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MOT performance

Suzuki Ignis vs Abarth 500: MOT pass rates compared

In 2023–2024, 79.5% of 57,494 Suzuki Ignis MOT tests and 77.2% of 47,520 Abarth 500 tests passed first time — 2.3 points in favour of the Suzuki Ignis. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the two fail about as often as each other (1.06× and 1.10× the national rate for comparable cars).

57,494 Suzuki Ignis and 47,520 Abarth 500 MOT tests, 2023–2024

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At a glance

Suzuki Ignis vs Abarth 500 MOT results
FigureValueBasis
Suzuki Ignis: first-time pass rate79.5%±0.3 pts (95%), n = 57,494
Abarth 500: first-time pass rate77.2%±0.4 pts (95%), n = 47,520
Suzuki Ignis: failures vs similar cars+6%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Abarth 500: failures vs similar cars+10%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Suzuki Ignis: dangerous defect4.3%n = 57,494
Abarth 500: dangerous defect7.0%n = 47,520
Average age at test7.7 vs 6.8 yearsSuzuki Ignis vs Abarth 500

Why the raw pass rates can mislead

The Suzuki Ignis 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 steering, where the Suzuki Ignis fails 2.9 times as often on an adjusted basis.

Suzuki Ignis vs Abarth 500 MOT failures by area
AreaSuzuki IgnisAbarth 500
Brakes4.2% (+4%)4.1% (+1%)
Steering1.0% (+6%)0.4% (-64%)
Suspension7.9% (+73%)7.7% (+57%)
Tyres3.9% (-18%)6.0% (+14%)
Road wheels0.1% (-44%)0.1% (-45%)
Lights, reflectors and electrical5.9% (-15%)6.9% (+6%)
Body, chassis and structure1.9% (-11%)1.9% (+28%)
Driver's view of the road4.9% (+19%)3.5% (-9%)
Noise, emissions and leaks1.4% (-35%)2.6% (+56%)
Seat belts and airbags0.5% (-30%)0.4% (-19%)
Registration plates and VIN0.3% (-2%)0.4% (+97%)

Pass rate at the same age

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

Suzuki Ignis vs Abarth 500 MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at testSuzuki IgnisAbarth 500
3-4 years88.9% (n = 15,756)85.7% (n = 9,475)
5-6 years83.1% (n = 18,631)80.2% (n = 12,800)
7-8 years79.3% (n = 2,910)73.9% (n = 10,376)
13-15 years60.2% (n = 640)64.2% (n = 3,324)

Most common failure item

  • Suzuki Ignis · wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.68% of tests)
  • Abarth 500 · tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.30% 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.