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Toyota Urban Cruiser reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 34,119 MOT tests of cars first registered 2009–2012.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
73.4%pass first time
+9.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 87%of cars
34,119MOT tests

Verdict

The Toyota Urban Cruiser passes its MOT first time on 73.4% of tests, 9.3 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (64.1%). That puts it ahead of 87% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2012 Urban Cruiser does best (beats 92% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 85%).

Of its engines, the 1.4 Diesel does best (beats 90%) and the 1.3 Petrol worst (beats 83%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, tyres.

Watch these weak spots

Brake pipes2.7×as often as a typical car
Stability control (ESC)7.2×as often as a typical car
Windscreen wipers1.5×as often as a typical car
Engine warning light1.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%7891011121314151680%77%74%73%68%
Toyota Urban CruiserTypical car, same age & mileage

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.

2009
Beats 86%
2010
Beats 86%
2011
Beats 85%
2012
Beats 92%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Diesel2009–201218,09374.9%Beats 90%A
1.3 Petrol2009–201116,02671.6%Beats 83%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.

Exhaust: 3.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 12.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 9.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 4.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 9.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 9.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.9 ptsTyres: 4.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.8 ptsBrakes: 9.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−1.7 ptsSuspension: 4.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 12.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+8.2 ptsExhaust: 3.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.2 ptsSuspension: 4.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 12.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 9.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 4.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 9.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 3.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 9.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.9 ptsTyres: 4.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.8 ptsBrakes: 9.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−1.7 ptsSuspension: 4.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 12.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+8.2 ptsExhaust: 3.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.2 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 9.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Brakes
9.8% vs 8.1%
Lights & electrics
9.6% vs 15.6%
Visibility
6.2% vs 5.5%
Suspension
4.7% vs 12.9%
Tyres
4.2% vs 7.0%
Emissions & leaks
3.4% vs 3.6%
Body & structure
2.2% vs 4.1%
Seat belts & airbags
0.7% vs 1.0%
Steering
0.3% vs 2.3%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.4%

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.
  • Engine warning light 1.6× typical
    The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.
  • Brake discs 1.6× typical
    Look through the wheel spokes for scored discs or a heavy rust lip on the edge.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • 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.

50%60%70%80%90%20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k86%82%76%70%66%63%
Toyota Urban CruiserTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Sidelights3.6%4.2%0.9×
Windscreen wipers3.6%2.3%1.5×
Headlight aim2.7%3.8%0.7×
Windscreen washers2.5%2.7%0.9×
Brake pipes2.4%0.9%2.7×
Brake pads2.2%2.1%1.1×
Tyre damage & cracking2.1%3.9%0.5×
Tyre tread depth2.0%3.0%0.7×
Engine warning light1.8%1.1%1.6×
Brake discs1.7%1.0%1.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen35.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning32.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements26.7
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen25.0
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded22.5
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction22.0
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm21.0
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.7
Check another car

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.

2012 Toyota Urban Cruiser1 engine78.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Diesel4,27478.4%Beats 92%A
2011 Toyota Urban Cruiser2 engines74.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Diesel6,96974.8%Beats 87%A
1.3 Petrol1,73574.0%Beats 79%B
2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser2 engines72.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.3 Petrol5,30971.7%Beats 81%A
1.4 Diesel5,01273.4%Beats 91%A
2009 Toyota Urban Cruiser2 engines71.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.3 Petrol8,98271.1%Beats 86%A
1.4 Diesel1,83871.6%Beats 90%A

FAQ

What is the Toyota Urban Cruiser MOT pass rate?

73.4% of MOT tests on the Toyota Urban Cruiser were passed first time, based on 34,119 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2012. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 64.1% of the time.

Is the Toyota Urban Cruiser reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 87% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Toyota Urban Cruiser year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2012 Urban Cruiser does best for its age and mileage: it beats 92% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 85%.

Which Toyota Urban Cruiser engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.4 Diesel does best: it beats 90% of cars on UK roads. The 1.3 Petrol does worst: it beats 83%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Toyota Urban Cruiser?

The most common failure items are sidelights, windscreen wipers, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, brake pipes comes up 2.7× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.