Vauxhall Astra vs Volkswagen Golf: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the Volkswagen Golf fails its MOT less often than the Vauxhall Astra.
- less often than the Vauxhall Astra, at the same age
- 18.0%less often than the Vauxhall Astra, at the same age
MOTs passed in 2024: Vauxhall Astra 72.4%, Volkswagen Golf 77.5%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 1,466,012 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 104.5 (100 = normal for its age; difference 18.7, 95% CI 18.2–19.2).
| Measure | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 65.7 | 72.9 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 104.5 | 85.8 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 104.1–104.8 | 85.5–86.1 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 500 | 311 | 2024 |
| First tests | 636,078 | 829,934 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
72.4% of Vauxhall Astra 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 Vauxhall Astra runs +1.6 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Golf −3.2, so the Volkswagen Golf 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 | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 14.0 | 11.2 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 157.2 | 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 4: 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 25.1 extra failed tests per 100 for the Vauxhall Astra (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | −1.6 | −1.9 to −1.3 | Vauxhall Astra fails less |
| 4 | +2.9 | +2.6 to +3.2 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 5 | +6.0 | +5.7 to +6.2 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 6 | +7.2 | +7.0 to +7.5 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 7 | +9.0 | +8.7 to +9.3 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 8 | +9.7 | +9.4 to +10.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 9 | +9.7 | +9.4 to +10.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 10 | +8.8 | +8.5 to +9.1 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 11 | +7.5 | +7.2 to +7.8 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 12 | +6.7 | +6.3 to +7.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 13 | +6.2 | +5.9 to +6.6 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 14 | +5.5 | +5.1 to +5.9 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 15 | +4.5 | +4.1 to +5.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 16 | +3.7 | +3.3 to +4.2 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 17 | +2.7 | +2.2 to +3.2 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 18 | +1.9 | +1.3 to +2.5 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 19 | +1.1 | +0.3 to +1.8 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | Vauxhall Astra, % | Volkswagen Golf, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 15.5 | 12.6 | +2.9 | +2.8 to +3.0 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 29.8 | 20.2 | +9.6 | +9.5 to +9.7 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| 11+ | 11–20+ | 45.0 | 40.7 | +4.2 | +4.1 to +4.3 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,367,980 (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 Vauxhall Astra runs +1.6 items per 100 tests and the Volkswagen Golf −3.2, so the Volkswagen Golf has 4.8 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 4.8 to 4.9).
| Component group | Vauxhall Astra vs its class | Volkswagen Golf vs its class | Gap, Vauxhall Astra minus Volkswagen Golf | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | +1.6 | −3.2 | +4.8 | +4.8 to +4.9 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Brakes | +3.2 | −1.4 | +4.6 | +4.5 to +4.6 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Body, chassis, structure | −0.9 | +2.5 | −3.4 | −3.4 to −3.4 | Vauxhall Astra fails less |
| Suspension | +2.6 | +0.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 to +2.4 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | +2.1 | +0.4 | +1.7 | +1.7 to +1.7 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
| Tyres | +1.3 | +0.4 | +0.9 | +0.9 to +0.9 | Volkswagen Golf fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,815,675 (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 Volkswagen Golf carries 1.3 percentage points more extra risk of failing again than on the Vauxhall Astra.
| Measure | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 39.8 | 34.5 |
| After a passed test, % | 29.3 | 22.9 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 10.4 | 11.7 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 572,114 (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 body, chassis, structure: 12.5% on the Vauxhall Astra against 21.1% on the Volkswagen Golf failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.5 | 21.1 | −8.6 |
| Suspension | 24.4 | 19.1 | +5.3 |
| Steering | 10.0 | 15.2 | −5.2 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.4 | 6.8 | −3.4 |
| Brakes | 15.4 | 12.2 | +3.3 |
| Visibility | 10.2 | 12.1 | −1.8 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 30.3 | 31.5 | −1.3 |
| Tyres | 10.8 | 9.6 | +1.2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 4.0 | 3.7 | +0.4 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.0 | 9.2 | −0.1 |
| Measure | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 46.0% | 45.0% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 51.4% | 52.0% |
| Median retest delay | 1.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.545 | 0.408 |
| Three-test clean streak | 28.0% | 33.4% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 38.3% | 34.5% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,883,714 (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 37 recall campaigns matched to the Vauxhall Astra 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 | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 37 | 49 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 27.8 (27,136 inspections) | 25.5 (64,483 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 51.7 (93,738 inspections) | 48.1 (246,360 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 36.8 (10,481 inspections) | 30.6 (88,325 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £114 | £80 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £114–£217 | £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 = 530,523 (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). Vauxhall Astra 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/vauxhall-astra-vs-volkswagen-golf/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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Vauxhall Astra vs Volkswagen Golf: quick answers
Is the Vauxhall Astra or the Volkswagen Golf more reliable?
Allowing for age, the Volkswagen Golf fails less often: MOT Risk Index 85.8 against 104.5 (100 = normal for its age; difference 18.7, 95% CI 18.2–19.2).
Does the Vauxhall Astra or the Volkswagen Golf fail more MOTs?
34.3% of Vauxhall Astra 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 Vauxhall Astra 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.