Comparison · family hatchbacks

Honda Civic vs Hyundai i30: which is more reliable?

The Honda Civic does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 92 for the Hyundai i30, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 374,317 real MOT tests in 2024.

Honda Civic

101About average
MOT tests270,967

Hyundai i30

92Below average
MOT tests103,350

By age

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

Age at testHonda CivicHyundai i30
3–5 years
103Above average
101About average
6–9 years
107Above average
96Below average
10–14 years
104Above average
88Well below average
15+ years
96Below average
91Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearHonda CivicHyundai i30
202192.1%85.4%
202089.5%85.5%
201986.7%87.3%
201884.2%84.4%
201784.5%80.2%
201682.7%71.0%
201581.0%68.8%
201477.0%62.3%
201373.4%57.8%
201270.8%55.9%
201158.8%54.3%
201055.7%52.5%
200955.6%53.7%
200854.8%49.9%
200754.5%50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaHonda CivicHyundai i30
Lights & electrics25.721.1
Brakes12.221.1
Suspension13.711.3
Tyres7.28.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.75.5
Steering2.16.2
Emissions & leaks4.12.1
Body & chassis3.62.1

Honda Civic: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working4.3%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.2%
  3. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%

Hyundai i30: top failures

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.9%
  2. Stop lamp: not working4.4%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
  6. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai i30?

The Honda Civic does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 92 for the Hyundai i30, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Honda Civic and Hyundai i30 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Honda Civic had the higher pass rate in 13 of them and the Hyundai i30 in 2.

What fails most on each?

Honda Civic: position lamp: not working; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. Hyundai i30: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; stop lamp: not working.