Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs Kia Rio: which is more reliable?

The Fiat 500 and Kia Rio are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 97. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 422,057 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

Kia Rio

97Below average
MOT tests96,948

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500Kia Rio
3–5 years
100About average
101About average
6–9 years
93Below average
103Above average
10–14 years
94Below average
92Below average
15+ years
94Below average
90Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500Kia Rio
202188.6%92.0%
202087.4%86.3%
201984.2%84.4%
201879.9%84.3%
201776.0%82.5%
201671.0%77.5%
201565.8%76.0%
201464.5%66.6%
201363.7%61.9%
201261.0%58.7%
201158.8%54.6%
201056.9%55.2%
200954.6%54.3%
200854.2%49.3%
200756.8%48.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500Kia Rio
Suspension18.410.1
Lights & electrics13.214.3
Brakes10.112.6
Tyres7.57.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.16.8
Emissions & leaks3.62.8
Body & chassis3.72.1
Steering0.74.4

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%

Kia Rio: top failures

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.6%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.5%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the Kia Rio?

The Fiat 500 and Kia Rio are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 97. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Fiat 500 and Kia Rio can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Fiat 500 had the higher pass rate in 8 of them and the Kia Rio in 7.

What fails most on each?

Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. Kia Rio: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play.