests at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.4% (13.9%–15.0%), against 23.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 14.7%. Rank range 1–2.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

2 · 39% fewer MOT fails

Lexus CT

Why it ranks here: 39% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.60–0.61), from 122,611 MOT tests at 3 to 14 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.6% (15.4%–15.8%), against 25.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.9%. Rank range 1–2.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly hybrid.

3 · 32% fewer MOT fails

Subaru Impreza

Why it ranks here: 32% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.66–0.70), from 10,729 MOT tests at 12 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 27.6% (26.7%–28.4%), against 40.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 27.3%. Rank range 3–3.

Check before you buy: fails on emissions and leaks 1.7–1.9× as often as cars the same age (993 fails in 11,193 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

4 · 29% fewer MOT fails

Toyota Prius

Why it ranks here: 29% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.71–0.72), from 543,018 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.7% (17.6%–17.8%), against 24.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.7%. Rank range 4–4.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (2,540 fails in 547,101 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly hybrid.

5 · About average

Honda Insight (first used from 2009)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.77–0.79), from 31,500 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 29.3% (28.8%–29.8%), against 37.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 30.1%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 45% hybrid, 29% unknown; this row covers cars first used from 2009.

6 · 21% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen Golf

Why it ranks here: 21% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.79–0.79), from 2,847,847 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 20.6% (20.5%–20.6%), against 26.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.4%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 49% diesel, 49% petrol.

7 · About average

Toyota Corolla (first used from 2019)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.79–0.81), from 180,747 MOT tests at 3 to 6 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 9.7% (9.6%–9.9%), against 12.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 10.8%. Rank range 5–8.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly hybrid; this row covers cars first used from 2019.

8 · About average

Audi A3

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.80–0.80), from 1,461,887 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.0% (21.0%–21.1%), against 26.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.1%. Rank range 7–8.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (11,889 fails in 1,469,160 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 50% diesel, 49% petrol.

9 · About average

Skoda Octavia

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.82–0.83), from 723,901 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 20.0% (19.9%–20.1%), against 24.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.8%. Rank range 9–11.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (5,402 fails in 727,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 64% diesel, 35% petrol.

10 · About average

BMW 1 Series

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.83–0.84), from 1,432,565 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.6% (21.5%–21.6%), against 25.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.5%. Rank range 10–12.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 2.5–2.6× as often as cars the same age (13,147 fails in 1,440,178 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 55% diesel, 45% petrol.

How to choose family hatchbacks with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 40% fewer (Audi S3) to 55% more (Citroen C4 Cactus). The Citroen C4 Cactus fails 2.5–2.7× as often as the Audi S3.
5 of the 50 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 6 at least 20% more often; the other 39 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 5 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

21,003,731 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which family hatchbacks have the fewest MOT fails?

12,979 MOT tests at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years put the Audi S3 first: 40% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage; ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Lexus CT. Next is the Lexus CT: 39% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which family hatchbacks fail their MOT most often?

82,229 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years put the Citroen C4 Cactus last of the 50 in this list: 55% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many family hatchbacks are compared?

50 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 21,003,731 MOT tests in all; 5 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 6 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 21,003,731 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.