Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Peugeot 208: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 94. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 808,487 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Polo

95Below average
MOT tests613,485

Peugeot 208

94Below average
MOT tests195,002

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen PoloPeugeot 208
3–5 years
100About average
97Below average
6–9 years
97Below average
94Below average
10–14 years
96Below average
91Well below average
15+ years
88Well below average
–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen PoloPeugeot 208
202188.7%87.8%
202087.9%81.4%
201983.1%81.4%
201875.9%76.3%
201777.4%73.5%
201675.5%72.6%
201572.7%69.8%
201467.5%64.3%
201363.6%60.6%
201262.0%59.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen PoloPeugeot 208
Lights & electrics18.214.1
Brakes13.96.6
Suspension13.35.9
Emissions & leaks6.78.4
Body & chassis6.18.2
Tyres7.06.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.13.9
Steering3.31.1

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%

Peugeot 208: top failures

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  2. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  4. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.0%
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.6%
  6. Exhaust system: system insecure1.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Peugeot 208?

The Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 are very close at the MOT: scores of 95 and 94. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 can be compared?

Both were tested for 10 registration years (2012–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 9 of them and the Peugeot 208 in 1.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Peugeot 208: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; headlamp: not working on dipped beam.