Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs SEAT Leon: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 103 for the SEAT Leon, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,058,236 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average

MOT tests875,152

SEAT Leon

103Above average

MOT tests183,084

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Golf	SEAT Leon
3–5 years	104Above average	99About average
6–9 years	109Well above average	103Above average
10–14 years	109Well above average	107Above average
15+ years	101About average	104Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Golf	SEAT Leon
2021	90.1%	88.0%
2020	91.0%	86.3%
2019	88.7%	82.2%
2018	87.0%	81.5%
2017	85.8%	80.5%
2016	85.0%	81.1%
2015	82.7%	78.8%
2014	79.4%	77.1%
2013	76.3%	73.3%
2012	68.4%	67.0%
2011	64.8%	63.4%
2010	62.4%	61.2%
2009	62.5%	61.3%
2008	59.7%	58.4%
2007	57.6%	58.0%
2006	54.7%	56.2%
2005	54.5%	59.7%
2004	51.0%	61.4%
2003	56.9%	61.2%
2002	56.8%	61.0%
2001	55.7%	59.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Golf	SEAT Leon
Suspension	11.3	8.9
Lights & electrics	11.0	8.0
Brakes	9.9	7.8
Tyres	7.5	7.7
Emissions & leaks	4.2	3.4
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	4.0
Body & chassis	4.2	2.4
Seat belts & airbags	1.3	0.7

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%

SEAT Leon: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.8%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the SEAT Leon?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 103 for the SEAT Leon, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon can be compared?

Both were tested for 21 registration years (2001–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 14 of them and the SEAT Leon in 7.

What fails most on each?

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