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Ford Fiesta in Birmingham (B) vs Southampton (SO)

The same model, tested in two postcode areas. This compares the Fiesta's own MOT record with the all-car record in each area, so a strong local average is not mistaken for a strong model.

Car · postcode area

West Midlands · ranked 16 of 118 on like-for-like

81.7%

Fiesta pass rate across 172,429 tests

84.7% all-car area pass rate

69,538 Fiesta cars tested here

Car · postcode area

South East · ranked 53 of 118 on like-for-like

79.0%

Fiesta pass rate across 64,035 tests

80.6% all-car area pass rate

23,975 Fiesta cars tested here

The short answer

The Fiesta is ahead in Birmingham

In Birmingham (B), 172,429 Fiesta tests pass 81.7%; in Southampton (SO), 64,035 pass 79.0% — a gap of 2.7 points. The all-car pass rate is 84.7% in B and 80.6% in SO. Against that local average, the Fiesta is −3.0 points in B and −1.6 points in SO. Nationally the Fiesta passes 78.4%, so the B figure is +3.3 points against the model's own record and SO +0.6 points. Birmingham ranks 16 of 118 areas on like-for-like performance (−0.2 points against what its age and mileage mix predicts); Southampton ranks 53 of 118 (−0.5 points). The Fiesta accounts for 5.20% of all tests in B and 4.70% in SO. These are tests carried out in each postcode area, not cars kept there. A car tested in both areas appears in both counts.

  • Pass rate: 81.7% vs 79.0%
  • Cars tested: 69,538 vs 23,975
  • Tests: 172,429 vs 64,035
  • Area average: 84.7% vs 80.6%
  • Model vs area: −3.0 vs −1.6 pts
  • Area rank: 16/118 vs 53/118
Ford Fiesta in B against SO, measure by measure
Measure B SO
Fiesta pass rate 81.7% stronger figure 79.0%
Fiesta cars tested 69,538 23,975
Fiesta MOT tests 172,429 64,035
Fiesta's share of area tests 5.20% 4.70%
Area pass rate, all cars 84.7% 80.6%
Fiesta against the area average −3.0 pts −1.6 pts stronger figure
Area rank, like-for-like 16 of 118 53 of 118
Area against what its car mix predicts −0.2 pts −0.5 pts
All cars tested in the area 1,505,286 562,004
All MOT tests in the area 3,318,297 1,365,470
MOT test stations 612 260
Typical repair spend per 100 tests, all cars £490–£1,331 £640–£1,746

A ✓ marks the stronger model-specific figure. Area rates, ranks and spend are context, not a score: the area average covers every car tested there, not this model.

What this comparison can and cannot tell you

  • It is a test-location figure. The DVSA postcode area is where the MOT was carried out, not where the keeper lives. A car tested in both areas appears in both counts.
  • The area average is every car, not this model. A high area rate can come from a newer car mix or more main-dealer testing; the like-for-like row adjusts for the age and mileage mix of the cars actually tested.
  • Below 30 tests the rate is withheld. The counts are still shown, because a count of three cars is a real answer even when a percentage would be noise.
  • Repair spend is an all-car estimate. It is not a quote for a Ford Fiesta and not a prediction for a specific car.

Read the full area pages

Compare another model in these two areas? Use the area comparison tool →

Both columns use the same 118-area dataset. Counts are distinct cars tested in each area over the latest data; a car tested more than once in the same area is counted once.

Compare a different car in these areas? Use the area comparison tool →

Or put the Fiesta against another model: Compare the Ford Fiesta side by side →

Both columns come from the same 2023–2025 test data. Counts are distinct cars tested in each area; a car tested in both areas appears in both. Read the full Birmingham area page and Southampton area page.