Comparison · family hatchbacks

Honda Civic vs Kia Ceed: which is more reliable?

The Honda Civic does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 387,173 real MOT tests in 2024.

Honda Civic

101About average
MOT tests270,967

Kia Ceed

93Below average
MOT tests116,206

By age

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

Age at testHonda CivicKia Ceed
3–5 years
103Above average
97Below average
6–9 years
107Above average
99About average
10–14 years
104Above average
88Well below average
15+ years
96Below average
87Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearHonda CivicKia Ceed
202192.1%84.0%
202089.5%84.1%
201986.7%82.3%
201884.2%81.9%
201784.5%78.3%
201682.7%76.2%
201581.0%72.4%
201477.0%65.6%
201373.4%60.9%
201270.8%55.7%
201158.8%50.0%
201055.7%50.3%
200955.6%51.5%
200854.8%49.9%
200754.5%48.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaHonda CivicKia Ceed
Lights & electrics25.718.5
Brakes12.215.7
Suspension13.711.1
Tyres7.28.9
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.76.3
Steering2.15.0
Emissions & leaks4.12.3
Body & chassis3.61.9

Honda Civic: top failures

  1. Position lamp: not working4.3%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.2%
  3. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%

Kia Ceed: top failures

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda Civic or the Kia Ceed?

The Honda Civic does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 93 for the Kia Ceed, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Honda Civic and Kia Ceed can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Honda Civic had the higher pass rate in 15 of them and the Kia Ceed in 0.

What fails most on each?

Honda Civic: position lamp: not working; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. Kia Ceed: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.