Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Fiat 500: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Polo and Fiat 500 are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 95. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 938,594 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Polo

95Below average
MOT tests613,485

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen PoloFiat 500
3–5 years
100About average
100About average
6–9 years
97Below average
93Below average
10–14 years
96Below average
94Below average
15+ years
88Well below average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen PoloFiat 500
202188.7%88.6%
202087.9%87.4%
201983.1%84.2%
201875.9%79.9%
201777.4%76.0%
201675.5%71.0%
201572.7%65.8%
201467.5%64.5%
201363.6%63.7%
201262.0%61.0%
201158.4%58.8%
201057.1%56.9%
200954.3%54.6%
200851.2%54.2%
200751.4%56.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen PoloFiat 500
Suspension13.318.4
Lights & electrics18.213.2
Brakes13.910.1
Tyres7.07.5
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.15.1
Emissions & leaks6.73.6
Body & chassis6.13.7
Steering3.30.7

Volkswagen Polo: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.9%
  4. Position lamp: not working1.6%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.6%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.4%

Fiat 500: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush2.8%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.5%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Fiat 500?

The Volkswagen Polo and Fiat 500 are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 95. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Fiat 500 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 8 of them and the Fiat 500 in 7.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush.