Verdict
Hyundai cars and vans pass their MOT first time on 73.1% of tests, against 75.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 35% of cars on UK roads and ranks Hyundai 27th of 40 makes, clearly behind Toyota and Honda.
The Ioniq does best, beating 86% of cars, and the Tucson and i40 (58% each) and Kona (55%) do a little better than average. The most-tested model, the i10, is below it, beating only 26%, as are the i30 (26%) and the ix20 (19%). Older models do poorly: the Getz beats 27%, the Coupe 26% and the Amica 21%. The i800 beats just 6%; many are used as vans or minibuses, and commercial use pulls its results down.
Hyundais fail on brakes about 1.5 times as often as a typical car (on about 1 in 12 tests), on steering about 1.5 times as often and on visibility items such as wipers and mirrors over a quarter more often. They fail less often on suspension (about a fifth less), body and structure, and emissions and leaks.
For one car in detail, see the 2015 i10 1.0 petrol report. Electric versions have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters them a little, and the MOT does not test the battery or motor: ask for a battery health report.
Where it fails
Every Hyundai 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.
Hyundai 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| i10 2008–2023 | 74.6% | Beats 26% | D |
| i20 2009–2023 | 74.4% | Beats 41% | C |
| Tucson 2004–2023 | 81.9% | Beats 58% | C |
| i30 2007–2021 | 67.3% | Beats 26% | D |
| ix35 2010–2016 | 70.0% | Beats 44% | C |
| Santa Fe 2002–2023 | 66.2% | Beats 43% | C |
| Getz 2003–2009 | 54.4% | Beats 27% | D |
| ix20 2010–2019 | 74.1% | Beats 19% | E |
| Ioniq 2016–2022 | 86.6% | Beats 86% | A |
| Kona 2017–2023 | 87.0% | Beats 55% | C |
| i40 2011–2019 | 73.5% | Beats 58% | C |
| Coupe 2001–2009 | 51.7% | Beats 26% | D |
| Amica 2000–2008 | 57.9% | Beats 21% | D |
| i800 2008–2019 | 62.4% | Beats 6% | E |
| Matrix 2002–2010 | 53.7% | Beats 27% | D |
| Accent 1999–2008 | 52.4% | Beats 24% | D |
| Veloster 2012–2014 | 66.5% | Beats 24% | D |
FAQ
What is Hyundai's MOT pass rate?
73.1% of Hyundai MOT tests were passed first time, from 6.9 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 75.3%, so Hyundai is a little below average.
Are Hyundais reliable?
On MOT results Hyundai is a little below average: it beats 35% of cars on UK roads and ranks 27th of 40 makes. The Ioniq does much better than average and the Tucson, i40 and Kona a little better; the i10, i30 and ix20 do worse. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Hyundai models are most reliable?
The Ioniq beats more than eight in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. The Tucson and i40 beat nearly six in ten, and the Kona just over half.
Which Hyundai models should I check most carefully?
The i800 does worst, beating only about 1 in 17 cars, partly from commercial use. Of older models, the Amica, Coupe and Getz beat only between about a fifth and a quarter of cars. Of the common models, the i10, i30 and ix20 beat fewer than three in ten.
What are the most common MOT failures on Hyundais?
Lights and electrics (about 1 in 10 tests, slightly more than a typical car) and brakes (about 1 in 12 tests, 1.5 times as often). Steering fails are rarer but also about 1.5 times as common as on a typical car.