Comparison · small hatchbacks

Honda Jazz vs Fiat 500: which is more reliable?

The Honda Jazz does better at the MOT, with a score of 109 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 654,431 real MOT tests in 2024.

Honda Jazz

109Well above average
MOT tests329,322

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

By age

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

Age at testHonda JazzFiat 500
3–5 years
107Above average
100About average
6–9 years
112Well above average
93Below average
10–14 years
118Well above average
94Below average
15+ years
100About average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearHonda JazzFiat 500
202193.4%88.6%
202092.4%87.4%
201991.6%84.2%
201889.4%79.9%
201788.5%76.0%
201687.8%71.0%
201585.0%65.8%
201482.1%64.5%
201380.1%63.7%
201276.6%61.0%
201174.4%58.8%
201068.8%56.9%
200965.8%54.6%
200857.0%54.2%
200755.5%56.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaHonda JazzFiat 500
Lights & electrics14.613.2
Suspension8.318.4
Brakes13.210.1
Tyres5.37.5
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.75.1
Emissions & leaks3.83.6
Body & chassis2.63.7
Steering0.80.7

Honda Jazz: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.6%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.9%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.1%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%
  6. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.2%

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%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda Jazz or the Fiat 500?

The Honda Jazz does better at the MOT, with a score of 109 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Honda Jazz and Fiat 500 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Honda Jazz had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the Fiat 500 in 1.

What fails most on each?

Honda Jazz: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush.