Petrol vs diesel: MOT pass rates compared
Real data from 54,261,472 MOT tests in 2024. This compares testable defect rates (what the MOT actually checks) not overall running costs or reliability.
Overall pass rates by fuel type
Petrol
78.5%
28,879,984 tests
Diesel
76.9%
25,381,488 tests
Hybrid
88.8%
1,552,865 tests
Electric
87.8%
711,636 tests
Key findings
Across all models, petrol cars pass at 78.5% vs diesel at 76.9%, a 1.6 percentage point gap.
Diesel cars are more likely to fail on emissions (the DPF/catalytic converter degrades with age and short journeys) and suspension (diesel variants are heavier). Petrol cars more commonly fail on exhaust emissions in older models, but generally have simpler emission systems.
Hybrids lead at 88.8%, partly because the fleet is newer, and partly because regenerative braking reduces wear on brake components. Electric vehicles score 87.8% with far fewer mechanical components to test.
Petrol vs diesel by model
Models where both petrol and diesel variants have 5,000+ tests. Sorted by biggest petrol advantage.
| Model | Petrol | Diesel | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Combo | 80.8% | 68.3% | +12.5 |
| Peugeot 5008 | 82.7% | 72.9% | +9.8 |
| Peugeot 3008 | 83.4% | 74% | +9.4 |
| BMW 118 | 87% | 77.7% | +9.3 |
| BMW 1 Series | 88.2% | 79.2% | +9.0 |
| Peugeot Partner | 78.1% | 69.6% | +8.5 |
| Volkswagen Touran | 82% | 73.5% | +8.5 |
| Nissan Pulsar | 81.1% | 72.6% | +8.5 |
| Kia Venga | 79.2% | 71% | +8.2 |
| Mazda 2 | 74.8% | 66.8% | +8.0 |
| Citroen C5 | 85.4% | 77.5% | +7.9 |
| Skoda Fabia | 77.6% | 70% | +7.6 |
| Skoda Roomster | 75.3% | 67.7% | +7.6 |
| Hyundai Ix20 | 77.6% | 70.1% | +7.5 |
| Dacia Duster | 81% | 73.7% | +7.3 |
| Volvo V60 | 87.4% | 80.2% | +7.2 |
| Audi A1 | 84.1% | 77.2% | +6.9 |
| BMW X1 | 91% | 84.2% | +6.8 |
| Volvo Xc60 | 88.8% | 82.1% | +6.7 |
| Audi A3 | 83.7% | 77.1% | +6.6 |
| Volkswagen Sharan | 85.6% | 79% | +6.6 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 74.4% | 67.9% | +6.5 |
| Dacia Sandero | 75.7% | 69.3% | +6.4 |
| Seat Ibiza | 75.3% | 68.9% | +6.4 |
| Kia Rio | 76.1% | 69.7% | +6.4 |
| Mazda Bongo | 69.1% | 62.9% | +6.2 |
| Citroen C3 | 73.7% | 67.6% | +6.1 |
| Suzuki Vitara | 86% | 80% | +6.0 |
| Hyundai I20 | 77% | 71.1% | +5.9 |
| Ds Ds3 | 78% | 72.1% | +5.9 |
| Ford Fiesta | 73.7% | 68% | +5.7 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 79.1% | 73.5% | +5.6 |
| Toyota Yaris | 74.3% | 68.7% | +5.6 |
| Fiat 500X | 82% | 76.4% | +5.6 |
| Fiat 500 | 75.1% | 69.7% | +5.4 |
| Audi A4 | 82.6% | 77.3% | +5.3 |
| Ford Ecosport | 82.5% | 77.3% | +5.2 |
| Audi Q3 | 88.9% | 83.8% | +5.1 |
| Skoda Superb | 86% | 80.9% | +5.1 |
