Comparison · family hatchbacks

SEAT Leon vs Kia Ceed: which is more reliable?

The SEAT Leon does better at the MOT, with a score of 103 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 299,290 real MOT tests in 2024.

SEAT Leon

103Above average
MOT tests183,084

Kia Ceed

93Below average
MOT tests116,206

By age

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

Age at testSEAT LeonKia Ceed
3–5 years
99About average
97Below average
6–9 years
103Above average
99About average
10–14 years
107Above average
88Well below average
15+ years
104Above average
87Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSEAT LeonKia Ceed
202188.0%84.0%
202086.3%84.1%
201982.2%82.3%
201881.5%81.9%
201780.5%78.3%
201681.1%76.2%
201578.8%72.4%
201477.1%65.6%
201373.3%60.9%
201267.0%55.7%
201163.4%50.0%
201061.2%50.3%
200961.3%51.5%
200858.4%49.9%
200758.0%48.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSEAT LeonKia Ceed
Lights & electrics8.018.5
Brakes7.815.7
Suspension8.911.1
Tyres7.78.9
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.06.3
Emissions & leaks3.42.3
Steering0.55.0
Body & chassis2.41.9

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%

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%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the SEAT Leon or the Kia Ceed?

The SEAT Leon does better at the MOT, with a score of 103 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the SEAT Leon and Kia Ceed 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 Kia Ceed in 2.

What fails most on each?

SEAT Leon: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Kia Ceed: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.