Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs SEAT Ibiza: which is more reliable?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 92 for the SEAT Ibiza, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 516,274 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

SEAT Ibiza

92Well below average
MOT tests191,165

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500SEAT Ibiza
3–5 years
100About average
100About average
6–9 years
93Below average
89Well below average
10–14 years
94Below average
92Well below average
15+ years
94Below average
88Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500SEAT Ibiza
202188.6%87.8%
202087.4%86.4%
201984.2%85.6%
201879.9%75.1%
201776.0%70.5%
201671.0%68.3%
201565.8%64.5%
201464.5%62.4%
201363.7%60.3%
201261.0%60.0%
201158.8%57.9%
201056.9%55.9%
200954.6%53.3%
200854.2%48.7%
200756.8%47.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500SEAT Ibiza
Suspension18.415.1
Lights & electrics13.215.4
Brakes10.114.5
Tyres7.59.4
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.16.8
Emissions & leaks3.65.0
Body & chassis3.74.8
Steering0.73.7

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%

SEAT Ibiza: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.4%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.2%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the SEAT Ibiza?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 92 for the SEAT Ibiza, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Fiat 500 and SEAT Ibiza can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Fiat 500 had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the SEAT Ibiza in 1.

What fails most on each?

Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. SEAT Ibiza: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.