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MOT performance

Subaru Forester vs Jaguar I-Pace: MOT pass rates compared

In 2023–2024, 70.1% of 32,848 Subaru Forester MOT tests and 91.8% of 30,624 Jaguar I-Pace tests passed first time — 21.7 points in favour of the Jaguar I-Pace. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Jaguar I-Pace fails less often than the Subaru Forester: 0.58× against 0.89× the national rate for comparable cars.

32,848 Subaru Forester and 30,624 Jaguar I-Pace MOT tests, 2023–2024

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At a glance

Subaru Forester vs Jaguar I-Pace MOT results
FigureValueBasis
Subaru Forester: first-time pass rate70.1%±0.5 pts (95%), n = 32,848
Jaguar I-Pace: first-time pass rate91.8%±0.3 pts (95%), n = 30,624
Subaru Forester: failures vs similar cars-11%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Jaguar I-Pace: failures vs similar cars-42%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Subaru Forester: dangerous defect5.9%n = 32,848
Jaguar I-Pace: dangerous defect2.3%n = 30,624
Average age at test11.7 vs 3 yearsSubaru Forester vs Jaguar I-Pace

Why the raw pass rates can mislead

The Subaru Forester was tested at an older average age (11.7 years against 3), 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 steering, where the Jaguar I-Pace fails 15.2 times as often on an adjusted basis.

Subaru Forester vs Jaguar I-Pace MOT failures by area
AreaSubaru ForesterJaguar I-Pace
Brakes6.3% (-26%)0.5% (-47%)
Steering0.9% (-65%)0.8% (+434%)
Suspension13.3% (+16%)0.2% (-87%)
Tyres3.6% (-48%)4.6% (-44%)
Road wheels0.2% (-52%)0.1% (-44%)
Lights, reflectors and electrical12.6% (-13%)1.5% (-43%)
Body, chassis and structure4.1% (-18%)0.1% (-53%)
Driver's view of the road4.7% (-15%)0.8% (-66%)
Noise, emissions and leaks5.5% (+7%)0.0% (-65%)
Seat belts and airbags1.0% (-29%)0.2% (-15%)
Registration plates and VIN0.4% (-12%)0.4% (+54%)

Pass rate at the same age

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

Subaru Forester vs Jaguar I-Pace MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at testSubaru ForesterJaguar I-Pace
3-4 years89.5% (n = 3,239)92.0% (n = 18,006)
5-6 years84.4% (n = 3,637)89.5% (n = 2,414)

Most common failure item

  • Subaru Forester · position lamp: not working (3.89% of tests)
  • Jaguar I-Pace · condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (2.38% 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.