Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 102 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,225,138 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average

MOT tests875,152

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

102About average

MOT tests349,986

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Golf	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
3–5 years	104Above average	102About average
6–9 years	109Well above average	101About average
10–14 years	109Well above average	104Above average
15+ years	101About average	102Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Golf	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2021	90.1%	89.9%
2020	91.0%	89.1%
2019	88.7%	85.9%
2018	87.0%	83.6%
2017	85.8%	80.2%
2016	85.0%	77.8%
2015	82.7%	74.1%
2014	79.4%	70.9%
2013	76.3%	70.3%
2012	68.4%	67.2%
2011	64.8%	65.7%
2010	62.4%	62.8%
2009	62.5%	61.4%
2008	59.7%	58.9%
2007	57.6%	58.2%
2006	54.7%	57.0%
2005	54.5%	58.3%
2004	51.0%	55.9%
2003	56.9%	55.8%
2002	56.8%	53.7%
2001	55.7%	57.4%
2000	56.3%	53.0%
1999	56.0%	48.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Golf	Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Lights & electrics	11.0	7.1
Suspension	11.3	5.3
Brakes	9.9	5.6
Tyres	7.5	8.0
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	3.9
Emissions & leaks	4.2	2.3
Body & chassis	4.2	1.3
Seat belts & airbags	1.3	1.6

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%

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.3%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 102 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Mercedes-Benz A-Class can be compared?

Both were tested for 23 registration years (1999–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 16 of them and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in 7.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Mercedes-Benz A-Class: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken.