Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Nissan Micra: which is more reliable?

The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 95 for the Volkswagen Polo, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 851,849 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	Nissan Micra
3–5 years	100About average	101About average
6–9 years	97Below average	96Below average
10–14 years	96Below average	100About average
15+ years	88Well below average	95Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Polo	Nissan Micra
2021	88.7%	91.2%
2020	87.9%	88.0%
2019	83.1%	83.4%
2018	75.9%	77.2%
2017	77.4%	71.7%
2016	75.5%	75.6%
2015	72.7%	73.9%
2014	67.5%	69.6%
2013	63.6%	66.5%
2012	62.0%	63.0%
2011	58.4%	61.7%
2010	57.1%	60.5%
2009	54.3%	59.6%
2008	51.2%	58.9%
2007	51.4%	55.2%
2006	48.4%	54.5%
2005	48.2%	51.3%
2004	47.3%	51.8%
2003	47.5%	51.6%
2002	48.7%	54.0%
2001	54.0%	54.3%
2000	55.4%	52.5%
1999	62.2%	54.4%
1998	56.3%	54.1%
1997	59.7%	53.5%
1996	58.8%	53.1%
1995	62.5%	56.9%
1994	66.5%	58.7%
1993	56.3%	60.4%
1992	68.0%	69.8%
1991	66.2%	66.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Polo	Nissan Micra
Lights & electrics	18.2	26.6
Suspension	13.3	17.8
Brakes	13.9	9.2
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	6.1	7.7
Tyres	7.0	6.3
Body & chassis	6.1	4.7
Emissions & leaks	6.7	3.9
Steering	3.3	1.7

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%

Nissan Micra: top failures

Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
Position lamp: not working3.7%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.8%
Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Nissan Micra?

The Nissan Micra does better at the MOT, with a score of 97 against 95 for the Volkswagen Polo, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Nissan Micra can be compared?

Both were tested for 31 registration years (1991–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the Nissan Micra in 22.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Nissan Micra: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working.