Comparison · small hatchbacks

Skoda Fabia vs Kia Rio: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 97 for the Kia Rio, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 324,654 real MOT tests in 2024.

Skoda Fabia

100About average
MOT tests227,706

Kia Rio

97Below average
MOT tests96,948

By age

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

Age at testSkoda FabiaKia Rio
3–5 years
99About average
101About average
6–9 years
100About average
103Above average
10–14 years
106Above average
92Below average
15+ years
94Below average
90Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearSkoda FabiaKia Rio
202186.4%92.0%
202085.8%86.3%
201984.7%84.4%
201880.1%84.3%
201777.8%82.5%
201676.3%77.5%
201576.5%76.0%
201473.6%66.6%
201371.6%61.9%
201268.1%58.7%
201166.2%54.6%
201063.0%55.2%
200956.8%54.3%
200853.1%49.3%
200753.9%48.8%
200651.7%49.6%
200552.9%50.8%
200451.0%47.8%
200351.1%50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaSkoda FabiaKia Rio
Lights & electrics14.114.3
Brakes13.112.6
Suspension11.810.1
Tyres7.37.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.86.8
Emissions & leaks5.02.8
Body & chassis5.22.1
Steering1.84.4

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%

Kia Rio: top failures

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.6%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.5%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Fabia or the Kia Rio?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 97 for the Kia Rio, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Skoda Fabia and Kia Rio can be compared?

Both were tested for 19 registration years (2003–2021). The Skoda Fabia had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the Kia Rio in 5.

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. Kia Rio: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play.