Comparison · family hatchbacks

Volkswagen Golf vs Toyota Corolla: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 103 for the Toyota Corolla, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 984,418 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average

MOT tests875,152

Toyota Corolla

103Above average

MOT tests109,266

By age

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

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

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Golf	Toyota Corolla
2021	90.1%	89.3%
2020	91.0%	89.1%
2019	88.7%	88.5%
2009	62.5%	61.6%
2008	59.7%	61.2%
2007	57.6%	59.5%
2006	54.7%	60.5%
2005	54.5%	59.6%
2004	51.0%	56.6%
2003	56.9%	56.8%
2002	56.8%	56.9%
2001	55.7%	62.4%
2000	56.3%	62.6%
1999	56.0%	60.5%
1998	59.5%	60.1%
1997	65.0%	61.1%
1996	63.4%	67.8%
1995	65.7%	55.0%
1994	67.3%	67.0%
1993	68.7%	69.5%
1992	70.0%	71.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Golf	Toyota Corolla
Lights & electrics	11.0	18.2
Brakes	9.9	11.6
Suspension	11.3	5.6
Tyres	7.5	5.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	6.5
Emissions & leaks	4.2	3.4
Body & chassis	4.2	3.4
Seat belts & airbags	1.3	1.0

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%

Toyota Corolla: top failures

Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
Position lamp: not working2.8%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.1%
Stop lamp: not working1.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%

Questions

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

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

Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla can be compared?

Both were tested for 21 registration years (1992–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 8 of them and the Toyota Corolla in 13.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Toyota Corolla: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively; position lamp: not working.