Comparison · small hatchbacks

Skoda Fabia vs Hyundai i20: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Fabia and Hyundai i20 are very close at the MOT: scores of 100 and 100. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 353,096 real MOT tests in 2024.

Skoda Fabia

100About average
MOT tests227,706

Hyundai i20

100About average
MOT tests125,390

By age

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

Age at testSkoda FabiaHyundai i20
3–5 years
99About average
101About average
6–9 years
100About average
105Above average
10–14 years
106Above average
96Below average
15+ years
94Below average
99About average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSkoda FabiaHyundai i20
202186.4%85.8%
202085.8%89.0%
201984.7%87.8%
201880.1%85.4%
201777.8%83.1%
201676.3%80.7%
201576.5%78.7%
201473.6%69.0%
201371.6%62.0%
201268.1%58.3%
201166.2%59.1%
201063.0%59.3%
200956.8%57.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSkoda FabiaHyundai i20
Lights & electrics14.114.8
Brakes13.112.0
Suspension11.87.1
Tyres7.35.7
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.87.1
Emissions & leaks5.02.4
Body & chassis5.21.9
Steering1.81.1

Skoda Fabia: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.2%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
  4. Position lamp: not working1.8%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Hyundai i20: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.4%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.5%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Fabia or the Hyundai i20?

The Skoda Fabia and Hyundai i20 are very close at the MOT: scores of 100 and 100. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Skoda Fabia and Hyundai i20 can be compared?

Both were tested for 13 registration years (2009–2021). The Skoda Fabia had the higher pass rate in 6 of them and the Hyundai i20 in 7.

What fails most on each?

Skoda Fabia: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Hyundai i20: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.