Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs Audi A3: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 106. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 1,281,823 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average

MOT tests875,152

Audi A3

106Above average

MOT tests406,671

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Golf	Audi A3
3–5 years	104Above average	102Above average
6–9 years	109Well above average	109Well above average
10–14 years	109Well above average	108Above average
15+ years	101About average	102Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Golf	Audi A3
2021	90.1%	88.9%
2020	91.0%	88.8%
2019	88.7%	87.9%
2018	87.0%	87.5%
2017	85.8%	85.7%
2016	85.0%	84.3%
2015	82.7%	81.0%
2014	79.4%	77.6%
2013	76.3%	73.8%
2012	68.4%	66.7%
2011	64.8%	65.2%
2010	62.4%	63.2%
2009	62.5%	61.9%
2008	59.7%	59.6%
2007	57.6%	58.2%
2006	54.7%	55.7%
2005	54.5%	55.5%
2004	51.0%	53.6%
2003	56.9%	56.2%
2002	56.8%	57.0%
2001	55.7%	59.2%
2000	56.3%	60.1%
1999	56.0%	61.8%
1998	59.5%	56.6%
1997	65.0%	51.5%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Golf	Audi A3
Suspension	11.3	10.3
Lights & electrics	11.0	10.2
Brakes	9.9	8.3
Tyres	7.5	8.6
Emissions & leaks	4.2	3.8
Body & chassis	4.2	3.1
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	3.1
Seat belts & airbags	1.3	1.0

Volkswagen Golf: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%

Audi A3: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.8%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Audi A3?

The Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 106. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 can be compared?

Both were tested for 25 registration years (1997–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the Audi A3 in 11.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Audi A3: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.