Comparison · family hatchbacks

SEAT Leon vs Hyundai i30: which is more reliable?

The SEAT Leon does better at the MOT, with a score of 103 against 92 for the Hyundai i30, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 286,434 real MOT tests in 2024.

SEAT Leon

103Above average
MOT tests183,084

Hyundai i30

92Below average
MOT tests103,350

By age

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

Age at testSEAT LeonHyundai i30
3–5 years
99About average
101About average
6–9 years
103Above average
96Below average
10–14 years
107Above average
88Well below average
15+ years
104Above average
91Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSEAT LeonHyundai i30
202188.0%85.4%
202086.3%85.5%
201982.2%87.3%
201881.5%84.4%
201780.5%80.2%
201681.1%71.0%
201578.8%68.8%
201477.1%62.3%
201373.3%57.8%
201267.0%55.9%
201163.4%54.3%
201061.2%52.5%
200961.3%53.7%
200858.4%49.9%
200758.0%50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSEAT LeonHyundai i30
Lights & electrics8.021.1
Brakes7.821.1
Suspension8.911.3
Tyres7.78.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.05.5
Steering0.56.2
Emissions & leaks3.42.1
Body & chassis2.42.1

SEAT Leon: top failures

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.8%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%

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 SEAT Leon or the Hyundai i30?

The SEAT Leon does better at the MOT, with a score of 103 against 92 for the Hyundai i30, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the SEAT Leon and Hyundai i30 can be compared?

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

What fails most on each?

SEAT Leon: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Hyundai i30: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; stop lamp: not working.