Car
Peugeot 308
77.0%
pass rate across 499,113 tests
71.1% first-time pass rate
Peugeot 308 vs Vauxhall Astra
The two cars compared on 2,852,929 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 Astra
77.8%
pass rate across 2,353,816 tests
72.2% first-time pass rate
The short answer
Vauxhall Astra edges the MOT comparison
Across 2,852,929 tests, the Vauxhall Astra has the stronger first-time record: 72.2% against 71.1%, a 1.1-point gap. Even after adjusting for the age and mileage of the cars tested, the Vauxhall Astra is −0.8 points against its expected rate, the Peugeot 308 −3.1. A typical repair bill is similar: £29–£84 for the Peugeot 308 and £27–£71 for the Vauxhall Astra; at their pass rates that is roughly £678–£1,926 versus £598–£1,573 per 100 tests. The costliest common failure on the Vauxhall Astra is Engine oil leaking excessively at 15.2% of tests, up to £700 to fix.
- First-time pass: 71.1% vs 72.2%.
- All MOTs: 77.0% vs 77.8%.
- Like-for-like: −3.1 vs −0.8 points.
- Typical repair bill: £29–£84 vs £27–£71.
- At 90,000–120,000 miles: 72.6% vs 74.1%.
| Measure | 308 | Astra |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests on record | 499,113 | 2,353,816 |
| Pass rate, all MOTs | 77.0% | 77.8% stronger figure |
| First-time pass rate | 71.1% | 72.2% stronger figure |
| Against the UK average | −4.0 pts | −3.2 pts stronger figure |
| Like-for-like, age and mileage adjusted | −3.1 pts | −0.8 pts stronger figure |
| Average mileage at test | 72,779 mi | 83,701 mi |
| Model years on record | 2007–2023 (17) | 2000–2022 (23) |
| Best model year | 2023 · 93.6% | 2021 · 91.2% |
| Worst model year | 2007 · 66.7% | 2006 · 69.8% |
| Typical repair bill | £29–£84 | £27–£71 stronger figure |
| Expected repair spend per 100 tests | £678–£1,926 | £598–£1,573 stronger figure |
| Main fuel | Diesel 68% | Petrol 70% |
| Variants recorded | 11 | 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.
308
- Registration plate lamp inoperative (multiple lamps) 7.1% £5–£20
- Linkage ball joint excessively worn 3.7% £18–£45
- CV boot split or insecure 3.6% £80–£250
- Registration plate lamp inoperative (single lamp) 1.9% £5–£20
Astra
- Engine oil leaking excessively 15.2% £200–£700
- Exhaust system leaking 7.8% £45–£120
- Coil spring fractured or broken 4.8% £25–£65
- Swivel pin or bush excessively worn 2.3% £40–£150
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 | 308 | Astra |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 80.3% · 52,905 tests | 84.3% · 191,978 tests |
| 2017 | 82.8% · 32,053 tests | 86.4% · 154,342 tests |
| 2018 | 84.9% · 28,773 tests | 87.5% · 99,774 tests |
| 2019 | 88.7% · 23,188 tests | 89.2% · 68,757 tests |
| 2020 | 90.9% · 11,889 tests | 90.2% · 19,867 tests |
| 2021 | 91.4% · 3,307 tests | 91.2% · 6,431 tests |
| 2022 | 92.1% · 3,847 tests | 90.5% · 771 tests |
| 2023 | 93.6% · 188 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 | 308 | Astra |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30,000 mi | 91.6% · 31,907 tests | 91.8% · 110,459 tests |
| 30,000–60,000 mi | 83.4% · 114,593 tests | 84.5% · 475,335 tests |
| 60,000–90,000 mi | 76.2% · 155,360 tests | 78.3% · 709,743 tests |
| 90,000–120,000 mi | 72.6% · 114,833 tests | 74.1% · 597,511 tests |
| 120k+ | 70.4% · 81,847 tests | 71.6% · 455,423 tests |
What to check before you buy
Peugeot 308
- Registration plate lamp inoperative (multiple lamps) — 7.1% of tests, £5–£20 to put right.
- Linkage ball joint excessively worn — 3.7% of tests, £18–£45 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2007 at 66.7%; check that generation's MOT history closely.
Vauxhall Astra
- Engine oil leaking excessively — 15.2% of tests, £200–£700 to put right.
- Exhaust system leaking — 7.8% of tests, £45–£120 to put right.
- The weakest year on record is 2006 at 69.8%; 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.
Want a different pair? Compare any two cars side by side →