Comparison · small hatchbacks
Ford Fiesta vs Vauxhall Corsa: which is more reliable?
The Ford Fiesta does better at the MOT, with a score of 94 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 2,208,241 real MOT tests in 2024.
Ford Fiesta
Vauxhall Corsa
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Ford Fiesta | Vauxhall Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 100About average | 96Below average |
| 6–9 years | 94Below average | 92Below average |
| 10–14 years | 93Below average | 90Well below average |
| 15+ years | 94Below average | 91Well below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Ford Fiesta | Vauxhall Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.6% | 85.3% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | 81.8% |
| 2019 | 85.8% | 81.1% |
| 2018 | 84.1% | 78.2% |
| 2017 | 76.4% | 73.8% |
| 2016 | 68.7% | 70.3% |
| 2015 | 67.3% | 66.4% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | 58.1% |
| 2013 | 61.9% | 59.8% |
| 2012 | 58.8% | 59.4% |
| 2011 | 58.1% | 58.4% |
| 2010 | 55.4% | 55.7% |
| 2009 | 54.0% | 54.4% |
| 2008 | 53.8% | 53.3% |
| 2007 | 54.2% | 52.6% |
| 2006 | 52.6% | 49.5% |
| 2005 | 52.7% | 48.9% |
| 2004 | 52.9% | 49.9% |
| 2003 | 54.1% | 49.6% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | 50.6% |
| 2001 | 56.6% | 50.0% |
| 2000 | 54.7% | 57.3% |
| 1999 | 51.8% | 60.4% |
| 1998 | 51.9% | 60.5% |
| 1997 | 56.8% | 59.6% |
| 1996 | 59.8% | 61.6% |
| 1995 | 65.1% | 61.5% |
| 1994 | 65.8% | 68.3% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Ford Fiesta | Vauxhall Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 22.1 | 20.7 |
| Suspension | 15.3 | 14.9 |
| Brakes | 7.7 | 10.2 |
| Tyres | 9.0 | 7.4 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 5.2 | 7.2 |
| Emissions & leaks | 5.2 | 6.3 |
| Steering | 3.9 | 4.9 |
| Body & chassis | 3.9 | 4.8 |
Ford Fiesta: top failures
Vauxhall Corsa: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Ford Fiesta or the Vauxhall Corsa?
The Ford Fiesta does better at the MOT, with a score of 94 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa can be compared?
Both were tested for 28 registration years (1994–2021). The Ford Fiesta had the higher pass rate in 17 of them and the Vauxhall Corsa in 11.
What fails most on each?
Ford Fiesta: stop lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Vauxhall Corsa: coil spring: fractured or broken; stop lamp: not working.