Verdict
Toyota cars pass their MOT first time on 72.9% of tests, against 69.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 66% of cars on UK roads and ranks Toyota 11th of 40 makes, well ahead of Ford, Nissan and Vauxhall.
The best models include the GT86 and Estima (each beating 96% of cars), the Prius and Yaris Cross (91% each), the iQ (90%) and the RAV4 (82%). The C-HR beats 67%.
The biggest sellers are closer to typical: the Yaris and Aygo, more than four in ten of Toyota's tests, beat 55% and 52%, and the Auris 71%. Check the Hilux pick-up (46%) carefully, and above all the Proace van, which beats only 3%; vans tend to score lower partly from hard commercial use, though the older HiAce beats 80%.
Toyotas fail far less often than a typical car on steering (about a quarter as often) and about a third less often on suspension and body. Lights and electrics, the most common area at about 1 in 8 tests, and visibility fail about as often as typical.
Where it fails
Every Toyota 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.
Toyota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaris 1999–2023 | 71.0% | Beats 55% | C |
| Aygo 2005–2023 | 76.3% | Beats 52% | C |
| Auris 2007–2019 | 74.7% | Beats 71% | B |
| Prius 2003–2022 | 77.5% | Beats 91% | A |
| RAV4 1995–2023 | 74.0% | Beats 82% | A |
| Corolla 1992–2023 | 68.2% | Beats 70% | B |
| Avensis 1998–2018 | 65.8% | Beats 71% | B |
| Hilux 1992–2023 | 68.4% | Beats 46% | C |
| C-HR 2016–2023 | 86.3% | Beats 67% | B |
| Verso 2009–2018 | 73.8% | Beats 66% | B |
| Land Cruiser 1992–2022 | 68.8% | Beats 84% | A |
| iQ 2009–2014 | 77.7% | Beats 90% | A |
| HiAce 1996–2011 | 63.9% | Beats 80% | B |
| Celica 1994–2006 | 58.4% | Beats 63% | B |
| MR2 1987–2006 | 64.0% | Beats 66% | B |
| Estima 2002–2019 | 77.2% | Beats 96% | A |
| Proace 2013–2023 | 69.6% | Beats 3% | E |
| GT86 2012–2019 | 85.7% | Beats 96% | A |
| Previa 1995–2006 | 53.4% | Beats 53% | C |
| Yaris Cross 2021–2023 | 92.3% | Beats 91% | A |
| Starlet 1996–1999 | 62.8% | Beats 57% | C |
| Alphard 2003–2010 | 73.3% | Beats 96% | A |
| Urban Cruiser 2009–2012 | 73.4% | Beats 87% | A |
| Prius Plus 2012–2019 | 82.1% | Beats 96% | A |
FAQ
What is the Toyota MOT pass rate?
72.9% of Toyota MOT tests were passed first time, from 13.4 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.5%, so Toyotas do better than typical.
Is Toyota reliable?
On MOT results it is above average: Toyota beats 66% of cars on UK roads and ranks 11th of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Toyota model is most reliable?
Of the common models, the Prius beats about nine in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and the RAV4 about eight in ten. The GT86 and Estima do even better.
Which Toyota should I check most carefully?
The Proace van, which beats only about one in thirty cars, then the Hilux, which is a little below a typical vehicle of its age and mileage. The Yaris and Aygo are about average.
What are the most common MOT failures on Toyotas?
Lights and electrics (about 1 in 8 tests, about as often as on a typical car), brakes, suspension and visibility. Steering fails only about a quarter as often as typical.