| Skoda Octavia | 82.8% | 77.8% | +5.0 |
| Nissan Juke | 76.6% | 71.7% | +4.9 |
| Mazda CX-5 | 87.3% | 82.4% | +4.9 |
| Seat Leon | 83% | 78.2% | +4.8 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 78.1% | 73.3% | +4.8 |
| Audi A5 | 86.8% | 82.1% | +4.7 |
| Renault Captur | 82.7% | 78% | +4.7 |
| Renault Kadjar | 84.2% | 79.6% | +4.6 |
| Ford B-MAX | 76.6% | 72% | +4.6 |
| Skoda Yeti | 83.5% | 79% | +4.5 |
| Peugeot 2008 | 78% | 73.6% | +4.4 |
| Hyundai I30 | 74.6% | 70.2% | +4.4 |
| Jeep Renegade | 82.1% | 77.7% | +4.4 |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 77.9% | 73.6% | +4.3 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 88.4% | 84.1% | +4.3 |
| Peugeot 208 | 76.1% | 71.8% | +4.3 |
| BMW X3 | 87.6% | 83.3% | +4.3 |
| Ford Kuga | 85.7% | 81.5% | +4.2 |
| Volvo Xc90 | 80.9% | 76.7% | +4.2 |
| Mini Cooper | 87.6% | 83.4% | +4.2 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | 90.1% | 85.9% | +4.2 |
| Toyota Verso | 77.6% | 73.4% | +4.2 |
| Jeep Compass | 84.9% | 80.8% | +4.1 |
| Mini Countryman | 89.5% | 85.4% | +4.1 |
| Suzuki Sx4 | 77.3% | 73.2% | +4.1 |
| BMW 5 Series | 90.2% | 86.2% | +4.0 |
| Citroen C4 Cactus | 79.2% | 75.2% | +4.0 |
| Jaguar Xf | 85.2% | 81.3% | +3.9 |
| Kia Sportage | 83.1% | 79.3% | +3.8 |
| Seat Arona | 87.7% | 83.9% | +3.8 |
| Skoda Rapid | 80.1% | 76.3% | +3.8 |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 85.8% | 82.1% | +3.7 |
| Ford Transit Courier | 79.2% | 75.5% | +3.7 |
| Audi A6 | 87% | 83.4% | +3.6 |
| Porsche Macan | 94.6% | 91% | +3.6 |
| Mercedes-Benz Slc | 90.6% | 87% | +3.6 |
| Fiat Doblo | 74.6% | 71.1% | +3.5 |
| Nissan X-Trail | 80.3% | 76.9% | +3.4 |
| Mercedes-Benz Clk | 73.3% | 69.9% | +3.4 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 80.7% | 77.4% | +3.3 |
| Audi Q5 | 89.7% | 86.6% | +3.1 |
| Fiat Panda | 71.9% | 68.9% | +3.0 |
| Citroen Ds3 | 68.1% | 65.1% | +3.0 |
| BMW 220 | 87.7% | 84.7% | +3.0 |
| Mercedes-Benz Cla | 86.7% | 83.8% | +2.9 |
| Peugeot 308 | 73.6% | 70.7% | +2.9 |
| Volvo V40 | 80.8% | 77.9% | +2.9 |
| Porsche Panamera | 93.4% | 90.6% | +2.8 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 71.2% | 68.4% | +2.8 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 79.1% | 76.3% | +2.8 |
| Jaguar Xe | 87.7% | 84.9% | +2.8 |
| BMW 2 Series | 90.3% | 87.6% | +2.7 |
| Rover 75 | 69.3% | 66.6% | +2.7 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | 92% | 89.4% | +2.6 |
| Mercedes-Benz Gla | 88.5% | 86% | +2.5 |
| Ford Grand C-MAX | 76% | 73.5% | +2.5 |
| Honda HR-V | 89.3% | 86.8% | +2.5 |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 70.6% | 68.1% | +2.5 |
| Subaru Forester | 76.2% | 73.7% | +2.5 |
| BMW 120 | 80.3% | 77.9% | +2.4 |
| Peugeot Rcz | 75.6% | 73.2% | +2.4 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | 88.8% | 86.5% | +2.3 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 85.5% | 83.3% | +2.2 |
| BMW 420 | 89% | 86.8% | +2.2 |
| Mini Paceman | 86.9% | 84.7% | +2.2 |
| Jaguar F-Pace | 90.7% | 88.6% | +2.1 |
| Kia Ceed | 75.2% | 73.2% | +2.0 |
| Mercedes-Benz Glc | 91.5% | 89.5% | +2.0 |
| Volkswagen Scirocco | 78.7% | 76.7% | +2.0 |
| Mazda CX-3 | 87.6% | 85.6% | +2.0 |
| Dacia Logan | 76.7% | 74.7% | +2.0 |
| Fiat 500L | 73.5% | 71.6% | +1.9 |
| Renault Modus | 64.2% | 62.3% | +1.9 |
| Nissan Note | 71.1% | 69.2% | +1.9 |
| BMW 218 | 86.9% | 85.1% | +1.8 |
| Mitsubishi Asx | 80.9% | 79.1% | +1.8 |
| Ford S-MAX | 74.7% | 72.9% | +1.8 |
| Ford Fusion | 68.1% | 66.3% | +1.8 |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 76.7% | 75% | +1.7 |
| Land Rover Defender | 75.8% | 74.1% | +1.7 |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | 87.9% | 86.2% | +1.7 |
| Peugeot 206 | 63.2% | 61.5% | +1.7 |
| Mazda 3 | 75.4% | 73.8% | +1.6 |
| Mini Cooper S | 88.7% | 87.1% | +1.6 |
| Peugeot 207 | 63.7% | 62.1% | +1.6 |
| Toyota Corolla | 68.1% | 66.5% | +1.6 |
| BMW 320 | 89.8% | 88.2% | +1.6 |
| Vauxhall Grandland | 86.6% | 85% | +1.6 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 91% | 89.5% | +1.5 |
| Mercedes-Benz Clc | 69.7% | 68.2% | +1.5 |
| Renault Kangoo | 66.9% | 65.5% | +1.4 |
| Peugeot 307 | 62% | 60.6% | +1.4 |
| Kia Soul | 77% | 75.7% | +1.3 |
| Volvo C70 | 71.7% | 70.4% | +1.3 |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 83.8% | 82.6% | +1.2 |
| Audi Q2 | 92.3% | 91.1% | +1.2 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Velar | 89.7% | 88.5% | +1.2 |
| Mini One | 83.2% | 82.1% | +1.1 |
| Toyota Auris | 74.2% | 73.2% | +1.0 |
| Volvo C30 | 70.4% | 69.5% | +0.9 |
| Citroen C4 | 69.6% | 68.7% | +0.9 |
| Saab 9-3 | 72% | 71.2% | +0.8 |
| Volkswagen Arteon | 90.6% | 89.8% | +0.8 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 81.4% | 80.7% | +0.7 |
| Nissan Micra | 71.2% | 70.5% | +0.7 |
| Volvo V50 | 67.9% | 67.2% | +0.7 |
| Ford Focus | 74.9% | 74.3% | +0.6 |
| Citroen Berlingo | 68.4% | 67.8% | +0.6 |
| Volkswagen T-Roc | 91.9% | 91.3% | +0.6 |
| Mini Clubman | 85.2% | 84.6% | +0.6 |
| Seat Ateca | 90.1% | 89.5% | +0.6 |
| Hyundai Ix35 | 73.7% | 73.3% | +0.4 |
| Renault Clio | 68.3% | 67.9% | +0.4 |
| Renault Grand Scenic | 65.9% | 65.6% | +0.3 |
| Citroen Xsara | 62.1% | 61.8% | +0.3 |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.3% | 91% | +0.3 |
| Skoda Karoq | 90.8% | 90.5% | +0.3 |
| Vauxhall Meriva | 70.9% | 70.7% | +0.2 |
| Skoda Kodiaq | 90% | 89.8% | +0.2 |
