Comparison · small hatchbacks
Volkswagen Polo vs Citroen C3: which is more reliable?
The Volkswagen Polo does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 91 for the Citroen C3, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 803,803 real MOT tests in 2024.
Volkswagen Polo
Citroen C3
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Volkswagen Polo | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 100About average | 102About average |
| 6–9 years | 97Below average | 94Below average |
| 10–14 years | 96Below average | 87Well below average |
| 15+ years | 88Well below average | 89Well below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Volkswagen Polo | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88.7% | 90.8% |
| 2020 | 87.9% | 89.1% |
| 2019 | 83.1% | 84.7% |
| 2018 | 75.9% | 79.8% |
| 2017 | 77.4% | 75.0% |
| 2016 | 75.5% | 69.4% |
| 2015 | 72.7% | 66.9% |
| 2014 | 67.5% | 63.9% |
| 2013 | 63.6% | 59.2% |
| 2012 | 62.0% | 54.9% |
| 2011 | 58.4% | 52.9% |
| 2010 | 57.1% | 51.5% |
| 2009 | 54.3% | 50.4% |
| 2008 | 51.2% | 51.2% |
| 2007 | 51.4% | 51.4% |
| 2006 | 48.4% | 52.3% |
| 2005 | 48.2% | 49.9% |
| 2004 | 47.3% | 49.7% |
| 2003 | 47.5% | 48.6% |
| 2002 | 48.7% | 50.6% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Volkswagen Polo | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 18.2 | 24.9 |
| Suspension | 13.3 | 13.4 |
| Brakes | 13.9 | 8.9 |
| Body & chassis | 6.1 | 8.6 |
| Tyres | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Emissions & leaks | 6.7 | 5.4 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 6.1 | 5.7 |
| Steering | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Volkswagen Polo: top failures
Citroen C3: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Citroen C3?
The Volkswagen Polo does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 91 for the Citroen C3, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Citroen C3 can be compared?
Both were tested for 20 registration years (2002–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 11 of them and the Citroen C3 in 9.
What fails most on each?
Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Citroen C3: stop lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.