Audi A6 vs BMW 3 Series
On MOT-testable defects the Audi A6 comes out ahead: 14.7% of its tests record a failure against 17.4% for the BMW 3 Series, a 2.7-point gap. The biggest single difference is visibility, where the 3 Series records failures noticeably more often.
14.7%
A6 fail rate
17.4%
3 Series fail rate
2.71pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Audi A6 | BMW 3 Series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 739,365 | 2,987,237 |
| Pass rate | 85.3% | 82.6% |
| Fail rate | 14.7% | 17.4% |
Where they differ
| Category | A6 | 3 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 0.0% | 3.0% |
| Brakes | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 0.0% |
| Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 7.7% |
| Suspension | 4.7% | 5.7% |
| Tyres | 6.2% | 6.3% |
Methodology & source. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.