Top 50 cars aged three to eight years with best first-time MOT pass rates

Hyundai Ioniq has highest average MOT pass rate of 96.18 per cent

Top 50 cars aged three to eight years with best first-time MOT pass rates
Image: Bigstock.

New car buying platform and consumer champion, What Car? has revealed the cars most likely to pass an MOT test on first attempt.

The extensive study analysed more than 745,000 anonymised MOT records published by the Department for Transport.

Models aged from three to eight years old and with a sample size of at least 100 cars were included in the study.

The Hyundai Ioniq, which is sold as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicle, has the highest average MOT pass rate of 96.18 per cent while the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 (2014-2020) takes second place with a 95.97 per cent pass rate.

While Korean, Japanese and German models dominate the top 10, the Jaguar F-Type (2013-present) is the highest-placed British model in the study, in 14th place with an average MOT pass rate of 90.83 per cent.

The Tesla Model S (2014-present) is the highest ranking pure electric vehicle, in 26th place, with an average pass rate of 89.94 per cent.

Although there are many premium models in the top 50, there are also several affordable small cars, including the Peugeot 108 (2014-present) and Toyota Aygo (2014-present).

RankMake and modelAverage MOT test pass rateAverage mileage at MOT test
1Hyundai Ioniq (2017-present)96.18%22,710
2BMW i8 (2014 – 2020)95.97%21,738
3Porsche Boxster (2012 – 2016)94.10%22,243
4Lexus NX (2014 – present)93.82%32,413
5Porsche 911 (2012 – 2019)93.72%20,484
6Porsche Cayman (2013 – 2016)92.94%23,224
7Porsche Macan (2014 – present)92.91%32,289
8Mazda MX-5 (2016 – present)92.62%16,399
9Lexus RX (2016 – present)91.95%27,721
10Mazda CX-3 (2015 – present)91.91%25,652
11Mercedes-Benz SL (2012 – 2020)91.67%25,832
12BMW X1 (2015 – present)90.95%29,753
13Mercedes-Benz GLA (2014 – 2020)90.93%33,093
14Jaguar F-Type (2013 – present)90.83%23,014
15Mercedes-Benz GLC (2016 – present)90.78%32,446
16Audi A8 (2010 – 2017)90.77%53,647
17Audi TT (2014 – present)90.63%27,977
18Honda HR-V (2013 – present)90.60%25,605
19Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2015 – 2020)90.52%48,430
20BMW i3 (2013 – present)90.46%27,717
21Jaguar F-Pace (2016 – present)90.43%30,850
22Subaru XV (2012 – 2018)90.36%39,691
23BMW 7-Series (2015 – present)90.13%36,323
24Honda Jazz (2015 – 2020)90.07%26,755
25Hyundai i20 (2015 – 2020)89.94%26,145
26Tesla Model S (2014 – present)89.94%44,613
27Vauxhall Viva (2015 – 2019)89.93%18,718
28Jaguar XK (2006 – 2015)89.87%28,704
29BMW 2-Series (2014 – present)89.74%32,755
30Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2016 – present)89.68%53,771
31Toyota Prius (2016 – present)89.67%48,996
32Toyota Aygo (2014 – present)89.56%23,132
33Audi TT (2006 – 2014)89.40%42,894
34Audi Q5 (2008 – 2017)89.16%46,026
35MINI Countryman (2010 – 2017)89.14%33,423
36Lexus RX (2009 – 2016)89.11%49,372
37Mercedes-Benz GLE (2015 – 2019)89.01%32,800
38Suzuki Celerio (2016 – 2019)88.97%21,024
39Lexus IS (2013 – present)88.96%48,905
40Skoda Superb (2015 – present)88.91%44,689
41Toyota GT86 (2012 – present)88.89%35,879
42Peugeot 108 (2014 – present)88.69%22,199
43BMW X4 (2014 – 2018)88.67%38,274
44Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005 – 2015)88.67%42,821
45Mazda MX-5 (2005 – 2015)88.61%29,429
46Audi Q3 (2011 – 2018)88.59%41,676
47Honda CR-V (2012 – 2018)88.48%41,855
48Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2012 – 2019)88.42%39,138
49Jaguar XF (2015 – present)88.41%36,990
50Nissan Pulsar (2014 – 2018)88.40%28,739

What Car? analysed more than 745,000 anonymised MOT records published by the Department for Transport to find out the models that had the best rate for passing the MOT test at the first attempt.

What Car? also ranked the top and bottom brands for MOT pass rates.

As well as achieving the highest average pass rate, Porsche is the only brand to gain a pass rate of more than 90 per cent.

Although Ssangyong has the lowest MOT pass record, its result of 76.98 per cent means that more than three quarters of its models passed their MOT the first time.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “One of the first things used buyers do is check a vehicle’s MOT record to see how well it’s been maintained and if it’s suffered lots of faults.

“Our extensive study reveals the models with the best MOT pass rates, ranging from large SUVs to city cars. Buyers can use it to help them choose the most dependable models.

“Although the top 50 list contains several prestige cars, that tend to have lower mileage and immaculate service records, it’s reassuring to find some budget and family cars in the mix.”

The results come the same week dealers in England and Wales can reopen to the public, following more than three months of closure due to Covid-19.

The worst 10 manufacturer MOT pass rates

Rank Brand Average MOT test pass rate Average mileage at MOT test
1Ssangyong76.98%37,911
2Dacia78.17%39,401
3Citroen79.72%38,207
4Renault80.20%37,194
5Alfa Romeo80.73%42,443
6Vauxhall81.20%42,565
7Fiat81.22%33,404
8Seat82.08%44,542
9Ford82.58%40,664
10Peugeot82.78%37,691

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