Comparison · small hatchbacks
Ford Fiesta vs Nissan Micra: which is more reliable?
The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 94 for the Ford Fiesta, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,598,941 real MOT tests in 2024.
Ford Fiesta
Nissan Micra
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Ford Fiesta | Nissan Micra |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 100About average | 101About average |
| 6–9 years | 94Below average | 96Below average |
| 10–14 years | 93Below average | 100About average |
| 15+ years | 94Below average | 95Below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Ford Fiesta | Nissan Micra |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.6% | 91.2% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | 88.0% |
| 2019 | 85.8% | 83.4% |
| 2018 | 84.1% | 77.2% |
| 2017 | 76.4% | 71.7% |
| 2016 | 68.7% | 75.6% |
| 2015 | 67.3% | 73.9% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | 69.6% |
| 2013 | 61.9% | 66.5% |
| 2012 | 58.8% | 63.0% |
| 2011 | 58.1% | 61.7% |
| 2010 | 55.4% | 60.5% |
| 2009 | 54.0% | 59.6% |
| 2008 | 53.8% | 58.9% |
| 2007 | 54.2% | 55.2% |
| 2006 | 52.6% | 54.5% |
| 2005 | 52.7% | 51.3% |
| 2004 | 52.9% | 51.8% |
| 2003 | 54.1% | 51.6% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | 54.0% |
| 2001 | 56.6% | 54.3% |
| 2000 | 54.7% | 52.5% |
| 1999 | 51.8% | 54.4% |
| 1998 | 51.9% | 54.1% |
| 1997 | 56.8% | 53.5% |
| 1996 | 59.8% | 53.1% |
| 1995 | 65.1% | 56.9% |
| 1994 | 65.8% | 58.7% |
| 1993 | 61.9% | 60.4% |
| 1992 | 72.5% | 69.8% |
| 1991 | 78.8% | 66.1% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Ford Fiesta | Nissan Micra |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 22.1 | 26.6 |
| Suspension | 15.3 | 17.8 |
| Brakes | 7.7 | 9.2 |
| Tyres | 9.0 | 6.3 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 5.2 | 7.7 |
| Emissions & leaks | 5.2 | 3.9 |
| Body & chassis | 3.9 | 4.7 |
| Steering | 3.9 | 1.7 |
Ford Fiesta: top failures
Nissan Micra: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Ford Fiesta or the Nissan Micra?
The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 94 for the Ford Fiesta, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Ford Fiesta and Nissan Micra can be compared?
Both were tested for 31 registration years (1991–2021). The Ford Fiesta had the higher pass rate in 16 of them and the Nissan Micra in 15.
What fails most on each?
Ford Fiesta: stop lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Nissan Micra: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working.