Car
Nissan Micra
77.9%
pass rate across 880,356 tests
72.3% first-time pass rate
Nissan Micra vs Vauxhall Corsa
The two cars compared on 4,193,604 real MOT tests: pass rates, first-time passes, the failures each is known for, repair costs and how both have moved year by year.
Car
Vauxhall Corsa
77.3%
pass rate across 3,313,248 tests
71.4% first-time pass rate
The short answer
Too close to call on MOT evidence
The two are level on first-time passes: 72.3% for the Nissan Micra and 71.4% for the Vauxhall Corsa. Even after adjusting for the age and mileage of the cars tested, the Nissan Micra is +0.3 points against its expected rate, the Vauxhall Corsa −2.7. A typical repair bill is similar: £29–£83 for the Nissan Micra and £21–£56 for the Vauxhall Corsa; at their pass rates that is roughly £637–£1,844 versus £469–£1,270 per 100 tests. The costliest common failure on the Vauxhall Corsa is Engine oil leaking excessively at 11.0% of tests, up to £700 to fix.
- First-time pass: 72.3% vs 71.4%.
- All MOTs: 77.9% vs 77.3%.
- Like-for-like: +0.3 vs −2.7 points.
- Typical repair bill: £29–£83 vs £21–£56.
- At 90,000–120,000 miles: 70.8% vs 71.6%.
| Measure | Micra | Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests on record | 880,356 | 3,313,248 |
| Pass rate, all MOTs | 77.9% stronger figure | 77.3% |
| First-time pass rate | 72.3% stronger figure | 71.4% |
| Against the UK average | −3.1 pts stronger figure | −3.7 pts |
| Like-for-like, age and mileage adjusted | +0.3 pts stronger figure | −2.7 pts |
| Average mileage at test | 56,734 mi | 64,976 mi |
| Model years on record | 2000–2023 (24) | 2000–2023 (24) |
| Best model year | 2022 · 93.8% | 2023 · 95.6% |
| Worst model year | 2000 · 69.4% | 2003 · 68.4% |
| Typical repair bill | £29–£83 | £21–£56 stronger figure |
| Expected repair spend per 100 tests | £637–£1,844 | £469–£1,270 stronger figure |
| Main fuel | Petrol 97% | Petrol 92% |
| Variants recorded | 2 | 4 |
A ✓ marks the stronger figure in each row. It is a comparison between the two cars, not a judgement against the national average.
What goes wrong most often
The most common priced failures on each model, as a share of all its tests. Repair costs are estimates from UK parts data, not quotes.
Micra
- Suspension pin or bush excessively worn 19.2% £40–£150
- Coil spring corroded 9.7% £25–£65
- Indicator incorrect colour 4.0% £3–£12
- Registration plate lamp inoperative (single lamp) 3.3% £5–£20
Corsa
- Engine oil leaking excessively 11.0% £200–£700
- Shock absorber leaking 9.0% £30–£75
- Exhaust system leaking 5.8% £45–£120
- Sub-frame corroded 5.3% £180–£450
Year by year
The newest 8 years with published results. A model's headline rate hides a wide spread between its best and worst years.
| Model year | Micra | Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 84.7% · 36,655 tests | 80.0% · 269,467 tests |
| 2017 | 79.6% · 45,917 tests | 81.8% · 180,431 tests |
| 2018 | 82.6% · 34,978 tests | 84.5% · 176,877 tests |
| 2019 | 88.2% · 28,032 tests | 87.2% · 155,977 tests |
| 2020 | 90.8% · 16,728 tests | 89.9% · 134,852 tests |
| 2021 | 93.4% · 13,386 tests | 90.1% · 66,466 tests |
| 2022 | 93.8% · 5,654 tests | 91.5% · 26,298 tests |
| 2023 | 88.7% · 62 tests | 95.6% · 341 tests |
Does the pass rate hold at higher mileage?
Pass rate by the mileage recorded at test, pooled across every published year. A car that stays strong past 90,000 miles is doing something right.
| Mileage | Micra | Corsa |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30,000 mi | 88.8% · 155,067 tests | 88.2% · 442,263 tests |
| 30,000–60,000 mi | 80.1% · 290,928 tests | 80.2% · 1,045,803 tests |
| 60,000–90,000 mi | 74.5% · 235,891 tests | 74.4% · 1,041,121 tests |
| 90,000–120,000 mi | 70.8% · 131,975 tests | 71.6% · 568,901 tests |
| 120k+ | 68.5% · 65,143 tests | 70.6% · 210,517 tests |
What to check before you buy
Nissan Micra
- Suspension pin or bush excessively worn — 19.2% of tests, £40–£150 to put right.
- Coil spring corroded — 9.7% of tests, £25–£65 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2000 at 69.4%; check that generation's MOT history closely.
Vauxhall Corsa
- Engine oil leaking excessively — 11.0% of tests, £200–£700 to put right.
- Shock absorber leaking — 9.0% of tests, £30–£75 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2003 at 68.4%; check that generation's MOT history closely.
Both columns cover every published year for the model. Pass rates are test-weighted, so a model with more recent tests is not dragged down by its oldest ones. Repair figures are estimates from UK parts data; a garage quote is the only number that matters for a specific car. The same car can be tested in more than one year, so these are test outcomes, not a count of individual vehicles.
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