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

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

Should I buy a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta?

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.

Volkswagen Polo vs Ford Fiesta — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

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

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

Volkswagen Polo

30.9%

failure rate from 2,669,893 tests

2.9pp above UK avg (28%)

Ford Fiesta

31.9%

failure rate from 6,046,098 tests

3.9pp 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 Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta compare across different age groups:

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

Component Risk Comparison

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

Volkswagen Polo Component Ford Fiesta

6.8%

Lamps & Electrics

7.6%

5.1%

Suspension

5.8%

4.3%

Brakes

2.8%

3.0%

Tyres

3.6%

3.0%

Visibility

2.4%

2.7%

Body & Chassis

1.6%

1.3%

Steering

1.6%

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

Which Is More Reliable: Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta?

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 Volkswagen Polo's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Ford Fiesta'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

Check Your Specific Vehicle

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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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