Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs Hyundai i20: which is more reliable?

The Hyundai i20 does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 450,499 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

Hyundai i20

100About average
MOT tests125,390

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500Hyundai i20
3–5 years
100About average
101About average
6–9 years
93Below average
105Above average
10–14 years
94Below average
96Below average
15+ years
94Below average
99About average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500Hyundai i20
202188.6%85.8%
202087.4%89.0%
201984.2%87.8%
201879.9%85.4%
201776.0%83.1%
201671.0%80.7%
201565.8%78.7%
201464.5%69.0%
201363.7%62.0%
201261.0%58.3%
201158.8%59.1%
201056.9%59.3%
200954.6%57.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500Hyundai i20
Lights & electrics13.214.8
Suspension18.47.1
Brakes10.112.0
Tyres7.55.7
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.17.1
Emissions & leaks3.62.4
Body & chassis3.71.9
Seat belts & airbags0.51.4

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%

Hyundai i20: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.4%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.5%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i20?

The Hyundai i20 does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Fiat 500 and Hyundai i20 can be compared?

Both were tested for 13 registration years (2009–2021). The Fiat 500 had the higher pass rate in 3 of them and the Hyundai i20 in 10.

What fails most on each?

Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. Hyundai i20: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.