Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Honda Jazz: which is more reliable?

The Honda Jazz does better at the MOT, with a score of 109 against 95 for the Volkswagen Polo, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 942,807 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Polo

95Below average
MOT tests613,485

Honda Jazz

109Well above average
MOT tests329,322

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen PoloHonda Jazz
3–5 years
100About average
107Above average
6–9 years
97Below average
112Well above average
10–14 years
96Below average
118Well above average
15+ years
88Well below average
100About average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen PoloHonda Jazz
202188.7%93.4%
202087.9%92.4%
201983.1%91.6%
201875.9%89.4%
201777.4%88.5%
201675.5%87.8%
201572.7%85.0%
201467.5%82.1%
201363.6%80.1%
201262.0%76.6%
201158.4%74.4%
201057.1%68.8%
200954.3%65.8%
200851.2%57.0%
200751.4%55.5%
200648.4%55.0%
200548.2%53.7%
200447.3%53.6%
200347.5%53.8%
200248.7%53.6%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen PoloHonda Jazz
Lights & electrics18.214.6
Brakes13.913.2
Suspension13.38.3
Tyres7.05.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.15.7
Emissions & leaks6.73.8
Body & chassis6.12.6
Steering3.30.8

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%

Honda Jazz: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working3.6%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.9%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.1%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%
  6. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.2%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Honda Jazz?

The Honda Jazz does better at the MOT, with a score of 109 against 95 for the Volkswagen Polo, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz can be compared?

Both were tested for 20 registration years (2002–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 0 of them and the Honda Jazz in 20.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Honda Jazz: position lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.