Best superminis by MOT pass rate
30 models ranked by MOT pass rate, each with at least 5,000 tests behind it and assessed against vehicle age so older cars are not unfairly penalised. The MINI Cooper leads on 89.5%. Rankings cover MOT-testable defects only — see the method note below.
| # | Car | Pass rate | Fail rate | Tests | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MINI Cooper | 89.5% | 10.5% | 1,603,235 | Tyres |
| 2 | MINI John Cooper Works | 89.5% | 10.5% | 94,771 | Tyres |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Mirage | 88.7% | 11.3% | 58,123 | Tyres |
| 4 | MINI One | 87.2% | 12.8% | 287,618 | Lighting & signalling |
| 5 | MG MG3 | 85.1% | 14.9% | 108,959 | Tyres |
| 6 | Audi A1 | 84.5% | 15.5% | 1,218,451 | Suspension |
| 7 | Suzuki Baleno | 84.4% | 15.6% | 38,422 | Suspension |
| 8 | Honda Jazz | 83.9% | 16.1% | 1,950,501 | Lighting & signalling |
| 9 | Hyundai i20 | 83.6% | 16.4% | 738,300 | Lighting & signalling |
| 10 | Renault Zoe | 83.6% | 16.4% | 96,601 | Suspension |
| 11 | Toyota Yaris | 82.8% | 17.2% | 2,673,900 | Lighting & signalling |
| 12 | Peugeot 208 | 82.8% | 17.2% | 1,157,443 | Lighting & signalling |
| 13 | Suzuki Swift | 82.5% | 17.5% | 779,332 | Lighting & signalling |
| 14 | DS Ds3 | 81.5% | 18.5% | 194,957 | Lighting & signalling |
| 15 | Dacia Sandero | 81.5% | 18.5% | 558,970 | Lighting & signalling |
| 16 | Skoda Fabia | 80.9% | 19.1% | 1,413,453 | Lighting & signalling |
| 17 | Kia Rio | 80.3% | 19.7% | 598,282 | Lighting & signalling |
| 18 | Mazda 2 | 79.9% | 20.1% | 751,826 | Suspension |
| 19 | Nissan Note | 79.0% | 21.1% | 972,739 | Lighting & signalling |
| 20 | Ford Fiesta | 78.8% | 21.1% | 8,785,208 | Lighting & signalling |
| 21 | Volkswagen Polo | 78.8% | 21.2% | 3,845,054 | Lighting & signalling |
| 22 | SEAT Ibiza | 78.4% | 21.6% | 1,202,579 | Lighting & signalling |
| 23 | Citroen C3 | 78.3% | 21.7% | 1,262,865 | Lighting & signalling |
| 24 | Nissan Micra | 78.0% | 22.0% | 1,593,964 | Lighting & signalling |
| 25 | Vauxhall Corsa | 77.6% | 22.4% | 5,864,073 | Lighting & signalling |
| 26 | Ford Fusion | 76.2% | 23.8% | 370,162 | Lighting & signalling |
| 27 | MINI Mini | 76.0% | 23.9% | 1,775,595 | Lighting & signalling |
| 28 | Chrysler Ypsilon | 75.3% | 24.7% | 31,959 | Suspension |
| 29 | Alfa Romeo Mito | 75.2% | 24.8% | 130,277 | Suspension |
| 30 | Rover 25 | 75.0% | 25.0% | 28,262 | Lighting & signalling |
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.