Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo fail their MOT about as often.
- of Ford Fiesta MOTs passed in 2024
- 72.2%of Ford Fiesta MOTs passed in 2024
Volkswagen Polo: 71.8%
Both fail more often than normal for their age.
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 1,939,473 tests
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Which fails less for its age?
Allowing for age, there is no practical difference (under 5 points apart): MOT Risk Index 113.0 for the Ford Fiesta, 111.6 for the Volkswagen Polo (100 = normal for its age).
Both fail more often than normal for their age.
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 64.7 | 65.7 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 113.0 | 111.6 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 112.7–113.2 | 111.2–112.0 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 589 | 573 | 2024 |
| First tests | 1,344,051 | 595,422 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
72.2% of Ford Fiesta tests and 71.8% of Volkswagen Polo tests passed, including defects fixed during the test. This is a different outcome from passing at the first attempt.
What explains the difference?
The clearest difference is body, chassis, structure: against its own class and age, the Ford Fiesta runs −1.3 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Polo +3.7, so the Ford Fiesta has 5.0 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 4.9 to 5.0).
Each model is compared with its own class and age; the fleets can differ in mileage and use.
More detail
Dangerous defects and advisory items
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 11.2 | 10.0 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 138.2 | 121.5 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data, 2019–2024. A test can record several items. CSV
At what age does one of them fail more?
They change places at age 13: the difference is clear at 17 of 17 ages, and which fails less depends on the age of the car. Across the 4 yearly tests from age 4 to 7, the gaps add up to 10.1 extra failed tests per 100 for the Ford Fiesta (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | +2.3 | +2.0 to +2.5 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 4 | +2.4 | +2.2 to +2.7 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 5 | +2.4 | +2.1 to +2.6 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 6 | +2.2 | +1.9 to +2.5 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 7 | +3.1 | +2.8 to +3.4 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 8 | +2.3 | +2.0 to +2.6 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 9 | +1.8 | +1.5 to +2.2 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 10 | +1.9 | +1.6 to +2.3 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 11 | +1.4 | +1.1 to +1.8 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 12 | +0.6 | +0.2 to +1.0 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 13 | −0.5 | −0.9 to −0.1 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 14 | −2.0 | −2.4 to −1.6 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 15 | −3.2 | −3.7 to −2.8 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 16 | −4.7 | −5.1 to −4.2 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 17 | −5.1 | −5.6 to −4.6 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 18 | −5.1 | −5.7 to −4.5 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| 19 | −4.3 | −5.0 to −3.6 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | Ford Fiesta, % | Volkswagen Polo, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 17.1 | 14.5 | +2.5 | +2.5 to +2.6 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 30.7 | 28.3 | +2.5 | +2.4 to +2.6 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| 11+ | 11–20+ | 43.7 | 46.1 | −2.4 | −2.5 to −2.3 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,604,485 (initial tests at shared ages) · Method: difference of two proportions per age, Bonferroni-corrected for 17 ages; age bands pool the published ages with an unadjusted 95% interval, and the same car can appear at more than one age, so that interval is somewhat narrow · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where do their MOT failures diverge?
The clearest difference is body, chassis, structure: against its own class and age, the Ford Fiesta runs −1.3 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Polo +3.7, so the Ford Fiesta has 5.0 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 4.9 to 5.0).
| Component group | Ford Fiesta vs its class | Volkswagen Polo vs its class | Gap, Ford Fiesta minus Volkswagen Polo | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | −1.3 | +3.7 | −5.0 | −5.0 to −4.9 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| Brakes | −2.1 | +2.2 | −4.3 | −4.4 to −4.3 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | +1.4 | +4.8 | −3.4 | −3.4 to −3.3 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| Suspension | +3.0 | +0.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 to +2.4 | Volkswagen Polo fails less |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | +0.7 | +2.5 | −1.8 | −1.8 to −1.8 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
| Visibility | −0.6 | +1.0 | −1.6 | −1.6 to −1.5 | Ford Fiesta fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,955,435 (initial tests) · Method: each model's failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for its own class and age; Poisson interval; the age standard leaves the model out and is treated as fixed; items in the same test are treated as independent, so the interval is slightly narrow · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If one fails, which is more likely to fail again?
A failure carries about the same extra risk of failing again on both: 11.0 percentage points on the Ford Fiesta, 11.9 on the Volkswagen Polo.
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 39.5 | 39.3 |
| After a passed test, % | 28.4 | 27.4 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 11.0 | 11.9 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 831,304 (tests after a fail) · Method: test chains of the same vehicles; cars sold or scrapped after a fail drop out · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What do six years of MOTs show about the two?
The biggest gap in advisories turning into fails is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 25.3% on the Ford Fiesta against 37.2% on the Volkswagen Polo failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 25.3 | 37.2 | −11.9 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.6 | 21.0 | −8.4 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.9 | 11.1 | −3.2 |
| Steering | 15.8 | 12.8 | +3.0 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.8 | 6.4 | −2.7 |
| Brakes | 12.5 | 14.5 | −2.0 |
| Tyres | 10.4 | 9.6 | +0.8 |
| Visibility | 11.7 | 12.4 | −0.7 |
| Road wheels | 1.5 | 1.0 | +0.5 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 3.4 | 3.8 | −0.4 |
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 49.8% | 45.9% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 48.0% | 51.5% |
| Median retest delay | 1.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.603 | 0.602 |
| Three-test clean streak | 33.4% | 37.6% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 34.7% | 31.6% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,965,802 (tracked advisories) · Method: same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT; common publishable components only · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Recalls, other countries and running costs, side by side
DVSA lists 32 recall campaigns matched to the Ford Fiesta and 30 to the Volkswagen Polo; more campaigns do not by themselves mean a less reliable car. Abroad, compare each model with that country's own average, because pass rates do not carry across rulebooks. Repair bills are catalogue estimates, not quotes.
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 32 | 30 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 27.1 (22,437 inspections) | 24.0 (21,606 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 51.5 (139,484 inspections) | 54.0 (216,450 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 38.0 (13,524 inspections) | 36.2 (20,649 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £93 | £93 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £93–£176 | £93–£176 |
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls register (OGL v3.0); Statens vegvesen PKK (CC BY 4.0), Traficom Katsastus (CC BY 4.0), RDW APK (CC0), adapted; UK repair price catalogue · Window: register as published; inspections 2024 · n = 434,150 (inspections abroad) · Method: recall campaigns matched by make and model, licensed-fleet denominator where available; abroad, samples below 500 suppressed and each model set against that country's own average, with no difference taken across countries; repair bill = chance of failing each item × its most common UK repair price, a catalogue estimate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV · licences and full notice
How to cite this comparison
MOT Risk Index (2026). Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo: MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/compare/ford-fiesta-vs-volkswagen-polo/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo: quick answers
Is the Ford Fiesta or the Volkswagen Polo more reliable?
Allowing for age, there is no practical difference (under 5 points apart): MOT Risk Index 113.0 for the Ford Fiesta, 111.6 for the Volkswagen Polo (100 = normal for its age).
Does the Ford Fiesta or the Volkswagen Polo fail more MOTs?
35.3% of Ford Fiesta first tests and 34.4% of Volkswagen Polo first tests failed in 2024. These raw rates do not allow for age; the MOT Risk Index does.
Which should I buy, the Ford Fiesta or the Volkswagen Polo?
On MOT reliability neither is a practical winner. Choose the individual car with the cleaner MOT history and fewer repeated advisories.