MINI Hatch vs Toyota Yaris: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the MINI Hatch and Toyota Yaris fail their MOT about as often.
- of MINI Hatch MOTs passed in 2024
- 80.0%of MINI Hatch MOTs passed in 2024
Toyota Yaris: 80.3%
Both fail less often than normal for their age.
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 1,073,838 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 86.0 for the MINI Hatch, 89.8 for the Toyota Yaris (100 = normal for its age).
Both fail less often than normal for their age.
| Measure | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 74.5 | 72.7 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 86.0 | 89.8 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 85.7–86.4 | 89.3–90.2 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 312 | 345 | 2024 |
| First tests | 614,057 | 459,781 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
80.0% of MINI Hatch tests and 80.3% of Toyota Yaris 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 suspension: against its own class and age, the MINI Hatch runs −9.2 items per 100 tests and the Toyota Yaris −4.4, so the MINI Hatch has 4.8 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 4.8 to 4.9).
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 | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 9.0 | 7.7 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 125.0 | 130.8 |
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 15: the difference is clear at 13 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 3.9 extra failed tests per 100 for the Toyota Yaris (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | −0.4 | −0.6 to −0.1 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 4 | −1.4 | −1.8 to −1.1 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 5 | −0.3 | −0.6 to +0.0 | not distinguishable |
| 6 | −0.1 | −0.5 to +0.2 | not distinguishable |
| 7 | −2.0 | −2.4 to −1.7 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 8 | −2.8 | −3.2 to −2.4 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 9 | −3.0 | −3.4 to −2.6 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 10 | −2.2 | −2.6 to −1.7 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 11 | −2.1 | −2.5 to −1.6 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 12 | −1.2 | −1.7 to −0.7 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 13 | −0.4 | −1.0 to +0.1 | not distinguishable |
| 14 | −0.0 | −0.5 to +0.5 | not distinguishable |
| 15 | +0.8 | +0.2 to +1.3 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| 16 | +0.7 | +0.2 to +1.2 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| 17 | +2.3 | +1.7 to +2.8 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| 18 | +2.2 | +1.6 to +2.8 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| 19 | +1.8 | +1.0 to +2.5 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | MINI Hatch, % | Toyota Yaris, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 11.7 | 12.4 | −0.7 | −0.8 to −0.6 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 19.7 | 21.7 | −2.0 | −2.1 to −1.9 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| 11+ | 11–20+ | 40.0 | 40.4 | −0.4 | −0.6 to −0.3 | MINI Hatch fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,862,694 (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 suspension: against its own class and age, the MINI Hatch runs −9.2 items per 100 tests and the Toyota Yaris −4.4, so the MINI Hatch has 4.8 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 4.8 to 4.9).
| Component group | MINI Hatch vs its class | Toyota Yaris vs its class | Gap, MINI Hatch minus Toyota Yaris | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | −9.2 | −4.4 | −4.8 | −4.9 to −4.8 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | +3.1 | −1.2 | +4.3 | +4.2 to +4.3 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | −1.3 | +1.1 | −2.4 | −2.4 to −2.3 | MINI Hatch fails less |
| Brakes | −1.4 | −3.7 | +2.3 | +2.2 to +2.3 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| Tyres | −1.0 | −2.9 | +1.9 | +1.8 to +1.9 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
| Steering | −1.2 | −3.0 | +1.9 | +1.8 to +1.9 | Toyota Yaris fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,122,630 (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 Toyota Yaris carries 1.0 percentage points more extra risk of failing again than on the MINI Hatch.
| Measure | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 34.3 | 36.9 |
| After a passed test, % | 22.8 | 24.4 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 11.5 | 12.5 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 416,102 (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 steering: 12.5% on the MINI Hatch against 5.8% on the Toyota Yaris failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 12.5 | 5.8 | +6.7 |
| Suspension | 15.3 | 19.4 | −4.1 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 27.6 | 30.7 | −3.0 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.0 | 5.0 | −1.9 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.0 | 8.6 | +1.5 |
| Tyres | 8.9 | 7.6 | +1.3 |
| Brakes | 13.8 | 12.6 | +1.2 |
| Visibility | 13.1 | 12.3 | +0.8 |
| Road wheels | 1.4 | 1.0 | +0.4 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 15.3 | 15.7 | −0.4 |
| Measure | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 41.2% | 48.8% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 55.3% | 49.0% |
| Median retest delay | 1.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.547 | 0.572 |
| Three-test clean streak | 39.7% | 40.6% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 30.9% | 32.8% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,698,432 (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 27 recall campaigns matched to the MINI Hatch and 99 to the Toyota Yaris; 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 | MINI Hatch | Toyota Yaris |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 27 | 99 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 22.5 (3,248 inspections) | 19.9 (38,954 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 48.9 (84,901 inspections) | 47.0 (156,040 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 34.3 (6,230 inspections) | 33.8 (41,226 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £78 | £76 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £78–£147 | £76–£144 |
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 = 330,599 (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). MINI Hatch vs Toyota Yaris: 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/mini-hatch-vs-toyota-yaris/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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MINI Hatch vs Toyota Yaris: quick answers
Is the MINI Hatch or the Toyota Yaris more reliable?
Allowing for age, there is no practical difference (under 5 points apart): MOT Risk Index 86.0 for the MINI Hatch, 89.8 for the Toyota Yaris (100 = normal for its age).
Does the MINI Hatch or the Toyota Yaris fail more MOTs?
25.5% of MINI Hatch first tests and 27.3% of Toyota Yaris first tests failed in 2024. These raw rates do not allow for age; the MOT Risk Index does.
Which should I buy, the MINI Hatch or the Toyota Yaris?
On MOT reliability neither is a practical winner. Choose the individual car with the cleaner MOT history and fewer repeated advisories.