Comparison · small hatchbacks

Toyota Yaris vs Fiat 500: which is more reliable?

The Toyota Yaris does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 779,806 real MOT tests in 2024.

Toyota Yaris

104Above average
MOT tests454,697

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

By age

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

Age at testToyota YarisFiat 500
3–5 years
104Above average
100About average
6–9 years
106Above average
93Below average
10–14 years
109Well above average
94Below average
15+ years
99About average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearToyota YarisFiat 500
202193.1%88.6%
202089.0%87.4%
201987.0%84.2%
201885.1%79.9%
201783.0%76.0%
201682.9%71.0%
201580.5%65.8%
201475.8%64.5%
201372.4%63.7%
201270.7%61.0%
201169.3%58.8%
201065.3%56.9%
200965.2%54.6%
200857.5%54.2%
200756.5%56.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaToyota YarisFiat 500
Lights & electrics19.213.2
Suspension9.718.4
Brakes7.910.1
Tyres5.47.5
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.35.1
Emissions & leaks3.53.6
Body & chassis3.23.7
Seat belts & airbags0.70.5

Toyota Yaris: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.5%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.8%
  5. Stop lamp: not working1.4%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.2%

Fiat 500: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush2.8%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.5%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Toyota Yaris or the Fiat 500?

The Toyota Yaris does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 95 for the Fiat 500, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Toyota Yaris and Fiat 500 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Toyota Yaris had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the Fiat 500 in 1.

What fails most on each?

Toyota Yaris: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush.