Comparison · small hatchbacks
SEAT Ibiza vs Citroen C3: which is more reliable?
The SEAT Ibiza and Citroen C3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 92 and 91. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 381,483 real MOT tests in 2024.
SEAT Ibiza
Citroen C3
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | SEAT Ibiza | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 100About average | 102About average |
| 6–9 years | 89Well below average | 94Below average |
| 10–14 years | 92Well below average | 87Well below average |
| 15+ years | 88Well below average | 89Well below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | SEAT Ibiza | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87.8% | 90.8% |
| 2020 | 86.4% | 89.1% |
| 2019 | 85.6% | 84.7% |
| 2018 | 75.1% | 79.8% |
| 2017 | 70.5% | 75.0% |
| 2016 | 68.3% | 69.4% |
| 2015 | 64.5% | 66.9% |
| 2014 | 62.4% | 63.9% |
| 2013 | 60.3% | 59.2% |
| 2012 | 60.0% | 54.9% |
| 2011 | 57.9% | 52.9% |
| 2010 | 55.9% | 51.5% |
| 2009 | 53.3% | 50.4% |
| 2008 | 48.7% | 51.2% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | 51.4% |
| 2006 | 49.9% | 52.3% |
| 2005 | 50.1% | 49.9% |
| 2004 | 51.3% | 49.7% |
| 2003 | 49.9% | 48.6% |
| 2002 | 55.0% | 50.6% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | SEAT Ibiza | Citroen C3 |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 15.4 | 24.9 |
| Suspension | 15.1 | 13.4 |
| Brakes | 14.5 | 8.9 |
| Tyres | 9.4 | 7.4 |
| Body & chassis | 4.8 | 8.6 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 6.8 | 5.7 |
| Emissions & leaks | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Steering | 3.7 | 3.4 |
SEAT Ibiza: top failures
Citroen C3: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the SEAT Ibiza or the Citroen C3?
The SEAT Ibiza and Citroen C3 are very close at the MOT: scores of 92 and 91. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.
Which years of the SEAT Ibiza and Citroen C3 can be compared?
Both were tested for 20 registration years (2002–2021). The SEAT Ibiza had the higher pass rate in 10 of them and the Citroen C3 in 10.
What fails most on each?
SEAT Ibiza: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Citroen C3: stop lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.