Mercedes-benz C vs Mercedes-benz Vario: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mercedes-benz C
78%
MOT pass rate · 675,043 vehicles
Mercedes-benz Vario
77%
MOT pass rate · 611 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mercedes-benz C (78%) and Mercedes-benz Vario (77%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mercedes-benz C | Mercedes-benz Vario |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 77% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 23% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.7 | 1.4 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 112,156 mi | 205,854 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 675,043 | 611 |
Most common faults
Mercedes-benz C
- 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)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Mercedes-benz Vario
- Oil leak
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)
- Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)
- Rear Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mercedes-benz C (78%) and Mercedes-benz Vario (77%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mercedes-benz C report Full Mercedes-benz Vario 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.