Comparison · small hatchbacks

Nissan Micra vs Skoda Fabia: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 97 for the Nissan Micra, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 466,070 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Nissan Micra	Skoda Fabia
3–5 years	101About average	99About average
6–9 years	96Below average	100About average
10–14 years	100About average	106Above average
15+ years	95Below average	94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Nissan Micra	Skoda Fabia
2021	91.2%	86.4%
2020	88.0%	85.8%
2019	83.4%	84.7%
2018	77.2%	80.1%
2017	71.7%	77.8%
2016	75.6%	76.3%
2015	73.9%	76.5%
2014	69.6%	73.6%
2013	66.5%	71.6%
2012	63.0%	68.1%
2011	61.7%	66.2%
2010	60.5%	63.0%
2009	59.6%	56.8%
2008	58.9%	53.1%
2007	55.2%	53.9%
2006	54.5%	51.7%
2005	51.3%	52.9%
2004	51.8%	51.0%
2003	51.6%	51.1%
2002	54.0%	52.9%
2001	54.3%	56.1%
2000	52.5%	55.7%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Nissan Micra	Skoda Fabia
Lights & electrics	26.6	14.1
Suspension	17.8	11.8
Brakes	9.2	13.1
Tyres	6.3	7.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	7.7	4.8
Body & chassis	4.7	5.2
Emissions & leaks	3.9	5.0
Steering	1.7	1.8

Nissan Micra: top failures

Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
Position lamp: not working3.7%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.8%
Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%

Skoda Fabia: top failures

Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.2%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
Position lamp: not working1.8%
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Nissan Micra or the Skoda Fabia?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 97 for the Nissan Micra, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Nissan Micra and Skoda Fabia can be compared?

Both were tested for 22 registration years (2000–2021). The Nissan Micra had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the Skoda Fabia in 13.

What fails most on each?

Nissan Micra: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working. Skoda Fabia: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.