Comparison · family hatchbacks
Volkswagen Golf vs Honda Civic: which is more reliable?
The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 101 for the Honda Civic, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,146,119 real MOT tests in 2024.
Volkswagen Golf
Honda Civic
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Volkswagen Golf | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 104Above average | 103Above average |
| 6–9 years | 109Well above average | 107Above average |
| 10–14 years | 109Well above average | 104Above average |
| 15+ years | 101About average | 96Below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Volkswagen Golf | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.1% | 92.1% |
| 2020 | 91.0% | 89.5% |
| 2019 | 88.7% | 86.7% |
| 2018 | 87.0% | 84.2% |
| 2017 | 85.8% | 84.5% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | 82.7% |
| 2015 | 82.7% | 81.0% |
| 2014 | 79.4% | 77.0% |
| 2013 | 76.3% | 73.4% |
| 2012 | 68.4% | 70.8% |
| 2011 | 64.8% | 58.8% |
| 2010 | 62.4% | 55.7% |
| 2009 | 62.5% | 55.6% |
| 2008 | 59.7% | 54.8% |
| 2007 | 57.6% | 54.5% |
| 2006 | 54.7% | 54.0% |
| 2005 | 54.5% | 56.0% |
| 2004 | 51.0% | 55.2% |
| 2003 | 56.9% | 53.2% |
| 2002 | 56.8% | 54.2% |
| 2001 | 55.7% | 52.9% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | 63.4% |
| 1999 | 56.0% | 61.1% |
| 1998 | 59.5% | 58.4% |
| 1997 | 65.0% | 59.8% |
| 1996 | 63.4% | 58.7% |
| 1995 | 65.7% | 70.6% |
| 1994 | 67.3% | 74.3% |
| 1993 | 68.7% | 74.1% |
| 1992 | 70.0% | 78.0% |
| 1991 | 73.5% | 76.9% |
| 1990 | 67.7% | 75.0% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Volkswagen Golf | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 11.0 | 25.7 |
| Suspension | 11.3 | 13.7 |
| Brakes | 9.9 | 12.2 |
| Tyres | 7.5 | 7.2 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 3.4 | 5.7 |
| Emissions & leaks | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Body & chassis | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| Steering | 1.0 | 2.1 |
Volkswagen Golf: top failures
Honda Civic: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Honda Civic?
The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 101 for the Honda Civic, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic can be compared?
Both were tested for 32 registration years (1990–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 20 of them and the Honda Civic in 12.
What fails most on each?
Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Honda Civic: position lamp: not working; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect.