Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Kia Rio: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Polo and Kia Rio are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 97. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 710,433 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Polo	Kia Rio
3–5 years	100About average	101About average
6–9 years	97Below average	103Above average
10–14 years	96Below average	92Below average
15+ years	88Well below average	90Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Polo	Kia Rio
2021	88.7%	92.0%
2020	87.9%	86.3%
2019	83.1%	84.4%
2018	75.9%	84.3%
2017	77.4%	82.5%
2016	75.5%	77.5%
2015	72.7%	76.0%
2014	67.5%	66.6%
2013	63.6%	61.9%
2012	62.0%	58.7%
2011	58.4%	54.6%
2010	57.1%	55.2%
2009	54.3%	54.3%
2008	51.2%	49.3%
2007	51.4%	48.8%
2006	48.4%	49.6%
2005	48.2%	50.8%
2004	47.3%	47.8%
2003	47.5%	50.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Polo	Kia Rio
Lights & electrics	18.2	14.3
Brakes	13.9	12.6
Suspension	13.3	10.1
Tyres	7.0	7.8
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	6.1	6.8
Emissions & leaks	6.7	2.8
Body & chassis	6.1	2.1
Steering	3.3	4.4

Volkswagen Polo: top failures

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

Kia Rio: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%
Position lamp: not working2.5%
Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Kia Rio?

The Volkswagen Polo and Kia Rio are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 97. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Kia Rio can be compared?

Both were tested for 19 registration years (2003–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the Kia Rio in 10.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Kia Rio: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play.