Comparison · family hatchbacks

Audi A3 vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class: which is more reliable?

The Audi A3 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 102 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 756,657 real MOT tests in 2024.

Audi A3

106Above average

MOT tests406,671

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

102About average

MOT tests349,986

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Audi A3	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
3–5 years	102Above average	102About average
6–9 years	109Well above average	101About average
10–14 years	108Above average	104Above average
15+ years	102Above average	102Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Audi A3	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2021	88.9%	89.9%
2020	88.8%	89.1%
2019	87.9%	85.9%
2018	87.5%	83.6%
2017	85.7%	80.2%
2016	84.3%	77.8%
2015	81.0%	74.1%
2014	77.6%	70.9%
2013	73.8%	70.3%
2012	66.7%	67.2%
2011	65.2%	65.7%
2010	63.2%	62.8%
2009	61.9%	61.4%
2008	59.6%	58.9%
2007	58.2%	58.2%
2006	55.7%	57.0%
2005	55.5%	58.3%
2004	53.6%	55.9%
2003	56.2%	55.8%
2002	57.0%	53.7%
2001	59.2%	57.4%
2000	60.1%	53.0%
1999	61.8%	48.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Audi A3	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Lights & electrics	10.2	7.1
Tyres	8.6	8.0
Suspension	10.3	5.3
Brakes	8.3	5.6
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.1	3.9
Emissions & leaks	3.8	2.3
Body & chassis	3.1	1.3
Seat belts & airbags	1.0	1.6

Audi A3: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.8%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.3%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A3 or the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

The Audi A3 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 102 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class can be compared?

Both were tested for 23 registration years (1999–2021). The Audi A3 had the higher pass rate in 15 of them and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in 8.

What fails most on each?

Audi A3: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Mercedes-Benz A-Class: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken.