Comparison · family hatchbacks

SEAT Leon vs Toyota Auris: which is more reliable?

The Toyota Auris does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 103 for the SEAT Leon, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 334,097 real MOT tests in 2024.

SEAT Leon

103Above average
MOT tests183,084

Toyota Auris

106Above average
MOT tests151,013

By age

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

Age at testSEAT LeonToyota Auris
3–5 years
99About average
94Below average
6–9 years
103Above average
103Above average
10–14 years
107Above average
109Well above average
15+ years
104Above average
105Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSEAT LeonToyota Auris
201982.2%79.9%
201881.5%81.7%
201780.5%80.5%
201681.1%79.4%
201578.8%78.9%
201477.1%77.1%
201373.3%76.4%
201267.0%67.0%
201163.4%65.0%
201061.2%64.2%
200961.3%62.2%
200858.4%59.3%
200758.0%58.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSEAT LeonToyota Auris
Lights & electrics8.020.2
Brakes7.810.7
Suspension8.97.4
Tyres7.76.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.04.5
Emissions & leaks3.41.8
Body & chassis2.41.7
Steering0.51.1

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%

Toyota Auris: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  2. Stop lamp: not working3.1%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the SEAT Leon or the Toyota Auris?

The Toyota Auris does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 103 for the SEAT Leon, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the SEAT Leon and Toyota Auris can be compared?

Both were tested for 13 registration years (2007–2019). The SEAT Leon had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Toyota Auris in 9.

What fails most on each?

SEAT Leon: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Toyota Auris: position lamp: not working; stop lamp: not working.