Citroen Birlingo vs Citroen Xsara: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Citroen Birlingo
75%
MOT pass rate · 4 vehicles
Citroen Xsara
69%
MOT pass rate · 355,587 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Citroen Birlingo (75%) and Citroen Xsara (69%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Citroen Birlingo | Citroen Xsara |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% ✓ | 69% |
| MOT failure rate | 25% ✓ | 31% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.2 ✓ | 1.9 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 110,261 mi | 119,683 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 4 | 355,587 |
Most common faults
Citroen Birlingo
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases box (7.1.2)
- registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread front & rear plates (6.3.1d)
Citroen Xsara
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Citroen Birlingo (75%) and Citroen Xsara (69%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Citroen Birlingo report Full Citroen Xsara report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.