Comparison · family hatchbacks

Kia Ceed vs Hyundai i30: which is more reliable?

The Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 are very close at the MOT: scores of 93 and 92. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 219,556 real MOT tests in 2024.

Kia Ceed

93Below average
MOT tests116,206

Hyundai i30

92Below average
MOT tests103,350

By age

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

Age at testKia CeedHyundai i30
3–5 years
97Below average
101About average
6–9 years
99About average
96Below average
10–14 years
88Well below average
88Well below average
15+ years
87Well below average
91Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearKia CeedHyundai i30
202184.0%85.4%
202084.1%85.5%
201982.3%87.3%
201881.9%84.4%
201778.3%80.2%
201676.2%71.0%
201572.4%68.8%
201465.6%62.3%
201360.9%57.8%
201255.7%55.9%
201150.0%54.3%
201050.3%52.5%
200951.5%53.7%
200849.9%49.9%
200748.0%50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaKia CeedHyundai i30
Lights & electrics18.521.1
Brakes15.721.1
Suspension11.111.3
Tyres8.98.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.35.5
Steering5.06.2
Emissions & leaks2.32.1
Body & chassis1.92.1

Kia Ceed: top failures

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%

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 Kia Ceed or the Hyundai i30?

The Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 are very close at the MOT: scores of 93 and 92. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Kia Ceed had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Hyundai i30 in 11.

What fails most on each?

Kia Ceed: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Hyundai i30: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; stop lamp: not working.