Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 8 to 12 years old

Family hatchbacks with the fewest MOT fails at 8 to 12 years

Q: Which family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old have the fewest MOT fails?

3,629 MOT tests at 9 to 11 years put the Audi S3 first: 49% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Lexus CT: 41% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old fail their MOT most often?

167,474 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years put the Renault Megane last of the 36 in this list: 39% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: How many family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old are compared?

36 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 8,932,820 MOT tests in all; 6 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 6 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 8,932,820 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Audi S3 has the fewest MOT fails among family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old: 49% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (3,629 MOT tests) ^[1].

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

36 models ranked, 6 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 8,932,820 MOT tests ^[1]
Lexus CT is next: 41% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (69,646 MOT tests)
Renault Megane is last of the 36: 39% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (167,474 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, 49% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Lexus CT, 41% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: Toyota Prius, 31% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Volkswagen Golf, 26% 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 8 to 12 years old: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 36 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 8 to 12 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 36. 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
1certain	Audi S3family hatchback	49% fewer fails (45–53% fewer)	15.3%all cars: 29.9%	15.6%	3,629at 9 to 11 years	Audi S3 common problems
2certain	Lexus CTfamily hatchback	41% fewer fails (40–42% fewer)	17.3%all cars: 29.5%	17.7%	69,646at 8 to 12 years	Lexus CT MOT fail rate · Lexus CT common problems
3certain	Toyota Priusfamily hatchback	31% fewer fails (30–31% fewer)	19.8%all cars: 28.6%	21.8%	215,009at 8 to 12 years	Toyota Prius MOT fail rate
4certain	Volkswagen Golffamily hatchback	26% fewer fails (26–27% fewer)	21.4%all cars: 29.1%	22.4%	1,197,047at 8 to 12 years	Volkswagen Golf MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Golf common problems
55–6	Audi A3family hatchback	24% fewer fails (23.7–24.4% fewer)	21.9%all cars: 28.8%	23.2%	656,985at 8 to 12 years	Audi A3 MOT fail rate · Audi A3 common problems
65–7	Honda Insight (first used from 2009)family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.76 (0.74–0.79)	26.6%all cars: 34.8%	27.4%	12,448at 10 to 12 years	Honda Insight MOT fail rate · Honda Insight common problems
76–9	Skoda Octaviafamily hatchback	21% fewer fails (20–21% fewer)	22.6%all cars: 28.6%	24.6%	297,126at 8 to 12 years	Skoda Octavia MOT fail rate · Skoda Octavia common problems
87–9	SEAT Leonfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.79 (0.79–0.80)	22.5%all cars: 28.3%	24.2%	270,602at 8 to 12 years	SEAT Leon MOT fail rate · SEAT Leon common problems
97–9	BMW 2 Seriesfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.80 (0.79–0.81)	19.6%all cars: 24.6%	19.8%	132,314at 8 to 11 years	BMW 2 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 2 Series common problems
1010–11	Toyota Aurisfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.82 (0.81–0.82)	23.4%all cars: 28.7%	23.6%	276,840at 8 to 12 years	Toyota Auris MOT fail rate · Toyota Auris common problems
1110–12	Honda Civicfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.82 (0.82–0.83)	24.2%all cars: 29.5%	24.6%	291,796at 8 to 12 years	Honda Civic MOT fail rate · Honda Civic common problems
1211–12	BMW 1 Seriesfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.83 (0.83–0.83)	24.4%all cars: 29.4%	25.6%	628,524at 8 to 12 years	BMW 1 Series MOT fail rate · BMW 1 Series common problems
1313–14	MINI Clubmanfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.88 (0.86–0.89)	21.6%all cars: 24.6%	21.5%	36,660at 8 to 12 years	MINI Clubman MOT fail rate · MINI Clubman common problems
1413–14	Mercedes-Benz CLAfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.88–0.90)	22.9%all cars: 25.9%	24.6%	70,218at 8 to 12 years	Mercedes-Benz CLA MOT fail rate · Mercedes-Benz CLA common problems
15certain	Mercedes-Benz A-Classfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.94 (0.94–0.95)	25.6%all cars: 27.1%	26.4%	390,538at 8 to 12 years	Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT fail rate · Mercedes-Benz A-Class common problems
1616–17	Skoda Rapidfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.97 (0.96–0.99)	26.5%all cars: 27.2%	27.3%	55,419at 8 to 12 years	Skoda Rapid MOT fail rate · Skoda Rapid common problems
1716–18	Volkswagen Jetta (first used from 2006)family hatchback	about averageratio 0.99 (0.97–1.01)	29.7%all cars: 30.0%	31.3%	20,134at 8 to 12 years	Volkswagen Jetta MOT fail rate · Volkswagen Jetta common problems
1817–19	Mazda 3family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.01 (1.00–1.02)	28.8%all cars: 28.6%	29.0%	154,818at 8 to 12 years	Mazda 3 MOT fail rate · Mazda 3 common problems
1918–25	Volvo C30family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.03 (1.02–1.05)	36.1%all cars: 35.0%	36.8%	24,083at 10 to 12 years	Volvo C30 MOT fail rate · Volvo C30 common problems
2019–24	Volvo V40 (first used from 2012)family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.04 (1.03–1.04)	28.3%all cars: 27.3%	29.8%	207,841at 8 to 12 years	Volvo V40 MOT fail rate · Volvo V40 common problems

