Comparison · small hatchbacks

Vauxhall Corsa vs Fiat 500: which is more reliable?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,172,773 real MOT tests in 2024.

Vauxhall Corsa

92Well below average
MOT tests847,664

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

By age

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

Age at testVauxhall CorsaFiat 500
3–5 years
96Below average
100About average
6–9 years
92Below average
93Below average
10–14 years
90Well below average
94Below average
15+ years
91Well below average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVauxhall CorsaFiat 500
202185.3%88.6%
202081.8%87.4%
201981.1%84.2%
201878.2%79.9%
201773.8%76.0%
201670.3%71.0%
201566.4%65.8%
201458.1%64.5%
201359.8%63.7%
201259.4%61.0%
201158.4%58.8%
201055.7%56.9%
200954.4%54.6%
200853.3%54.2%
200752.6%56.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVauxhall CorsaFiat 500
Lights & electrics20.713.2
Suspension14.918.4
Brakes10.210.1
Tyres7.47.5
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.25.1
Emissions & leaks6.33.6
Body & chassis4.83.7
Steering4.90.7

Vauxhall Corsa: top failures

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.3%
  2. Stop lamp: not working3.2%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.5%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.3%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%

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 Vauxhall Corsa or the Fiat 500?

The Fiat 500 does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Vauxhall Corsa and Fiat 500 can be compared?

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

What fails most on each?

Vauxhall Corsa: coil spring: fractured or broken; stop lamp: not working. Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush.