Comparison · executive cars

Volkswagen Passat vs Skoda Superb: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 102. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 249,479 real MOT tests in 2024.

Volkswagen Passat

104Above average

MOT tests185,998

Skoda Superb

102About average

MOT tests63,481

By age

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

Age at test	Volkswagen Passat	Skoda Superb
3–5 years	102About average	98About average
6–9 years	104Above average	103Above average
10–14 years	103Above average	103Above average
15+ years	105Above average	106Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen Passat	Skoda Superb
2021	86.6%	85.4%
2020	88.7%	85.1%
2019	86.9%	83.5%
2018	85.5%	83.5%
2017	81.9%	81.5%
2016	79.9%	80.3%
2015	78.0%	74.4%
2014	71.6%	70.9%
2013	68.0%	69.4%
2012	65.7%	65.8%
2011	64.6%	64.8%
2010	62.5%	63.3%
2009	63.9%	60.7%
2008	61.0%	64.9%
2007	59.3%	61.4%
2006	56.8%	62.3%
2005	57.9%	55.8%
2004	58.5%	58.3%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen Passat	Skoda Superb
Suspension	14.5	9.7
Tyres	9.8	8.7
Lights & electrics	11.0	6.9
Brakes	7.7	5.0
Emissions & leaks	4.1	2.1
Body & chassis	4.6	1.1
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.0	1.9
Seat belts & airbags	1.7	0.7

Volkswagen Passat: top failures

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

Skoda Superb: top failures

Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.3%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.7%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.7%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?

The Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb are very close at the MOT: scores of 104 and 102. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb can be compared?

Both were tested for 18 registration years (2004–2021). The Volkswagen Passat had the higher pass rate in 10 of them and the Skoda Superb in 8.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen Passat: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken. Skoda Superb: shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed.