Verdict
Chevrolet cars pass their MOT first time on 54.3% of tests, against 67.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats only 6% of cars on UK roads and ranks Chevrolet 38th of 40 makes, well behind Vauxhall and Ford.
Chevrolets on UK roads were first registered between 2005 and 2014, so all are now older cars; the comparison is with typical cars of the same age and mileage, which pass far more often.
No model does well. The Cruze (beats 17%), Orlando (16%) and Captiva (15%) do least badly. The Kalos and Lacetti beat only 6% of cars, the Spark and Matiz 3%, and the Aveo 2%.
Chevrolets fail more often than a typical car in almost every MOT area. Brakes fail about twice as often (on about 16% of tests against 7%), and lights and electrics on about 21% of tests against 14%. Seat belts and airbags (about 2.7 times as often), steering (about twice) and suspension (about 1.5 times) also stand out.
Where it fails
Every Chevrolet compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Chevrolet models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, 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. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark 2010–2014 | 56.9% | Beats 3% | E |
| Matiz 2005–2010 | 51.8% | Beats 3% | E |
| Aveo 2008–2013 | 51.0% | Beats 2% | E |
| Captiva 2007–2014 | 53.6% | Beats 15% | E |
| Cruze 2009–2014 | 62.0% | Beats 17% | E |
| Kalos 2005–2008 | 47.7% | Beats 6% | E |
| Orlando 2011–2014 | 59.9% | Beats 16% | E |
| Lacetti 2005–2010 | 47.0% | Beats 6% | E |
FAQ
What is the Chevrolet MOT pass rate?
54.3% of Chevrolet MOT tests were passed first time, from 605,107 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.0%, so Chevrolets do much worse than typical.
Are Chevrolets reliable?
On MOT results they do poorly: Chevrolet beats only 6% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and ranks 38th of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Chevrolet model is best?
None does well. The Cruze does least badly, beating 17% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, followed by the Orlando and Captiva.
Which Chevrolet should I avoid?
The Aveo does worst, beating only 2% of cars; the Spark and Matiz beat 3%, and the Kalos and Lacetti 6%.
What do Chevrolets fail their MOT on?
Lights and electrics (about 21% of tests), suspension and brakes (about 16% each). Brakes fail about twice as often as on a typical car of the same age and mileage.