Comparison · small hatchbacks

Vauxhall Corsa vs Skoda Fabia: which is more reliable?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,075,370 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Vauxhall Corsa	Skoda Fabia
3–5 years	96Below average	99About average
6–9 years	92Below average	100About average
10–14 years	90Well below average	106Above average
15+ years	91Well below average	94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Vauxhall Corsa	Skoda Fabia
2021	85.3%	86.4%
2020	81.8%	85.8%
2019	81.1%	84.7%
2018	78.2%	80.1%
2017	73.8%	77.8%
2016	70.3%	76.3%
2015	66.4%	76.5%
2014	58.1%	73.6%
2013	59.8%	71.6%
2012	59.4%	68.1%
2011	58.4%	66.2%
2010	55.7%	63.0%
2009	54.4%	56.8%
2008	53.3%	53.1%
2007	52.6%	53.9%
2006	49.5%	51.7%
2005	48.9%	52.9%
2004	49.9%	51.0%
2003	49.6%	51.1%
2002	50.6%	52.9%
2001	50.0%	56.1%
2000	57.3%	55.7%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Vauxhall Corsa	Skoda Fabia
Lights & electrics	20.7	14.1
Suspension	14.9	11.8
Brakes	10.2	13.1
Tyres	7.4	7.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	7.2	4.8
Emissions & leaks	6.3	5.0
Body & chassis	4.8	5.2
Steering	4.9	1.8

Vauxhall Corsa: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken5.3%
Stop lamp: not working3.2%
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.5%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.3%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%

Skoda Fabia: top failures

Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.2%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
Position lamp: not working1.8%
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Vauxhall Corsa or the Skoda Fabia?

The Skoda Fabia does better at the MOT, with a score of 100 against 92 for the Vauxhall Corsa, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Vauxhall Corsa and Skoda Fabia can be compared?

Both were tested for 22 registration years (2000–2021). The Vauxhall Corsa had the higher pass rate in 2 of them and the Skoda Fabia in 20.

What fails most on each?

Vauxhall Corsa: coil spring: fractured or broken; stop lamp: not working. Skoda Fabia: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.