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Hyundai i30 vs Skoda Octavia: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Skoda Octavia does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.2 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai i30 on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 31,450 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.

Hyundai i30
Pass rate71.2%
Age-matched national75.0%
Difference-3.8
Tests10,713
Skoda Octavia
Pass rate80.5%
Age-matched national78.1%
Difference+2.4
Tests20,737

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Hyundai i30s registered 2008–2019 and Skoda Octavias registered 2005–2022.

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.

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:

Skoda Octavia

Mk4, 2020+ · compact family hatch and estate (saloon-shaped hatch)

The Mk4 Skoda Octavia (2020+) shares the VW Golf Mk8 platform — including its early infotainment software bugs (resolved in 2023+ updates). The e-TEC 48V mild-hybrid starter generator has occasional faults, and the DSG differs by engine: dry-clutch DQ200 on e-TEC petrols, wet-clutch on 2.0 TDI and vRS. Best-buy: 2023+. Worst: 2020–2022 infotainment.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2024/017recall
    On certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment.
    15,729 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 May 2020 and 14 November 2023
    Large recall — 15,729 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Mk4 infotainment softwaremoderate
    Touchscreen freezes; haptic-touch climate slider non-responsive; CarPlay drops
    2020–2022 · Free under software update
    Check: Confirm software version updated to ME3.2 or later.
  • eTSI 48V starter generatorminor
    Stop-start unavailable; "mild hybrid" warning
    2020+ eTSI variants · £800–£1,200 unit replacement
    Check: Test stop-start engagement once warm.
  • DSG gearbox — which one depends on the engineminor
    Hesitation or judder pulling away in slow traffic
    All DSG Mk4. The 1.0 and 1.5 e-TEC mild hybrids use the 7-speed dry-clutch DQ200; the 2.0 TDI, the vRS and the iV plug-in hybrid use wet-clutch gearboxes · Wet-clutch gearboxes have a scheduled gearbox oil change; the dry-clutch DQ200 has none · Wet-clutch DSG oil service £350–£500
    Check: Confirm which gearbox the car has from its engine. On a wet-clutch car, the service history should show the scheduled DSG oil change; on an e-TEC car with the DQ200 there is no scheduled gearbox oil service, so do not expect one. Pull away uphill from a standstill to provoke any judder.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
49–57 mpg 2.0 TDI; 42–47 mpg 1.5 TSI
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:
2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2020, 2021, 2022
Used Skoda Octavias for saleFull Octavia fault guideUsed Skodas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

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.

Skoda Octavia

Good for: Practical family buyers wanting Golf substance with Skoda value — bigger boot, lower price.

Less good for: Buyers without tolerance for early Mk4 infotainment quirks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai i30 or the Skoda Octavia?
On the MOT measure, the Skoda Octavia: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.2 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai i30 on first-time MOT passes, across 31,450 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 Hyundai i30 and the Skoda Octavia compare?
71.2% of Hyundai i30s pass their MOT first time (10,713 tests in DVSA's records) and 80.5% of Skoda Octavias pass their MOT first time (20,737 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Hyundai i30's age average 75.0% and cars of the Skoda Octavia's age 78.1% — so the Hyundai i30 runs 3.8 points worse than its age group and the Skoda Octavia runs 2.4 points better 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 Hyundai i30 and Skoda Octavia should I 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. Skoda Octavia: Pre-2023 Mk4 inherited the Mk8 Golf's infotainment issues directly. Cars built 4 May 2020 to 14 November 2023 are also inside DVSA recall R/2024/017: on Octavias with the electromechanical brake servo and DSG a heat-protection mat may have been fitted wrongly, so the brake-fluid reservoir can melt and leak (15,729 vehicles across Octavia and Superb). Check the registration.
Is the Hyundai i30 or the Skoda Octavia cheaper to run?
On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 59 mpg (Hyundai i30) and 57 mpg (Skoda Octavia), 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 Hyundai i30 or Skoda Octavia 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.