MOT performance
Abarth 500 vs SEAT Mii: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 77.2% of 47,520 Abarth 500 MOT tests and 78.3% of 36,559 SEAT Mii tests passed first time — 1.1 points in favour of the SEAT Mii. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the SEAT Mii fails less often than the Abarth 500: 0.93× against 1.10× the national rate for comparable cars.
47,520 Abarth 500 and 36,559 SEAT Mii MOT tests, 2023–2024
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 500: first-time pass rate | 77.2% | ±0.4 pts (95%), n = 47,520 |
| SEAT Mii: first-time pass rate | 78.3% | ±0.4 pts (95%), n = 36,559 |
| Abarth 500: failures vs similar cars | +10% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| SEAT Mii: failures vs similar cars | -7% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Abarth 500: dangerous defect | 7.0% | n = 47,520 |
| SEAT Mii: dangerous defect | 4.7% | n = 36,559 |
| Average age at test | 6.8 vs 7.7 years | Abarth 500 vs SEAT Mii |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The SEAT Mii was tested at an older average age (7.7 years against 6.8), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is seat belts and airbags, where the SEAT Mii fails 5.0 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Abarth 500 | SEAT Mii |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.1% (+1%) | 5.7% (+27%) |
| Steering | 0.4% (-64%) | 0.2% (-88%) |
| Suspension | 7.7% (+57%) | 2.9% (-54%) |
| Tyres | 6.0% (+14%) | 4.2% (-27%) |
| Road wheels | 0.1% (-45%) | 0.1% (-43%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 6.9% (+6%) | 7.4% (-5%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.9% (+28%) | 2.5% (+41%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.5% (-9%) | 3.9% (-3%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.6% (+56%) | 1.9% (-4%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.4% (-19%) | 1.8% (+310%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% (+97%) | 0.2% (-22%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Abarth 500 | SEAT Mii |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 85.7% (n = 9,475) | 88.2% (n = 3,791) |
| 5-6 years | 80.2% (n = 12,800) | 82.8% (n = 5,775) |
| 7-8 years | 73.9% (n = 10,376) | 78.4% (n = 9,706) |
| 9-10 years | 70.4% (n = 4,980) | 75.0% (n = 12,233) |
| 11-12 years | 66.3% (n = 3,716) | 70.4% (n = 4,019) |
Most common failure item
- Abarth 500 · tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.30% of tests)
- SEAT Mii · wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (2.05% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.