Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs Kia Ceed: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 991,358 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average
MOT tests875,152

Kia Ceed

93Below average
MOT tests116,206

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen GolfKia Ceed
3–5 years
104Above average
97Below average
6–9 years
109Well above average
99About average
10–14 years
109Well above average
88Well below average
15+ years
101About average
87Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen GolfKia Ceed
202190.1%84.0%
202091.0%84.1%
201988.7%82.3%
201887.0%81.9%
201785.8%78.3%
201685.0%76.2%
201582.7%72.4%
201479.4%65.6%
201376.3%60.9%
201268.4%55.7%
201164.8%50.0%
201062.4%50.3%
200962.5%51.5%
200859.7%49.9%
200757.6%48.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen GolfKia Ceed
Lights & electrics11.018.5
Brakes9.915.7
Suspension11.311.1
Tyres7.58.9
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.46.3
Emissions & leaks4.22.3
Body & chassis4.21.9
Steering1.05.0

Volkswagen Golf: top failures

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

Kia Ceed: top failures

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Kia Ceed?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Kia Ceed can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 15 of them and the Kia Ceed in 0.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Kia Ceed: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.