Comparison · family SUVs

Audi Q3 vs BMW X1: which is more reliable?

The Audi Q3 and BMW X1 are very close at the MOT: scores of 107 and 108. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 227,446 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Audi Q3	BMW X1
3–5 years	106Above average	104Above average
6–9 years	107Above average	108Well above average
10–14 years	110Well above average	111Well above average
15+ years	–	–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Audi Q3	BMW X1
2021	91.0%	89.1%
2020	92.4%	90.7%
2019	90.5%	89.7%
2018	87.4%	87.0%
2017	85.5%	86.0%
2016	82.2%	85.7%
2015	78.8%	79.8%
2014	76.0%	73.5%
2013	73.6%	74.0%
2012	71.4%	69.7%
2011	70.9%	70.5%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Audi Q3	BMW X1
Tyres	6.3	7.0
Suspension	6.3	4.0
Lights & electrics	3.3	5.1
Brakes	3.5	3.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	2.3	2.8
Emissions & leaks	1.8	1.0
Body & chassis	0.7	0.9
Seat belts & airbags	0.4	0.2

Audi Q3: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken3.1%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.0%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.9%

BMW X1: top failures

Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.2%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.8%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi Q3 or the BMW X1?

The Audi Q3 and BMW X1 are very close at the MOT: scores of 107 and 108. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 can be compared?

Both were tested for 11 registration years (2011–2021). The Audi Q3 had the higher pass rate in 7 of them and the BMW X1 in 4.

What fails most on each?

Audi Q3: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. BMW X1: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn.