Comparison · family hatchbacks

Skoda Octavia vs SEAT Leon: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 383,481 real MOT tests in 2024.

Skoda Octavia

104Above average

MOT tests200,397

SEAT Leon

103Above average

MOT tests183,084

By age

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

Age at test	Skoda Octavia	SEAT Leon
3–5 years	101About average	99About average
6–9 years	105Above average	103Above average
10–14 years	106Above average	107Above average
15+ years	100About average	104Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Skoda Octavia	SEAT Leon
2021	89.7%	88.0%
2020	87.6%	86.3%
2019	85.6%	82.2%
2018	85.0%	81.5%
2017	83.2%	80.5%
2016	81.2%	81.1%
2015	78.9%	78.8%
2014	76.5%	77.1%
2013	72.1%	73.3%
2012	66.1%	67.0%
2011	63.7%	63.4%
2010	62.2%	61.2%
2009	60.5%	61.3%
2008	57.3%	58.4%
2007	56.3%	58.0%
2006	54.6%	56.2%
2005	55.5%	59.7%
2004	58.9%	61.4%
2003	58.0%	61.2%
2002	58.4%	61.0%
2001	56.8%	59.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Skoda Octavia	SEAT Leon
Suspension	10.3	8.9
Lights & electrics	10.8	8.0
Brakes	8.1	7.8
Tyres	7.1	7.7
Emissions & leaks	3.2	3.4
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	2.4	4.0
Body & chassis	2.4	2.4
Seat belts & airbags	1.1	0.7

Skoda Octavia: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.3%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.0%

SEAT Leon: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.8%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Octavia or the SEAT Leon?

The Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon can be compared?

Both were tested for 21 registration years (2001–2021). The Skoda Octavia had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the SEAT Leon in 12.

What fails most on each?

Skoda Octavia: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. SEAT Leon: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.