| Ford Focus C-MAX | 63.3% | 63.1% | +0.2 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 81.2% | 81.1% | +0.1 |
| Mercedes-Benz Cls | 81.4% | 81.3% | +0.1 |
| BMW 430 | 88.7% | 88.6% | +0.1 |
| Porsche Cayenne | 88.9% | 88.9% | 0.0 |
| Renault Megane | 67% | 67.3% | -0.3 |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 66.2% | 66.5% | -0.3 |
| Jaguar X-Type | 67.7% | 68% | -0.3 |
| Vauxhall Astra | 72.4% | 72.8% | -0.4 |
| Volvo S40 | 67.6% | 68% | -0.4 |
| Volkswagen Eos | 74.1% | 74.5% | -0.4 |
| Mini Mini (R60) | 78.5% | 79.1% | -0.6 |
| Volvo S60 | 75.3% | 76% | -0.7 |
| Vauxhall Zafira | 69.7% | 70.5% | -0.8 |
| Seat Tarraco | 87% | 87.9% | -0.9 |
| Jaguar S-Type | 70.2% | 71.3% | -1.1 |
| Land Rover Discovery | 78.6% | 79.7% | -1.1 |
| Ford C-MAX | 73.9% | 75.1% | -1.2 |
| Honda Civic | 73.8% | 75.1% | -1.3 |
| Honda CR-V | 77.5% | 78.8% | -1.3 |
| Audi TT | 82.7% | 84% | -1.3 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 86.3% | 87.6% | -1.3 |
| Honda Accord | 69.1% | 70.4% | -1.3 |
| Toyota Rav-4 | 71.2% | 72.8% | -1.6 |
| Mazda 6 | 74.5% | 76.3% | -1.8 |
| BMW 3 Series | 77.9% | 79.8% | -1.9 |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 75.2% | 77.6% | -2.4 |
| BMW 318 | 84.7% | 87.3% | -2.6 |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 71% | 73.9% | -2.9 |
| Toyota Avensis | 70.6% | 73.5% | -2.9 |
| Ford Galaxy | 68.6% | 71.8% | -3.2 |
| BMW 525 | 75% | 78.2% | -3.2 |
| Kia Carens | 68.9% | 72.2% | -3.3 |
| Ford Mondeo | 70.8% | 74.3% | -3.5 |
| BMW 530 | 78.6% | 82.1% | -3.5 |
| Renault Scenic | 64.6% | 68.2% | -3.6 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 81.9% | 85.7% | -3.8 |
| BMW 116 | 76.3% | 80.1% | -3.8 |
| Mini Mini | 70.8% | 74.8% | -4.0 |
| Mercedes-Benz Ml | 75.2% | 79.5% | -4.3 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 68.1% | 72.7% | -4.6 |
| BMW X5 | 80.9% | 85.7% | -4.8 |
| Volkswagen Caravelle | 67.8% | 73.1% | -5.3 |
| Volvo V70 | 68.3% | 73.9% | -5.6 |
| Mercedes-Benz Slk | 78% | 83.7% | -5.7 |
| Land Rover Freelander | 67.9% | 73.9% | -6.0 |
| Toyota Rav4 | 72.5% | 79.6% | -7.1 |
| BMW 316 | 73.2% | 80.5% | -7.3 |
| BMW 520 | 74.7% | 82.4% | -7.7 |
| Jaguar Xj | 77.5% | 85.6% | -8.1 |
Important: MOT pass rate is not the same as reliability or running costs. Diesel cars may have higher servicing costs regardless of MOT results, and petrol cars may use more fuel on motorways. This data shows one dimension (testable defect rates) from 54,261,472 real inspections. See our methodology for more.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. Pass rates are statistical summaries, not assessments of individual vehicle safety.