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MOT performance

Renault Kadjar vs Vauxhall Grandland: MOT pass rates compared

In 2023–2024, 78.5% of 136,997 Renault Kadjar MOT tests and 86.1% of 128,165 Vauxhall Grandland tests passed first time — 7.6 points in favour of the Vauxhall Grandland. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Vauxhall Grandland fails less often than the Renault Kadjar: 0.98× against 1.19× the national rate for comparable cars.

136,997 Renault Kadjar and 128,165 Vauxhall Grandland MOT tests, 2023–2024

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At a glance

Renault Kadjar vs Vauxhall Grandland MOT results
FigureValueBasis
Renault Kadjar: first-time pass rate78.5%±0.2 pts (95%), n = 136,997
Vauxhall Grandland: first-time pass rate86.1%±0.2 pts (95%), n = 128,165
Renault Kadjar: failures vs similar cars+19%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Vauxhall Grandland: failures vs similar cars-2%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Renault Kadjar: dangerous defect8.0%n = 136,997
Vauxhall Grandland: dangerous defect5.4%n = 128,165
Average age at test5.3 vs 3.6 yearsRenault Kadjar vs Vauxhall Grandland

Why the raw pass rates can mislead

The Renault Kadjar was tested at an older average age (5.3 years against 3.6), 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 body, chassis and structure, where the Vauxhall Grandland fails 5.7 times as often on an adjusted basis.

Renault Kadjar vs Vauxhall Grandland MOT failures by area
AreaRenault KadjarVauxhall Grandland
Brakes4.1% (+14%)2.9% (+10%)
Steering0.5% (-6%)0.1% (-57%)
Suspension3.8% (+21%)1.4% (+17%)
Tyres7.2% (+27%)5.2% (+3%)
Road wheels0.2% (-33%)0.2% (-7%)
Lights, reflectors and electrical7.1% (+52%)3.1% (-5%)
Body, chassis and structure0.4% (-58%)1.1% (+142%)
Driver's view of the road3.5% (+5%)1.8% (-45%)
Noise, emissions and leaks1.1% (-13%)0.7% (-10%)
Seat belts and airbags0.2% (-56%)0.6% (+67%)
Registration plates and VIN0.1% (-51%)0.1% (-36%)

Pass rate at the same age

Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.

Renault Kadjar vs Vauxhall Grandland MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at testRenault KadjarVauxhall Grandland
3-4 years83.4% (n = 37,970)87.3% (n = 76,779)
5-6 years78.0% (n = 52,133)80.8% (n = 28,563)

Most common failure item

  • Renault Kadjar · headlamp: not working on dipped beam (3.74% of tests)
  • Vauxhall Grandland · tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.93% 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.