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Ford Focus vs Hyundai i30: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Ford Focus does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.7 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai i30 on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 103,779 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Ford Focus
Pass rate74.7%
Age-matched national74.8%
Difference-0.1
Tests93,066
Hyundai i30
Pass rate71.2%
Age-matched national75.0%
Difference-3.8
Tests10,713

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Ford Focus registered 2001–2022 and Hyundai i30s registered 2008–2019.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Ford Focus

Mk4, 2018–2025 · compact family hatch

The Mk4 Ford Focus (2018–2025) drives brilliantly. The critical check is the 1.0 EcoBoost engine: early non-hybrid cars have a wet cam belt that owners report failing, while the 2020-on mild hybrid uses a chain-driven camshaft. Best-buy: 2021+ mild hybrid. Worst: early 2019.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/171recall
    The right-hand engine oil seperator may have been damaged prior to engine assembly.
    9,818 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 February 2020 and 18 March 2021
    Smaller recall — 9,818 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 1.0 EcoBoost wet-belt failurecritical
    Loss of compression; check engine; belt debris in oil; in worst case complete engine destruction
    Non-hybrid Mk4 1.0 EcoBoost with the original wet cam belt (2018 into 2019/2020). The mild hybrid (2020 on) uses a chain-driven camshaft; a smaller wet belt still drives the oil pump. The cut-over was not a clean model-year change, so confirm by engine code · On cars with the original wet cam belt, independent specialists advise changing it nearer 60,000 miles or 7 years than Ford's original interval · Belt + tensioner + labour: £700–£1,100 preventatively. Engine rebuild after failure: £4,500–£7,000.
    Check: Confirm the engine version by engine code. On an original wet-cam-belt car, ask for a dated invoice for the belt change; no record means budgeting for it now. On a mild hybrid, ask about the oil-pump belt. An oil-pan inspection at an independent garage is the best confirmation.
  • 1.5 EcoBlue diesel oil dilutionmajor
    Engine oil level rising between services; oil smells of diesel
    1.5 EcoBlue diesel, all years · Service interval reduction; in worst cases injector replacement £600–£1,200
    Check: Dipstick check pre-purchase: if oil level above max line, oil dilution is occurring.
  • Rear suspension bushing wearminor
    Knocking over rough surfaces; vague handling
    All Mk4 · 75,000+ miles · £250–£450
    Check: Rough-road portion of test drive.
Typical asking price:
£6,457–£15,495, median £9,490 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
44–51 mpg real-world for 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2021, 2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
early 2019
Used Ford Focus for saleFull Focus fault guideUsed Fords

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Hyundai i30

PD, 2017+ · compact family hatch

The PD Hyundai i30 (2017+) is one of the most reliable compact hatches in the UK. Owners report oil-pressure and injector issues on the 1.4 T-GDI turbopetrol before the 2020 facelift; the diesel 1.6 CRDi is solid. DCT (dual-clutch) on 1.4 T-GDI judders in low-speed traffic. Best-buy: 2020+ 1.6 CRDi or 1.0 T-GDI. Worst: 2018–2019 1.4 T-GDI DCT.

What goes wrong

  • 1.4 T-GDI engine — oil pressure warningmajor
    Oil pressure warning light on startup; engine noise at idle; low oil level despite no visible leak
    2018–2019 1.4 T-GDI (before ECU calibration update) · ECU update free under warranty; if engine damage occurred: £2,500–£5,000
    Check: Dipstick at viewing — check level and colour. Ask if oil pressure warning has ever been triggered. Service history should show oil changes at Hyundai UK's petrol interval of 1 year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Avoid 1.4 T-GDI without confirmed ECU update.
  • 7-speed dry-clutch DCT judder (1.4 T-GDI)moderate
    Shudder when pulling away from a standstill in traffic; hesitation at low speeds; occasional "clunk" engaging Drive from neutral
    2017–2019 DCT variants · DCT software update free at Hyundai dealer; fluid change £150–£220; mechatronic fault £800–£1,500
    Check: Test drive in heavy stop-start urban conditions — not just an open road. DCT should engage cleanly. Any shudder requires DCT software check and fluid condition inspection.
  • 1.6 CRDi diesel — DPF (short-trip urban)moderate
    "DPF regenerating" warning; limp mode; reduced power
    All 1.6 CRDi diesel variants · Usage-pattern-driven · £350–£650 forced regen; £1,400–£2,200 DPF replacement
    Check: Ask seller about typical journey length. CRDi used exclusively for sub-6 miles school runs is a red flag. Avoid without evidence of regular 30-minute motorway runs.
  • TPMS sensor faultsminor
    Tyre pressure warning despite correct inflation; sensor unresponsive after tyre change
    All PD i30 · £80–£130 per sensor
    Check: Check TPMS warning light on dash during inspection.
Typical asking price:
£4,790–£18,490, median £7,995 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
1.4 T-GDI: 36–44 mpg. 1.0 T-GDI: 39–47 mpg. 1.6 CRDi: 49–59 mpg
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
2018, 2019
Used Hyundai i30s for saleFull i30 fault guideUsed Hyundais

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Ford Focus

Good for: Driver-focused family buyers; commuters wanting small petrol; buyers who can verify wet-belt change documentation.

Less good for: Anyone considering an early non-hybrid 1.0 EcoBoost without belt-change evidence.

Hyundai i30

Good for: UK families wanting a reliable, well-equipped compact hatch backed by Hyundai's 5-year warranty. The 1.6 CRDi diesel is the sweet spot for long-distance commuters; the 1.0 T-GDI for urban and suburban use.

Less good for: Buyers considering a pre-2020 1.4 T-GDI DCT without oil-pressure ECU update evidence; short-trip-only diesel buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Hyundai i30?
On the MOT measure, the Ford Focus: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.7 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai i30 on first-time MOT passes, across 103,779 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Ford Focus and the Hyundai i30 compare?
74.7% of Ford Focus pass their MOT first time (93,066 tests in DVSA's records) and 71.2% of Hyundai i30s pass their MOT first time (10,713 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Ford Focus's age average 74.8% and cars of the Hyundai i30's age 75.0% — so the Ford Focus runs 0.1 points worse than its age group and the Hyundai i30 runs 3.8 points worse than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 should I avoid?
Ford Focus: Early Mk4 1.0 EcoBoost wet-belt failures were catastrophic when they occurred — £4,000+ engine rebuild on a £15k car. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid. Hyundai i30: Early 1.4 T-GDI examples (2018–2019) are the ones owners most often report oil pressure warnings and injector issues on. How often it happens is not known. The 7-speed dry-clutch DCT on these variants also had calibration issues causing low-speed judder in urban traffic — particularly frustrating for city commuters.
Is the Ford Focus or the Hyundai i30 cheaper to run?
On fuel the Hyundai i30 has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 59 mpg, against up to 51 mpg for the Ford Focus, on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Ford Focus or Hyundai i30 registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.