Volkswagen Polo vs Volkswagen Santana: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volkswagen Polo
73%
MOT pass rate · 1,167,422 vehicles
More reliable
Volkswagen Santana
66%
MOT pass rate · 52 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volkswagen Polo is the more reliable of the two — 73% pass first time versus 66%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volkswagen Polo | Volkswagen Santana |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 73% ✓ | 66% |
| MOT failure rate | 27% ✓ | 34% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 ✓ | 2.9 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 88,804 mi | 107,580 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 1,167,422 | 52 |
Most common faults
Volkswagen Polo
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Volkswagen Santana
- Oil leak
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
- Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volkswagen Polo is the more reliable of the two — 73% pass first time versus 66%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volkswagen Polo report Full Volkswagen Santana 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.