Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Golf: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the Volkswagen Golf fails its MOT less often than the Honda Civic.
- less often than the Honda Civic, at the same age
- 13.0%less often than the Honda Civic, at the same age
MOTs passed in 2024: Honda Civic 73.9%, Volkswagen Golf 77.5%
Both fail less often than normal for their age.
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 1,102,390 tests
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Which fails less for its age?
Allowing for age, the Volkswagen Golf fails less often: MOT Risk Index 85.8 against 98.1 (100 = normal for its age; difference 12.3, 95% CI 11.7–12.9).
Both fail less often than normal for their age.
| Measure | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 66.3 | 72.9 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 98.1 | 85.8 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 97.5–98.6 | 85.5–86.1 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 431 | 311 | 2024 |
| First tests | 272,456 | 829,934 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
73.9% of Honda Civic tests and 77.5% of Volkswagen Golf 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 lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: against its own class and age, the Honda Civic runs +8.7 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Golf −3.2, so the Volkswagen Golf has 11.9 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 11.9 to 12.0).
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 | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 12.7 | 11.2 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 141.7 | 137.8 |
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 17: the difference is clear at 14 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 2.1 extra failed tests per 100 for the Honda Civic (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | −4.3 | −4.7 to −4.0 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 4 | −0.1 | −0.5 to +0.3 | not distinguishable |
| 5 | +1.5 | +1.1 to +1.8 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 6 | +0.6 | +0.2 to +1.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 7 | +0.1 | −0.3 to +0.5 | not distinguishable |
| 8 | +1.2 | +0.8 to +1.7 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 9 | +2.8 | +2.3 to +3.3 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 10 | +3.9 | +3.4 to +4.4 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 11 | +4.7 | +4.2 to +5.2 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 12 | +4.6 | +4.1 to +5.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 13 | +4.0 | +3.5 to +4.4 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 14 | +2.3 | +1.8 to +2.8 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 15 | +0.9 | +0.4 to +1.4 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 16 | −0.0 | −0.5 to +0.5 | not distinguishable |
| 17 | −0.8 | −1.4 to −0.2 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 18 | −1.3 | −2.0 to −0.7 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 19 | −1.3 | −2.0 to −0.5 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | Honda Civic, % | Volkswagen Golf, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 11.9 | 12.6 | −0.7 | −0.9 to −0.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 22.3 | 20.2 | +2.1 | +2.0 to +2.3 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 11+ | 11–20+ | 43.1 | 40.7 | +2.4 | +2.2 to +2.5 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,721,352 (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 lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: against its own class and age, the Honda Civic runs +8.7 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Golf −3.2, so the Volkswagen Golf has 11.9 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 11.9 to 12.0).
| Component group | Honda Civic vs its class | Volkswagen Golf vs its class | Gap, Honda Civic minus Volkswagen Golf | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | +8.7 | −3.2 | +11.9 | +11.9 to +12.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Body, chassis, structure | −3.6 | +2.5 | −6.1 | −6.1 to −6.0 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Steering | +2.0 | −1.0 | +3.0 | +3.0 to +3.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | −1.7 | +0.4 | −2.1 | −2.2 to −2.1 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Suspension | +1.5 | +0.3 | +1.3 | +1.2 to +1.3 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Tyres | −0.5 | +0.4 | −0.9 | −0.9 to −0.8 | Honda Civic fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,175,175 (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 on the Honda Civic carries 1.0 percentage points more extra risk of failing again than on the Volkswagen Golf.
| Measure | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 40.1 | 34.5 |
| After a passed test, % | 27.4 | 22.9 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 12.7 | 11.7 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 427,529 (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 suspension: 27.6% on the Honda Civic against 19.1% on the Volkswagen Golf failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 27.6 | 19.1 | +8.5 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 13.0 | 21.1 | −8.1 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 35.2 | 31.5 | +3.7 |
| Steering | 12.5 | 15.2 | −2.7 |
| Brakes | 14.0 | 12.2 | +1.9 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.9 | 9.2 | −1.3 |
| Visibility | 13.2 | 12.1 | +1.1 |
| Road wheels | 0.8 | 1.1 | −0.3 |
| Tyres | 9.8 | 9.6 | +0.2 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.9 | 6.8 | +0.1 |
| Measure | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 43.6% | 45.0% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 53.2% | 52.0% |
| Median retest delay | 1.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.548 | 0.408 |
| Three-test clean streak | 32.9% | 33.4% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 35.5% | 34.5% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,721,126 (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 76 recall campaigns matched to the Honda Civic and 49 to the Volkswagen Golf; 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 | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 76 | 49 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 22.2 (15,098 inspections) | 25.5 (64,483 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 57.1 (20,019 inspections) | 48.1 (246,360 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 37.6 (5,033 inspections) | 30.6 (88,325 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £116 | £80 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £116–£221 | £80–£152 |
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 = 439,318 (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). Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Golf: 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/honda-civic-vs-volkswagen-golf/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Golf: quick answers
Is the Honda Civic or the Volkswagen Golf more reliable?
Allowing for age, the Volkswagen Golf fails less often: MOT Risk Index 85.8 against 98.1 (100 = normal for its age; difference 12.3, 95% CI 11.7–12.9).
Does the Honda Civic or the Volkswagen Golf fail more MOTs?
33.7% of Honda Civic first tests and 27.1% of Volkswagen Golf first tests failed in 2024. These raw rates do not allow for age; the MOT Risk Index does.
Which should I buy, the Honda Civic or the Volkswagen Golf?
If MOT reliability decides it, the evidence favours the Volkswagen Golf. Still check the individual car's MOT history: these figures describe whole model populations.