Comparison · small hatchbacks

Vauxhall Corsa vs Peugeot 208: which is more reliable?

The Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 are very close at the MOT: scores of 92 and 94. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 1,042,666 real MOT tests in 2024.

Vauxhall Corsa

92Well below average
MOT tests847,664

Peugeot 208

94Below average
MOT tests195,002

By age

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

Age at testVauxhall CorsaPeugeot 208
3–5 years
96Below average
97Below average
6–9 years
92Below average
94Below average
10–14 years
90Well below average
91Well below average
15+ years
91Well below average
–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVauxhall CorsaPeugeot 208
202185.3%87.8%
202081.8%81.4%
201981.1%81.4%
201878.2%76.3%
201773.8%73.5%
201670.3%72.6%
201566.4%69.8%
201458.1%64.3%
201359.8%60.6%
201259.4%59.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVauxhall CorsaPeugeot 208
Lights & electrics20.714.1
Suspension14.95.9
Brakes10.26.6
Emissions & leaks6.38.4
Tyres7.46.3
Body & chassis4.88.2
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.23.9
Steering4.91.1

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%

Peugeot 208: top failures

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  2. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  4. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.0%
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.6%
  6. Exhaust system: system insecure1.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Vauxhall Corsa or the Peugeot 208?

The Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 are very close at the MOT: scores of 92 and 94. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 can be compared?

Both were tested for 10 registration years (2012–2021). The Vauxhall Corsa had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Peugeot 208 in 6.

What fails most on each?

Vauxhall Corsa: coil spring: fractured or broken; stop lamp: not working. Peugeot 208: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; headlamp: not working on dipped beam.