Comparison · small hatchbacks

Toyota Yaris vs Kia Rio: which is more reliable?

The Toyota Yaris does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 97 for the Kia Rio, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 551,645 real MOT tests in 2024.

Toyota Yaris

104Above average
MOT tests454,697

Kia Rio

97Below average
MOT tests96,948

By age

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

Age at testToyota YarisKia Rio
3–5 years
104Above average
101About average
6–9 years
106Above average
103Above average
10–14 years
109Well above average
92Below average
15+ years
99About average
90Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearToyota YarisKia Rio
202193.1%92.0%
202089.0%86.3%
201987.0%84.4%
201885.1%84.3%
201783.0%82.5%
201682.9%77.5%
201580.5%76.0%
201475.8%66.6%
201372.4%61.9%
201270.7%58.7%
201169.3%54.6%
201065.3%55.2%
200965.2%54.3%
200857.5%49.3%
200756.5%48.8%
200654.5%49.6%
200554.1%50.8%
200453.3%47.8%
200353.8%50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaToyota YarisKia Rio
Lights & electrics19.214.3
Brakes7.912.6
Suspension9.710.1
Tyres5.47.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.36.8
Emissions & leaks3.52.8
Body & chassis3.22.1
Steering0.34.4

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%

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 Toyota Yaris or the Kia Rio?

The Toyota Yaris does better at the MOT, with a score of 104 against 97 for the Kia Rio, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Toyota Yaris and Kia Rio can be compared?

Both were tested for 19 registration years (2003–2021). The Toyota Yaris had the higher pass rate in 19 of them and the Kia Rio in 0.

What fails most on each?

Toyota Yaris: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. Kia Rio: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play.