Comparison · small hatchbacks
Ford Fiesta vs SEAT Ibiza: which is more reliable?
The Ford Fiesta does better at the MOT, with a score of 94 against 92 for the SEAT Ibiza, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,551,742 real MOT tests in 2024.
Ford Fiesta
SEAT Ibiza
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Ford Fiesta | SEAT Ibiza |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 100About average | 100About average |
| 6–9 years | 94Below average | 89Well below average |
| 10–14 years | 93Below average | 92Well below average |
| 15+ years | 94Below average | 88Well below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Ford Fiesta | SEAT Ibiza |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.6% | 87.8% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | 86.4% |
| 2019 | 85.8% | 85.6% |
| 2018 | 84.1% | 75.1% |
| 2017 | 76.4% | 70.5% |
| 2016 | 68.7% | 68.3% |
| 2015 | 67.3% | 64.5% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | 62.4% |
| 2013 | 61.9% | 60.3% |
| 2012 | 58.8% | 60.0% |
| 2011 | 58.1% | 57.9% |
| 2010 | 55.4% | 55.9% |
| 2009 | 54.0% | 53.3% |
| 2008 | 53.8% | 48.7% |
| 2007 | 54.2% | 47.0% |
| 2006 | 52.6% | 49.9% |
| 2005 | 52.7% | 50.1% |
| 2004 | 52.9% | 51.3% |
| 2003 | 54.1% | 49.9% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | 55.0% |
| 2001 | 56.6% | 56.3% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Ford Fiesta | SEAT Ibiza |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 22.1 | 15.4 |
| Suspension | 15.3 | 15.1 |
| Brakes | 7.7 | 14.5 |
| Tyres | 9.0 | 9.4 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 5.2 | 6.8 |
| Emissions & leaks | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Body & chassis | 3.9 | 4.8 |
| Steering | 3.9 | 3.7 |
Ford Fiesta: top failures
SEAT Ibiza: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Ford Fiesta or the SEAT Ibiza?
The Ford Fiesta does better at the MOT, with a score of 94 against 92 for the SEAT Ibiza, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Ford Fiesta and SEAT Ibiza can be compared?
Both were tested for 21 registration years (2001–2021). The Ford Fiesta had the higher pass rate in 18 of them and the SEAT Ibiza in 3.
What fails most on each?
Ford Fiesta: stop lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. SEAT Ibiza: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.