Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs Toyota Auris: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 106. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 1,026,165 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average
MOT tests875,152

Toyota Auris

106Above average
MOT tests151,013

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen GolfToyota Auris
3–5 years
104Above average
94Below average
6–9 years
109Well above average
103Above average
10–14 years
109Well above average
109Well above average
15+ years
101About average
105Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen GolfToyota Auris
201988.7%79.9%
201887.0%81.7%
201785.8%80.5%
201685.0%79.4%
201582.7%78.9%
201479.4%77.1%
201376.3%76.4%
201268.4%67.0%
201164.8%65.0%
201062.4%64.2%
200962.5%62.2%
200859.7%59.3%
200757.6%58.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen GolfToyota Auris
Lights & electrics11.020.2
Brakes9.910.7
Suspension11.37.4
Tyres7.56.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.44.5
Emissions & leaks4.21.8
Body & chassis4.21.7
Steering1.01.1

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%

Toyota Auris: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  2. Stop lamp: not working3.1%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Toyota Auris?

The Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris 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 Toyota Auris can be compared?

Both were tested for 13 registration years (2007–2019). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the Toyota Auris in 4.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Toyota Auris: position lamp: not working; stop lamp: not working.