Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Vauxhall Astra
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has the better MOT record of the two — 14.9% fail rate versus 22.3% for the Vauxhall Astra across comparable years. The biggest single difference is suspension, where the Astra records failures noticeably more often.
14.9%
A-Class fail rate
22.3%
Astra fail rate
7.36pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 1,863,616 | 4,357,149 |
| Pass rate | 85.1% | 77.7% |
| Fail rate | 14.9% | 22.3% |
Where they differ
| Category | A-Class | Astra |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3.9% | 10.0% |
| Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Brakes | 3.6% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 3.3% | 4.5% |
| Tyres | 5.9% | 6.2% |
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.