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Welcome to our latest post on what MOT data can tell us about which cars you should be looking at when buying used.
One of the most popular types of used cars are SUVs like the Skoda Yeti, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Touareg. We’ve tried to answer the question “what’s the best used SUV” by looking at what the MOT data can tell us.
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.
With SUVs, this is a little harder than for some other types of cars because the popularity of SUVs has exploded in the last decade (the number sold tripled between 2013 and 2019). As a result, lots of new models have been launched in recent years, and if a model has only been on sale for 6 or 7 years it’s too early to tell what longer-term reliability will be.
As we’re trying to answer the question “what are the most reliable SUVs?” we’ve had to exclude cars like the Lexus NX and Renault Captur for that reason.
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.
Here’s our list of the top 5 Used SUVs.
1 Lexus RX
In first position in our list is the Lexus RX, with an average CarXpert rating of 3.80.
The chart below shows the proportion of RXs that fall into each of CarXpert’s 1 to 5 star rating categories. An impressive 61% of these Lexuses get a 4 or 5 start rating, so if you’re looking at buying a good example of these the odds are in your favour.
There are a few things to be aware of if you’re looking at a used Lexus RX
Shock absorbers not functioning properly or leaking crops up more often than average as a cause of MOT failure. That’s not an easy thing to check when you’re looking at a car, so check the MOT history for any advisories on recent MOTs that mention the shock absorbers. You can see the full MOT history for a car after you’ve got its CarXpert rating here.
Brakes are something to watch out for. Make sure the parking brake can hold the car on a slope, as poor parking brake performance is a frequent MOT failure item on these cars. Also, the condition of the brake discs can cause an RX to fail an MOT. If you can, have a look at these, and again check the MOT history for any mentions of issues with the brake discs.
Make sure that the headlamp levelling switch makes the headlamp beam move up and down, as if the headlamp levelling system isn’t working then it can result in an MOT failure, and this comes up more often than is typical with this Lexus.
If the car you’re looking at has a personalised plate, check that the spacing of the characters hasn’t been changed or that the characters haven’t been modified. Cars will fail an MOT if the number plates aren’t in line with the regulations, and the Lexus RX has this mentioned as a cause of MOT failure more than average.
If you’d like more information about the RX, including trim levels and specifications, Auto Express have published a buyer’s guide.
2 HONDA CR-V
In second place we have another Japanese car, the Honda CR-V. This gets an average CarXpert rating of 3.69, and below is a breakdown of how many CR-Vs are in our 1 to 5 star rating categories.
If you’re looking at a used CR-V, then there are a few things you need to look out for. Some of these aren’t the kind of thing you can see without getting underneath the car, so have a look at the MOT history (you can do that via CarXpert here).
In that category would be problems on the front suspension, Specifically, balljoint dust covers can be a cause of MOT failures for CR-Vs.
Also at the front of the car, and not easy to inspect at the roadside, are problems with the steering rack gaiter, and leaks from the power steering system. Have a look at the MOT history to see if there are mentions of these as advisories. If there are, and there’s no evidence the seller has had these fixed, then bear that in mind when deciding if you still want the car, or whether the price is fair.
As with the Lexus RX, the headlamp levelling device being inoperative can cause and MOT failure on CR-Vs more than is typical, so make sure this is working.
For some reason brake pedal rubbers on CR-Vs can wear or fall off unusually frequently. That’s an MOT fail, so make sure the brake pedal rubber is in good condition.
What Car have published a buying guide to the CR-V if you’d like to find out more about this Honda.
3 SKODA YETI
In third place we have the Skoda Yeti. This also has an average CarXpert rating of 3.69, but if we take the rating to 3 decimal places the Skoda came out just behind the second placed Honda.
Here’s the proportion of Yetis in each of our 1 to 5 star categories:
As with all the cars in our list, it’s easier to find a good used Yeti than a lot of other SUVs, but there are still some things you should check out.
