Most Reliable Auto-Trail Models: Real MOT Data Analysis
We analysed 1,947 real UK MOT tests to reveal which Auto-Trail models pass most often, which years to buy, and which to avoid entirely.
1,947 MOT tests analysed
Real DVSA data covering every Auto-Trail model from 2000-2023
Key Findings
Most Reliable Model
Insufficient data
N/A
Best Single Year
Insufficient data
N/A
Auto-Trail vs National Average
69.7% vs 71.5%
-1.8% below average
Durability Champion
N/A
N/A
Auto-Trail has built its reputation on reliability, but does the data back it up? We analysed 1,947 real MOT tests from the DVSA database to find out exactly which Auto-Trail models live up to the hype and which ones fall short.
This isn't survey data or owner opinions. These are actual pass/fail results from UK garages, covering every Auto-Trail model sold in the UK from 2000 to 2023.
How Auto-Trail Compares to Rivals
Auto-Trail ranks #48 out of 75 manufacturers with a 69.7% average MOT pass rate. That's below the national average of 71.5%:
| Manufacturer | Pass Rate | Rank | Tests Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 74.0% | #31 | 1,606,300 |
| Volkswagen | 72.2% | #43 | 2,967,545 |
| Auto-Trail | 69.7% | #48 | 1,947 |
| Nissan | 68.7% | #50 | 1,612,552 |
| Ford | 68.5% | #51 | 4,432,652 |
| Vauxhall | 65.4% | #59 | 3,038,498 |
The verdict: Toyota maintains a lead among competitors, while Auto-Trail sits at #48. However, newer Auto-Trail models significantly outperform this average.
Best Auto-Trail Models by MOT Pass Rate
Looking at overall reliability across all years, here's how Auto-Trail's core models rank against the 71.5% national average:
| Model | Pass Rate | vs National (71.5%) | Tests | Years |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Buying Recommendations
Best If Buying Nearly New
2019-2023 models with highest early pass rates
- Limited data for recent models
Note: Long-term durability not yet proven for these newer models
Best If Buying Used (Proven)
11+ years of proven durability data
- Limited proven durability data available
Auto-Trail Models to Avoid (Proven Poor)
Proven below average at 11+ years - not just old, genuinely problematic
- No major proven reliability concerns
About This Data
This analysis uses real MOT test results from the DVSA database, covering 1,947 tests on Auto-Trail vehicles between 2000 and 2023.
Year-Adjusted Scoring (v2.1): In year-by-year breakdowns, each vehicle is compared against the national average for vehicles of the same model year. This removes the natural bias where newer cars pass more often, allowing fair comparisons across eras.
Evidence-Tiered Durability: We separate "proven durability" (vehicles tested at 11+ years old) from "early performers" (3-6 years old). Only vehicles with proven long-term data are used for durability claims. Age-band comparisons use weighted national averages.
Minimum thresholds: 500 tests for proven durability rankings, 1,000 tests for early performer rankings. Pass rates are calculated as first-time passes, excluding retests.
The overall national average MOT pass rate is 71.51% based on 32.3 million tests across all manufacturers. Year-specific averages range from ~59% (2009 vehicles) to ~88% (2020 vehicles).
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