Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs Nissan Micra: which is more reliable?

The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 563,473 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

Nissan Micra

97Below average
MOT tests238,364

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500Nissan Micra
3–5 years
100About average
101About average
6–9 years
93Below average
96Below average
10–14 years
94Below average
100About average
15+ years
94Below average
95Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500Nissan Micra
202188.6%91.2%
202087.4%88.0%
201984.2%83.4%
201879.9%77.2%
201776.0%71.7%
201671.0%75.6%
201565.8%73.9%
201464.5%69.6%
201363.7%66.5%
201261.0%63.0%
201158.8%61.7%
201056.9%60.5%
200954.6%59.6%
200854.2%58.9%
200756.8%55.2%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500Nissan Micra
Lights & electrics13.226.6
Suspension18.417.8
Brakes10.19.2
Tyres7.56.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.17.7
Body & chassis3.74.7
Emissions & leaks3.63.9
Seat belts & airbags0.51.8

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%

Nissan Micra: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.8%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the Nissan Micra?

The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Fiat 500 and Nissan Micra can be compared?

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

What fails most on each?

Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. Nissan Micra: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working.