Like the Honda, front suspension balljoint dust covers can fail, leading to an MOT failure, and the same advice applies about checking the MOT history for any recent mentions of problems in this area.
Warning lights are something to check. Make sure the engine management light comes on with the ignition and goes off when the engine starts. This can be a problem on Yetis, particularly Diesel engined cars. It indicates some kind of problem with the engine management, and is an MOT failure.
Similarly, carry out the same check with the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) light. This also comes up as an MOT failure for Yetis more than is typical.
While indicators not working is a very common cause of MOT failure for all cars, it does crop up more than average on Yetis, so make sure all of the indicator lights are working. While we’re talking about lights, have a look at the registration plate lamps – these can come loose, and that can result in an MOT failure.
Another easy thing to check is the headlamp washers, and you should do that as Yetis can fail MOTs because these aren’t working.
More information about the different engines, equipment levels and what to look out for on a used Yeti can be found in this buying guide.
4 AUDI Q5
In fourth place in our list of the best used SUVs we have the Audi Q5 with an average CarXpert rating of 3.67.
Here’s how the ratings are made up for the Q5 –
So, what should you look out of on a use Q5?
Check the MOT history for any advisories that mention transmission shaft constant velocity joint boots. If these are damaged, then that’s an MOT failure. On a test drive listen for any knocking noises when you are manoeuvring at low speed with the steering turned – that might indicate that a boot had failed at some point and the constant velocity joint has got damaged as a result.
As with the Yeti, make sure the engine management light comes on with the ignition and goes off when the engine starts. If not, that’s an MOT failure, and also suggests something needs attention with the engine or related systems.
Have a look at the wheels as Q5s can fail an MOT because a wheel nut can be missing, so make sure they are all present and correct.
As with some of the other cars in our list, the headlamp levelling device can fail, so move the switch and see if the headlamp beam moves. Slightly harder to check is whether the headlamp beam is aiming properly, but have a look as this can cause MOT failures on Q5s.
While you’re looking at the headlamps, make sure the headlamp cleaning is working as this can be an issue and if it’s not working then it’s an MOT fail.
As we saw with the Lexus, Q5 owners seem keen on personalising their number plates, and sometimes this has been done in a way that results in an MOT fail. If you’re looking at a Q5 with a personalised plates, see if it’s obvious what the characters are.
Door Handles on Q5s are mentioned as a reason for an MOT failure more than is typical, so make sure you can open all the doors.
What Car? has published a buyer’s guide to the Q5 that will give you more information about this model.
5 BMW X1
In fifth place we have the BMW X1, with an average CarXpert rating of 3.64.
Below we’ve laid out how many X1s are in CarXpert’s 1 to 5 star categories.
What should you be looking out for on a used BMW X1?
While tyres being worn out is a very common cause of MOT failures, BMW X1s are unusually prone to having tyres worn right down to the cords. So have a good look at the condition of the tyres, and while you’re at it make sure all the wheel bolts are there, as missing wheel bolts accounts for an unusually high proportion of X1 MOT failures.
One thing you can’t easily check is the condition of the front suspension. Wear in front suspension components can lead to X1s failing their MOTs, so have a look at the MOT history for any recent advisories that mention the front suspension.
Problems with the effectiveness of the braking system result in MOT failures for X1s more than is typical. On a test drive, find a safe place to brake heavily and make sure the car pulls up smoothly and without pulling to one side.
As with some of the other cars in our list, modified number plates are a cause of MOT failures, so make sure that the plates on any X1 you are considering are legible and not ambiguous as to what the letters and numbers are, e.g., has the owner modified a “4” to make it look more like an “A”?
If you’d like more information about X1 running costs, engine choices and trim levels, here’s a link to a buyer’s guide.
We hope you found this guide to the best used SUVs useful, and let us know about your views on this, or experience with any of the cars mentioned here in the comments section.