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Welcome to the latest in a series of posts we’re putting together on what MOT data can tell us about which cars you should be looking at when buying used. We’ve carried out an analysis of the MOT history data published by the government and have discovered some interesting things about the condition of the cars that are on Britain’s roads today.
One of the most popular types of used cars are family cars like Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3, so we’ve come up with a list of the best family cars based on their MOT histories.
Here at CarXpert we’ve developed a unique way of rating cars based on their MOT history. We give cars a rating of between one and five stars based on their MOT failures, MOT advisories, and overall MOT history. The star rating system is explained below.
A car’s MOT history can give you a good idea of both its condition and how well it’s been looked after. If you have a used car that you’re considering, enter the registration number here and CarXpert will give you its ratings. And it’s free!
How We’ve Calculated Our Rankings
To come up with our rankings we’ve analysed MOT results for cars that are between 6 and 12 years old using our CarXpert algorithms. We used this age range because we wanted to look at cars that had had a number of MOTs, as we’re assuming that people tend to keep their cars for a few years so would like to know which are the best cars over a period of time. We’ve looked at items that have caused cars to fail their MOTs and also advisory items that owners have been made aware of by MOT testers. CarXpert’s algorithms gives each car a star rating for Failures and Advisories, and then we’ve looked at the average ratings for both for each make and model.
How CarXpert’s Star Ratings Work
CarXpert has analysed huge amounts of data about MOT results and can rate cars on a 1 to 5 star scale in terms of how good their MOT results are compared to cars of the same age:
- For a car to get five stars it must have had zero failure or advisories – nothing has ever been reported by an MOT tester
- A four star car is one with better than average MOT results – some issues have been found during MOTs, but fewer than the typical number
- A three star car is around the average for MOT results – this car has had about the number of issues found that would be expected
- A two star car is worse than average for MOT results – more issues have been found during MOTs than would be expected
- A car that only gets one star has much worse than average MOT results – a lot more issues have been found at MOTs than would be expected
How We’ve Identified Issues To Look Out For
As well as ranking each make and model, we’ve also used CarXpert’s technology to analyse what items typically cause each type of car to fail MOTs, and therefore what you should be looking out for if you’re thinking of buying one. The most common reasons that all types of cars fail MOTs on are normal wear and tear items like tyres, wiper blades or bulbs, but there are usually issues that occur more frequently on particular types of car, and it’s those that we’ve highlighted for each car in our list.
That’s quite enough introduction, here’s our ranking of the five best family cars.
1. Mercedes A-Class
In first place we have the Mercedes A-Class with an average rating of 3.56.
Here’s a breakdown of the proportion of A-Classes in CarXpert’s 5 categories –
As you’d expect with the car with second highest average ratings in our list, there’s not a long list of things to watch out for if you’re looking at a used A-Class. Lights not working is a common MOT issue, but on the A-Class the side repeater lamps and indicators seem to fail much more often than other cars, so check they’re ok.
More seriously, engine management lights can stay on, indicating some form of engine problem. Make sure the engine management light comes on with the ignition and goes out when the engine starts. If the light doesn’t come on with the ignition, or stays on, then there’s a problem and you should look at another car.
Similarly, the SRS (airbag) light can indicate a fault more than the average for all cars, so make sure that light comes on with the ignition and goes out again shortly after the engine starts.
One thing you can’t easily check is the condition of the rear brake pipes, which can corrode. Have a look at the MOT history (which you can do on CarXpert when you rate a car) and see if there are any mentions of this.
More information about what to look out for on the A Class (the model on sale to 2012) can be found here, and here’s a buyer’s guide for the model that replaced it.
2. Toyota Auris
Number two in our list is Toyota’s Auris, with an average CarXpert rating of 3.53.
Below you can see the proportion of Aurises across CarXpert’s one to five star categories.
Once again, routine consumable items like tyres make up high proportion of the issues mentioned by MOT testers when Aurises are tested. In particular, wipers are mentioned much more frequently than is typical, so check they are working properly.
Similarly, brake and registration plates lights not working are mentioned more frequently than on other cars, so look at those.
Parking brakes can cause problems at MOT time, so make sure that the handbrake can hold the car on a slope.
As with the A-Class, rear brake pipe corrosion can occur, so the same advice about looking at the MOT history applies.
If you’d like more information about the Auris, here’s a buyer’s guide to the version of the Auris that was on sale to 2012, and here’s a guide to the model that replaced it.
3. Volkswagen Golf
In third place we have Volkswagen’s ever-popular Golf, with an average CarXpert rating of 3.43.
Here’s what proportion of Golfs are rated in each of CarXpert’s one to five star categories:
Outside of the usual wear and tear items, there are a few things to watch out for if you’re looking at a used Golf. It’s worth mentioning that lights are a typical MOT issue, but on Golfs fog lamps are mentioned unusually frequently, so make sure they are working.
Shock absorbers (both front and rear) are reported at MOT time more than is typical. Check the recent MOT history of any Golf that you’re looking at for mentions of leaks or reduced function of the shock absorbers.
Also check the MOT history for any mentions of front suspension joint dust covers missing or “no longer prevents the ingress of dirt”, as these components are mentioned frequently.
The ESC (electronic stability control) light can indicate a fault, which is an MOT failure, so make sure it comes on with the ignition and goes out when the engine has started.
Make sure the bonnet closes fully as Golfs can fail MOTs because the bonnet “cannot be safely secured in the closed position”.
If you’d like to find out more about buying a used Golf, here’s a guide to the Mk6 version that was on sale to 2012 (and its very similar Mk5 predecessor), while if you’re interested in the Mk7, here’s a guide.
4. Audi A3
The Golf’s close relative, the Audi A3, comes in at fourth position in our list of best family cars with an average rating of 3.42.
Here’s how A3s break down across CarXpert’s five categories –
As with the Golf, front suspension joint dust covers can be missing or “no longer prevent the ingress of dirt”, so check the MOT history for any mentions of these items as advisories.
On Diesel A3s, there are reports of fuel leaks on older cars. These tend to be from a fuel pump in the engine bay, so have a look round the engine compartment for any obvious leaks.
Number plates can cause an unusual number of A3s to fail their MOTs because they don’t conform to the legal guidelines, so if you’re looking at an A3 with a personalised plate make sure that the letters or spacing haven’t been modified.
Other than those items, nothing stands out on A3s, the usual tyres, wipers and brake pad wear are the main causes of issues at MOT time.
AutoExpress have written buyer’s guides for the Mk2 on sale until 2012 and its replacement.
5. BMW 1 Series
The final entry in our top five is BMW’s 1 Series with an average CarXpert rating of 3.41. Here’s how the ratings break down across the categories –
There’s a few things to watch out for with these BMWs. Shock absorbers, particularly the front ones, can fail. If there’s a 1 Series that you’re interested in, have a look in the MOT history for any recent advisories that mention leaks from shock absorbers or reduced efficiency. You can do that once you’ve rated the car.
Check the wheels of any 1 Series that you’re looking at for damage. “Fracture or welding defect on a wheel” comes up disproportionately as a reason for 1 Series to fail MOTs. Some people believe this could be related to the use of the run flat tyres that BMW fitted these cars with from new.
While you’re looking at the wheels, check all the wheel bolts are present, as missing wheel bolts cause MOT failures on 1 Series more than is typical.
As with the Golf, make sure that the bonnet closes properly as insecure bonnets crop up as a reason for MOT failures unusually often on 1 Series.
If you’d like to know more about the 1 Series, here’s a guide to buying the first generation model, and here’s information on the second generation that went on sale in 2011.