Comparison · small hatchbacks

Peugeot 208 vs SEAT Ibiza: which is more reliable?

The Peugeot 208 and SEAT Ibiza are very close at the MOT: scores of 94 and 92. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 386,167 real MOT tests in 2024.

Peugeot 208

94Below average
MOT tests195,002

SEAT Ibiza

92Well below average
MOT tests191,165

By age

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

Age at testPeugeot 208SEAT Ibiza
3–5 years
97Below average
100About average
6–9 years
94Below average
89Well below average
10–14 years
91Well below average
92Well below average
15+ years–
88Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearPeugeot 208SEAT Ibiza
202187.8%87.8%
202081.4%86.4%
201981.4%85.6%
201876.3%75.1%
201773.5%70.5%
201672.6%68.3%
201569.8%64.5%
201464.3%62.4%
201360.6%60.3%
201259.0%60.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaPeugeot 208SEAT Ibiza
Lights & electrics14.115.4
Brakes6.614.5
Suspension5.915.1
Tyres6.39.4
Emissions & leaks8.45.0
Body & chassis8.24.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.96.8
Steering1.13.7

Peugeot 208: top failures

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  2. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  4. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.0%
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.6%
  6. Exhaust system: system insecure1.5%

SEAT Ibiza: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.4%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.2%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Peugeot 208 or the SEAT Ibiza?

The Peugeot 208 and SEAT Ibiza are very close at the MOT: scores of 94 and 92. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Peugeot 208 and SEAT Ibiza can be compared?

Both were tested for 10 registration years (2012–2021). The Peugeot 208 had the higher pass rate in 6 of them and the SEAT Ibiza in 4.

What fails most on each?

Peugeot 208: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; headlamp: not working on dipped beam. SEAT Ibiza: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.