Show all 36 models

Ranks 21 to 36, against cars the same age and mileage. 10 of them are about average (within 20% once sampling error is allowed for).

Ford Focus, about average
Alfa Romeo Giulietta, about average
Vauxhall Astra, about average
SEAT Toledo (first used from 2012), about average
Volvo S40, about average
Kia Ceed, about average
Volkswagen Beetle, about average
DS DS5, about average
Peugeot 308, about average
Chevrolet Cruze, about average
Hyundai i30, 22% more
Nissan Pulsar, 25% more
Nissan Leaf, 32% more
Citroen C4, 33% more
DS DS4 (first used before 2021), 34% more
Renault Megane, 39% more

Check that exact car before the viewing.

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

Model risks for this year and fuel
What similar cars did at their next MOT
Repairs ahead
Viewing checklist

See a sample report

The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 49% fewer MOT fails

Audi S3

Why it ranks here: 49% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.47–0.55), from 3,629 MOT tests at 9 to 11 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.3% (14.1%–16.4%), against 29.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.6%. Rank range 1–1.

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 · 41% fewer MOT fails

Lexus CT

Why it ranks here: 41% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.58–0.60), from 69,646 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.3% (17.1%–17.6%), against 29.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 17.7%. Rank range 2–2.

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 · 31% fewer MOT fails

Toyota Prius

Why it ranks here: 31% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.69–0.70), from 215,009 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.8% (19.6%–19.9%), against 28.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.8%. Rank range 3–3.

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.

4 · 26% fewer MOT fails

Volkswagen Golf

Why it ranks here: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.73–0.74), from 1,197,047 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.4% (21.4%–21.5%), against 29.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.4%. Rank range 4–4.

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.

5 · 24% fewer MOT fails

Audi A3

Why it ranks here: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.76–0.76), from 656,985 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.9% (21.8%–22.0%), against 28.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 23.2%. Rank range 5–6.

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.

6 · 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 0.76, 95% CI 0.74–0.79), from 12,448 MOT tests at 10 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 26.6% (25.8%–27.3%), against 34.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 27.4%. 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 45% hybrid, 29% unknown; this row covers cars first used from 2009.

7 · 21% fewer MOT fails

Skoda Octavia

Why it ranks here: 21% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.79–0.80), from 297,126 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 22.6% (22.4%–22.7%), against 28.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 24.6%. Rank range 6–9.

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.

8 · About average

SEAT Leon

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.79–0.80), from 270,602 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 22.5% (22.4%–22.7%), against 28.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 24.2%. Rank range 7–9.

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 56% petrol, 42% diesel.

9 · About average

BMW 2 Series

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 132,314 MOT tests at 8 to 11 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.6% (19.4%–19.9%), against 24.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.8%. Rank range 7–9.

Check before you buy: fails on road wheels 2.5–2.7× as often as cars the same age (3,100 fails in 478,855 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 57% petrol, 39% diesel.

10 · About average

Toyota Auris

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.81–0.82), from 276,840 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 23.4% (23.3%–23.6%), against 28.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 23.6%. Rank range 10–11.

Check before you buy: fails on lights and electrics 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (72,065 fails in 560,066 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 45% petrol, 43% hybrid.

How to choose family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 49% fewer (Audi S3) to 39% more (Renault Megane).
6 of the 36 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 6 at least 20% more often; the other 24 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

8,932,820 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 8 to 12 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 8 to 12 years old have the fewest MOT fails?

3,629 MOT tests at 9 to 11 years put the Audi S3 first: 49% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Lexus CT: 41% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old fail their MOT most often?

167,474 MOT tests at 8 to 12 years put the Renault Megane last of the 36 in this list: 39% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many family hatchbacks 8 to 12 years old are compared?

36 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 8,932,820 MOT tests in all; 6 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, 8,932,820 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.