Comparison · family hatchbacks

SEAT Leon vs Toyota Corolla: which is more reliable?

The SEAT Leon and Toyota Corolla are very close at the MOT: scores of 103 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 292,350 real MOT tests in 2024.

SEAT Leon

103Above average
MOT tests183,084

Toyota Corolla

103Above average
MOT tests109,266

By age

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

Age at testSEAT LeonToyota Corolla
3–5 years
99About average
103Above average
6–9 years
103Above average
–
10–14 years
107Above average
–
15+ years
104Above average
104Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSEAT LeonToyota Corolla
202188.0%89.3%
202086.3%89.1%
201982.2%88.5%
200961.3%61.6%
200858.4%61.2%
200758.0%59.5%
200656.2%60.5%
200559.7%59.6%
200461.4%56.6%
200361.2%56.8%
200261.0%56.9%
200159.4%62.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSEAT LeonToyota Corolla
Lights & electrics8.018.2
Brakes7.811.6
Suspension8.95.6
Tyres7.75.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.06.5
Emissions & leaks3.43.4
Body & chassis2.43.4
Seat belts & airbags0.71.0

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 Corolla: top failures

  1. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
  2. Position lamp: not working2.8%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.1%
  4. Stop lamp: not working1.8%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%

Questions

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

The SEAT Leon and Toyota Corolla are very close at the MOT: scores of 103 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

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

Both were tested for 12 registration years (2001–2021). The SEAT Leon had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Toyota Corolla in 8.

What fails most on each?

SEAT Leon: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Toyota Corolla: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively; position lamp: not working.