What are the main MOT differences between Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo?

The Ford Fiesta has a 31.9% overall MOT failure rate (6,046,098 tests) while the Volkswagen Polo has 30.9% (2,669,893 tests). The top failure area for the Ford Fiesta is lamps & electrics, while for the Volkswagen Polo it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo?

From an MOT reliability standpoint, the Volkswagen Polo has a lower failure rate. However, MOT pass rates are just one factor — also consider insurance costs, fuel economy, running costs and personal preference. Use AutoSafe's free prediction tool to check a specific vehicle by registration.

Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Q: Which is more reliable, Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo?

Based on 8,715,991 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Polo is more reliable with a 1.0 percentage point lower failure rate. The Ford Fiesta has a 31.9% failure rate while the Volkswagen Polo has 30.9%.

Ford Fiesta

31.9%

failure rate from 6,046,098 tests

3.9pp above UK avg (28%)

Volkswagen Polo

30.9%

failure rate from 2,669,893 tests

2.9pp above UK avg (28%)

Verdict: The Volkswagen Polo is more reliable based on MOT data, with a 1.0 percentage point lower failure rate than the Ford Fiesta.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo compare across different age groups:

Age	Ford Fiesta	Volkswagen Polo	Difference
0-2 years	11.5%	9.2%	Volkswagen Polo +2.3pp
3-5 years	15.8%	15.4%	Volkswagen Polo +0.4pp
6-10 years	30.3%	26.9%	Volkswagen Polo +3.3pp
11-15 years	41.7%	41.1%	Volkswagen Polo +0.6pp
15+ years	45.6%	49.8%	Ford Fiesta +4.2pp

Component Risk Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown of which MOT failure areas each model is weaker in:

Ford Fiesta Component Volkswagen Polo

7.6%

Lamps & Electrics

6.8%

5.8%

Suspension

5.1%

3.6%

Tyres

3.0%

2.8%

Brakes

4.3%

2.4%

Visibility

3.0%

1.6%

Steering

1.3%

1.6%

Body & Chassis

2.7%

Component	Ford Fiesta	Volkswagen Polo	Better
Lamps & Electrics	7.6%	6.8%	Volkswagen Polo
Suspension	5.8%	5.1%	Volkswagen Polo
Tyres	3.6%	3.0%	Volkswagen Polo
Brakes	2.8%	4.3%	Ford Fiesta
Visibility	2.4%	3.0%	Ford Fiesta
Steering	1.6%	1.3%	Volkswagen Polo
Body & Chassis	1.6%	2.7%	Ford Fiesta

Which Is More Reliable: Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 8,715,991 tests between these two models, the Volkswagen Polo comes out ahead with a 1.0 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Volkswagen Polo fails 30.9% of the time compared to the Ford Fiesta's 31.9%.

However, the gap between these models varies by vehicle age. Younger examples of both models tend to have more similar pass rates, while differences can become more pronounced as vehicles age and accumulate wear. Component-level data shows each model has different weak spots — the Ford Fiesta's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Volkswagen Polo's is lamps & electrics. Knowing your model's specific weaknesses helps you target pre-MOT checks where they matter most.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component risks represent the probability of failure in each specific area. Data covers 142 million MOT tests across the UK. Comparisons are based on aggregate statistics and individual vehicle condition will vary.

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