Verdict
The Hyundai Kona passes its MOT first time on 87.0% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (86.7%). That puts it ahead of 55% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2018 Kona does best (beats 77% of cars) and the 2022 worst (beats 22%).
Of its engines, the 1.0 Petrol does best (beats 67%) and the 1.6 Hybrid worst (beats 18%).
Better than average on suspension.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.4% | Beats 67% | B |
| Electric | 86.7% | Beats 59% | C |
| 1.6 Hybrid | 85.7% | Beats 18% | E |
| 1.0 Hybrid | 87.9% | Beats 42% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 90.8% | Beats 91% | A |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Windscreen wipers 1.5× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Suspension arm bushes 2.0× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.5% | 3.3% | 1.1× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.9% | 2.0% | 1.5× |
| Headlight aim | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.3× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.1× |
| Brake pads | 1.0% | 1.3% | 0.7× |
| Windscreen washers | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.7× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.8× |
| Suspension arm bushes | 0.4% | 0.2% | 2.0× |
| Handbrake performance | 0.3% | 0.2% | 1.8× |
| Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 28.8 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 23.8 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 19.2 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 15.4 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 11.5 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 9.0 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 6.9 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4.2 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2023 Hyundai Kona3 engines87.4% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 86.7% | Beats 31% | D |
| 1.6 Hybrid | 87.5% | Beats 34% | D |
| 1.0 Hybrid | 89.0% | Beats 47% | C |
2022 Hyundai Kona3 engines86.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Hybrid | 85.4% | Beats 7% | E |
| Electric | 86.6% | Beats 37% | D |
| 1.0 Hybrid | 88.8% | Beats 44% | C |
2021 Hyundai Kona3 engines85.8% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 86.3% | Beats 54% | C |
| 1.6 Hybrid | 84.3% | Beats 8% | E |
| 1.0 Hybrid | 87.2% | Beats 40% | C |
2020 Hyundai Kona3 engines86.9% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Hybrid | 86.7% | Beats 38% | D |
| Electric | 86.8% | Beats 66% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.1% | Beats 46% | C |
2019 Hyundai Kona4 engines87.9% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.3% | Beats 63% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 91.0% | Beats 89% | A |
| Electric | 88.5% | Beats 88% | A |
| 1.6 Hybrid | 88.5% | Beats 72% | B |
2018 Hyundai Kona3 engines87.7% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.4% | Beats 74% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 90.6% | Beats 92% | A |
| Electric | 87.8% | Beats 89% | A |
2017 Hyundai Kona1 engine89.4% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Petrol | 89.4% | Beats 93% | A |
FAQ
What is the Hyundai Kona MOT pass rate?
87.0% of MOT tests on the Hyundai Kona were passed first time, based on 210,568 tests between 2020 and 2026 of cars first registered 2017–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 86.7% of the time.
Is the Hyundai Kona reliable?
On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 55% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Hyundai Kona year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2018 Kona does best for its age and mileage: it beats 77% of cars on UK roads. The 2022 does worst: it beats 22%.
Which Hyundai Kona engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.0 Petrol does best: it beats 67% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Hybrid does worst: it beats 18%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Hyundai Kona?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen wipers, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, windscreen wipers comes up 1.5× as often.