The Tiguan. Once age and mileage are allowed for, Tiguans pass the MOT first time 3.8 points more often than Tucsons. The best bets are Tiguans registered from 2008 to 2021, and Tucsons registered 2015 to 2017 and 2021. Avoid Tucsons registered 2005 to 2007 and 2020.
| VW Tiguan | Hyundai Tucson | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 84.2% | 82.4% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | +5.2 points | +1.3 points |
| Years to avoid | None stand out | 2005 to 2007 and 2020 |
| Best years | 2008 to 2021 | 2015 to 2017 and 2021 |
| Fails most often, against the average car | No area stands out | Brakes: 1.8 times as often |
| Most common failure | Coil springs: fractured or broken | Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick |
| MOTs in 2025 | 254,659 | 166,472 |
How often cars from each registration year passed the MOT first time, against the average car of the same age and mileage. The figure is the difference in percentage points.
Each block is a registration year: the year the car was first used. Tap or hover over one for its figures. Blank means too few MOTs that year.
Points against the average car of the same age and mileage, with each year's most common failure. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as either.
| Registered | Tiguan | Tucson | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Too few MOTs | −3.7Headlight aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) | |
| 2006 | Too few MOTs | −3.2Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | |
| 2007 | Too few MOTs | −2.8Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | |
| 2008 | +6.0Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2009 | +4.9Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +1.0Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Tiguan |
| 2010 | +5.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2011 | +5.6Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2012 | +4.7Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2013 | +7.1Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2014 | +4.7Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2015 | +4.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +2.8Brake test (efficiency below requirements) | Tiguan |
| 2016 | +7.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +3.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tiguan |
| 2017 | +9.0Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +1.8Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tiguan |
| 2018 | +5.5Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +1.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tiguan |
| 2019 | +4.2Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +0.5Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tiguan |
| 2020 | +3.0Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | −1.9Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tiguan |
| 2021 | +3.1Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | +1.9Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Either |
| 2022 | −0.1Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +0.7Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Either |
How often each passed the MOT first time against the average car of the same age and mileage, in points. Over 120,000 miles: Tiguans 4.6 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, Tucsons 1.6 points below.
| Tiguan | Tucson | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | +1.7 | +0.4 | Either |
| 30–60k miles | +4.1 | +1.7 | Tiguan |
| 60–90k miles | +6.7 | +1.5 | Tiguan |
| 90–120k miles | +6.1 | −0.3 | Tiguan |
| 120k+ miles | +4.6 | −1.6 | Tiguan |
| Tiguan | Tucson | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | +3.6 | −0.2 | Tiguan |
| Diesel | +5.4 | +3.1 | Tiguan |
| Hybrid | +5.5 | +2.4 | Tiguan |
Each fuel is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, whatever its fuel. Rows with fewer than 500 MOTs for either car are left out.
How often each failed on every area of the test, against the average car of the same age and mileage. All registration years.
| Area | Tiguan: failed | Against average | Tucson: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 7.2% | 1.1× | 1.7% | 0.5× |
| Steering | 0.3% | 0.2× | 0.9% | 1.1× |
| Brakes | 3.3% | 0.7× | 6.0% | 1.8× |
| Tyres | 5.7% | 0.9× | 4.5% | 0.8× |
| Lights & electrics | 3.5% | 0.5× | 2.9% | 0.6× |
| Visibility | 2.0% | 0.5× | 3.6% | 1.1× |
| Body & structure | 1.0% | 0.5× | 0.7% | 0.7× |
| Emissions & leaks | 2.0% | 0.9× | 1.7% | 1.2× |
The failures testers found most often on each, against the average car of the same age and mileage. Both charts use the same scale.
What testers most often noted as advisories on each: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for the average car of the same age and mileage.
The Tiguan
For cars registered 2014 to 2021, Tiguans passed the MOT first time 5.2 points above the average car of the same age and mileage and Tucsons 1.3 points above: 3.8 points between them.
+5.2points against the average car of the same age and mileage
+1.3points against the average car of the same age and mileage
Going by the MOT, the Tiguan is. For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 84.2% of Tiguans passed first time, 5.2 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, against 82.4% of Tucsons, 1.3 points above.
None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of the average car of the same age and mileage, or ahead of it.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2007 and 2020. Those cars passed first time −2.8 to −3.7 and −1.9 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
Over 120,000 miles: Tiguans 4.6 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, Tucsons 1.6 points below. So the Tiguan holds up better.
Tiguan: coil springs (fractured or broken), on 2.7% of MOTs against 1.9% for the average car of the same age and mileage. Tucson: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick), on 2.7% of MOTs against 1.6% for the average car of the same age and mileage.
Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data: 254,659 Tiguan MOTs and 166,472 Tucson MOTs. Retests are left out.
Against the average car. Each model is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, not with each other directly, so a newer or lower-mileage model doesn't win for that alone.
Which is more reliable. The answer uses cars registered 2014 to 2021, the same years for both, as the rivals table on each model page does. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as level.