Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs Volkswagen Golf
On MOT-testable defects the Mercedes-Benz A-Class comes out ahead: 14.9% of its tests record a failure against 18.3% for the Volkswagen Golf, a 3.3-point gap. The biggest single difference is suspension, where the Golf records failures noticeably more often.
14.9%
A-Class fail rate
18.3%
Golf fail rate
3.34pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 1,863,616 | 5,426,375 |
| Pass rate | 85.1% | 81.8% |
| Fail rate | 14.9% | 18.3% |
Where they differ
| Category | A-Class | Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Visibility | 3.3% | 0.0% |
| Body, structure & corrosion | 0.0% | 3.3% |
| Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Brakes | 3.6% | 5.4% |
| Tyres | 5.9% | 5.5% |
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.