Comparison · executive cars

Audi A4 vs Vauxhall Insignia: which is more reliable?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 97 for the Vauxhall Insignia, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 433,318 real MOT tests in 2024.

Audi A4

106Above average
MOT tests244,655

Vauxhall Insignia

97Below average
MOT tests188,663

By age

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

Age at testAudi A4Vauxhall Insignia
3–5 years
102About average
96Below average
6–9 years
102Above average
94Below average
10–14 years
110Well above average
99About average
15+ years
109Well above average
99About average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearAudi A4Vauxhall Insignia
202187.7%83.8%
202088.6%83.1%
201986.5%81.1%
201883.5%81.5%
201781.1%76.7%
201678.5%69.7%
201575.7%68.9%
201473.9%66.0%
201372.9%65.6%
201271.3%63.5%
201169.4%63.4%
201067.7%61.0%
200965.7%58.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaAudi A4Vauxhall Insignia
Lights & electrics11.515.0
Suspension11.312.6
Tyres8.89.8
Brakes7.69.3
Emissions & leaks3.94.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.44.4
Body & chassis4.62.9
Steering1.50.5

Audi A4: top failures

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

Vauxhall Insignia: top failures

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.6%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%
  6. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.4%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A4 or the Vauxhall Insignia?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 97 for the Vauxhall Insignia, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Audi A4 and Vauxhall Insignia can be compared?

Both were tested for 13 registration years (2009–2021). The Audi A4 had the higher pass rate in 13 of them and the Vauxhall Insignia in 0.

What fails most on each?

Audi A4: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Vauxhall Insignia: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.