Comparison · family SUVs

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Audi Q3: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 107. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 363,631 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Tiguan	Audi Q3
3–5 years	103Above average	106Above average
6–9 years	107Above average	107Above average
10–14 years	107Above average	110Well above average
15+ years	109Well above average	–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Tiguan	Audi Q3
2021	89.1%	91.0%
2020	89.0%	92.4%
2019	88.1%	90.5%
2018	86.4%	87.4%
2017	86.4%	85.5%
2016	84.2%	82.2%
2015	78.3%	78.8%
2014	74.4%	76.0%
2013	73.4%	73.6%
2012	69.3%	71.4%
2011	65.4%	70.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Tiguan	Audi Q3
Suspension	7.8	6.3
Tyres	6.3	6.3
Brakes	4.2	3.5
Lights & electrics	4.0	3.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	2.1	2.3
Emissions & leaks	1.9	1.8
Body & chassis	1.0	0.7
Seat belts & airbags	0.6	0.4

Volkswagen Tiguan: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
Coil spring: fractured or broken2.1%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%

Audi Q3: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken3.1%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.0%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.9%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Audi Q3?

The Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 107. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q3 can be compared?

Both were tested for 11 registration years (2011–2021). The Volkswagen Tiguan had the higher pass rate in 2 of them and the Audi Q3 in 9.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Tiguan: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Audi Q3: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.