Honda HR-V MOT pass rate: 88.6% and one of the best in class

The Honda HR-V passes its MOT 88.6% of the time across 54,513 tests. That is not just good for a compact SUV. It is one of the highest pass rates in the entire crossover segment, and it comfortably beats Honda's own make average of 79.2%.

There are two distinct generations in the data. The original HR-V (1999 to 2005) was a quirky, tall-bodied mini SUV that sold in modest numbers. It passes at around 65% to 70%, which is respectable for a car now over twenty years old and averaging more than 100,000 miles. The second generation (2015 onwards) is the one most buyers will be looking at, and it is where the numbers become exceptional.

A 2015 HR-V passes at 86.0%. A 2019 model hits 93.6%. The Advance i-MMD CVT hybrid variant scores 94.3%, and the Advance Style tops the range at 97.7%. These are figures that rival the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz, two of the most MOT-proof cars on UK roads.

Year by year

The HR-V's MOT history splits neatly into two eras. The original model trails off after 2005 (Honda stopped selling it in the UK). Then the second generation arrives in 2015 and immediately posts pass rates in the mid-80s.

The second generation is remarkably consistent. It starts strong at 86.0% in 2015 and climbs every year to a peak of 93.6% in 2019. Even the 2020 models at 93.4% barely dip. This is not a car that starts well and deteriorates. It is a car that holds up year after year.

The 2021 figure (90.8%) is based on just 142 tests, so treat it with caution. These are very early MOTs for the third generation HR-V, and the sample will grow significantly over the next year.

How it compares to rivals

The HR-V does not just beat its direct rivals. It embarrasses most of them. At 88.6%, it sits 10 to 15 percentage points above the average compact crossover.

The Toyota C-HR (87.7%) and Mazda CX-3 (87.3%) come closest among direct competitors, but both are still behind. The rest of the field is well adrift. The Renault Captur (80.4%), Vauxhall Mokka (76.7%), Peugeot 2008 (76.1%), and Nissan Juke (75.3%) are all more than 8 points lower.

This is consistent with Honda's broader reputation. The Jazz, Civic, and CR-V all post above-average MOT pass rates. But the HR-V outperforms even Honda's own make average by over nine percentage points, making it the standout in Honda's current range.

What goes wrong

Not much. The HR-V has no single dominant failure mode. The most common issues are the same things that fail on every car: lights, tyres, and minor suspension wear. There are no structural weaknesses or recurring defects that stand out in the data.

Brake pads at 1.5% is the top failure, which is simply about wear over time. This is a maintenance issue, not a design flaw. A pad check before the MOT will prevent most of these failures.

Tyres at 1.1% and suspension bushes at 0.8% are both well below average for the crossover class. Compare the HR-V's 0.8% bush failure rate with the Vauxhall Mokka's 2.1%. That reflects the quality of Honda's suspension engineering.

If you want to be thorough before your MOT, a pre-test inspection through BookMyGarage will flag anything that needs attention. But honestly, with the HR-V, you are unlikely to find much.

The hybrid advantage

The i-MMD hybrid variants introduced from 2020 are posting the highest pass rates in the range. The HR-V Advance i-MMD CVT passes at 94.3%, and the Advance Style variant hits 97.7%. Honda's hybrid system uses two electric motors and a 1.5-litre petrol engine. The electric motors handle most low-speed driving, which means less wear on the brakes and transmission.

The sample sizes for hybrid-specific variants are still building, but the trend is clear: the hybrid HR-V is even more durable than the conventional petrol version. If you are buying new or nearly new, the hybrid is the obvious choice for long-term MOT performance.

The buying advice

The HR-V is one of the safest used car bets in the compact SUV market. Any second generation model (2015 onwards) passes its MOT at 86% or higher. You do not need to worry about specific years to avoid, because there are none. Every model year from 2015 onwards beats the class average.

The sweet spot for value is 2017 to 2019. Pass rates run from 89.1% to 93.6%, prices have depreciated to reasonable levels, and most will have mileage between 30,000 and 50,000. If you can find a 2019 model, you are getting a car that passes its MOT 93.6% of the time at an average mileage of 30,376. That is exceptional.

The original 1999 to 2005 HR-V is a different proposition. At 64% to 70% pass rates and 100,000+ average mileage, these are old cars that require careful inspection. They can be good value if you find one that has been well maintained, but they are not in the same league as the modern model.

For the full model breakdown and variant-level data, see our Honda HR-V MOT data page.