Comparison · small hatchbacks

Fiat 500 vs Skoda Fabia: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Fabia 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 552,815 real MOT tests in 2024.

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

Skoda Fabia

100About average
MOT tests227,706

By age

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

Age at testFiat 500Skoda Fabia
3–5 years
100About average
99About average
6–9 years
93Below average
100About average
10–14 years
94Below average
106Above average
15+ years
94Below average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFiat 500Skoda Fabia
202188.6%86.4%
202087.4%85.8%
201984.2%84.7%
201879.9%80.1%
201776.0%77.8%
201671.0%76.3%
201565.8%76.5%
201464.5%73.6%
201363.7%71.6%
201261.0%68.1%
201158.8%66.2%
201056.9%63.0%
200954.6%56.8%
200854.2%53.1%
200756.8%53.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFiat 500Skoda Fabia
Suspension18.411.8
Lights & electrics13.214.1
Brakes10.113.1
Tyres7.57.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.14.8
Body & chassis3.75.2
Emissions & leaks3.65.0
Steering0.71.8

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%

Skoda Fabia: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.2%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
  4. Position lamp: not working1.8%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Fiat 500 or the Skoda Fabia?

The Skoda Fabia 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 Skoda Fabia 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 Skoda Fabia 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. Skoda Fabia: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.