Comparison · small hatchbacks

Volkswagen Polo vs Renault Clio: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Polo does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 83 for the Renault Clio, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 930,334 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	Renault Clio
3–5 years	100About average	95Below average
6–9 years	97Below average	83Well below average
10–14 years	96Below average	78Well below average
15+ years	88Well below average	83Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Polo	Renault Clio
2021	88.7%	87.0%
2020	87.9%	84.2%
2019	83.1%	77.0%
2018	75.9%	74.0%
2017	77.4%	68.7%
2016	75.5%	60.7%
2015	72.7%	57.7%
2014	67.5%	54.7%
2013	63.6%	55.8%
2012	62.0%	47.6%
2011	58.4%	46.6%
2010	57.1%	47.1%
2009	54.3%	48.1%
2008	51.2%	46.7%
2007	51.4%	46.7%
2006	48.4%	46.6%
2005	48.2%	47.7%
2004	47.3%	48.4%
2003	47.5%	49.0%
2002	48.7%	52.5%
2001	54.0%	52.3%
2000	55.4%	51.4%
1999	62.2%	49.8%
1998	56.3%	50.7%
1997	59.7%	51.3%
1996	58.8%	65.4%
1995	62.5%	68.8%
1994	66.5%	71.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Polo	Renault Clio
Lights & electrics	18.2	28.1
Suspension	13.3	23.5
Brakes	13.9	15.9
Tyres	7.0	9.2
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	6.1	8.5
Body & chassis	6.1	5.9
Emissions & leaks	6.7	3.8
Steering	3.3	6.5

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%

Renault Clio: top failures

Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.2%
Coil spring: fractured or broken7.1%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.3%
Position lamp: not working3.5%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?

The Volkswagen Polo does better at the MOT, with a score of 95 against 83 for the Renault Clio, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen Polo and Renault Clio can be compared?

Both were tested for 28 registration years (1994–2021). The Volkswagen Polo had the higher pass rate in 22 of them and the Renault Clio in 6.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Polo: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Renault Clio: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken.