Comparison · executive cars

Volkswagen Passat vs Jaguar XE: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Passat and Jaguar XE are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 229,877 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Passat

104Above average
MOT tests185,998

Jaguar XE

103Above average
MOT tests43,879

By age

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

Age at testVolkswagen PassatJaguar XE
3–5 years
102About average
97Below average
6–9 years
104Above average
104Above average
10–14 years
103Above average
–
15+ years
105Above average
–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearVolkswagen PassatJaguar XE
202186.6%81.7%
202088.7%84.1%
201986.9%83.6%
201885.5%82.1%
201781.9%82.1%
201679.9%79.6%
201578.0%78.7%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaVolkswagen PassatJaguar XE
Tyres9.88.1
Suspension14.52.1
Lights & electrics11.05.4
Brakes7.75.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.03.2
Emissions & leaks4.11.9
Body & chassis4.60.4
Seat belts & airbags1.70.7

Volkswagen Passat: top failures

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  6. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%

Jaguar XE: top failures

  1. Stop lamp: not working2.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.1%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Passat or the Jaguar XE?

The Volkswagen Passat and Jaguar XE are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Passat and Jaguar XE can be compared?

Both were tested for 7 registration years (2015–2021). The Volkswagen Passat had the higher pass rate in 5 of them and the Jaguar XE in 2.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Passat: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken. Jaguar XE: stop lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.