Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs Citroen C3: which is more reliable?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 91 for the Citroen C3, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 515,427 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

Citroen C3

91Well below average
MOT tests190,318

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500Citroen C3
3–5 years
100About average
102About average
6–9 years
93Below average
94Below average
10–14 years
94Below average
87Well below average
15+ years
94Below average
89Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500Citroen C3
202188.6%90.8%
202087.4%89.1%
201984.2%84.7%
201879.9%79.8%
201776.0%75.0%
201671.0%69.4%
201565.8%66.9%
201464.5%63.9%
201363.7%59.2%
201261.0%54.9%
201158.8%52.9%
201056.9%51.5%
200954.6%50.4%
200854.2%51.2%
200756.8%51.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500Citroen C3
Lights & electrics13.224.9
Suspension18.413.4
Brakes10.18.9
Tyres7.57.4
Body & chassis3.78.6
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.15.7
Emissions & leaks3.65.4
Steering0.73.4

Fiat 500: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush2.8%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.5%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%

Citroen C3: top failures

  1. Stop lamp: not working3.6%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.6%
  6. Position lamp: not working2.4%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the Citroen C3?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 91 for the Citroen C3, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Fiat 500 and Citroen C3 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Fiat 500 had the higher pass rate in 11 of them and the Citroen C3 in 4.

What fails most on each?

Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. Citroen C3: stop lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.