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Skoda Octavia vs Toyota Corolla: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Skoda Octavia and the Toyota Corolla are too close to call — 1.6 percentage points apart on first-time MOT passes once you allow for the age of each fleet, which is inside what the choice of cars counted can move. A winner is named only at 2 points or more. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Choose on the fault patterns and running costs below.

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.

Skoda Octavia
Pass rate80.5%
Age-matched national78.1%
Difference+2.4
Tests20,737
Toyota Corolla
Pass rate84.6%
Age-matched national80.5%
Difference+4.0
Tests13,129

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Skoda Octavias registered 2005–2022 and Toyota Corollas registered 2002–2023.

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.

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:

Toyota Corolla

E210, 2019+ · compact hybrid hatch and saloon

The E210 Toyota Corolla Hybrid (2019+) has a strong reliability record in the UK. Owner-reported concerns are minor: rear shock corrosion in coastal areas and Touch 2 infotainment lag. Two DVSA safety recalls cover some 2019–2022 builds, so check by registration. Best-buy: any year. Worst: none.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2024/463recall
    Brake actuator Skid control ECU reprogram on Certain Toyota Corolla 24SD-146
    31,809 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 16 January 2023 and 5 November 2024
    Large recall — 31,809 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2025/270recall
    Combination Meter Reprogramming on Multiple Models
    30,141 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 19 August 2022 and 6 May 2025
    Large recall — 30,141 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Rear shock corrosion (coastal areas)minor
    Rust around shock mount; advisory on MOT
    All E210 in coastal areas (e.g. the west coast, Scotland, the South West) · Time-driven, typically 5+ years · £200–£350
    Check: Underbody inspection at viewing — bring a torch.
  • Touch 2 infotainment lagminor
    Slow response to taps; CarPlay reconnect needed
    2019–2022 (Touch 2) · No fix — software limitation. Toyota Smart Connect (post-2023) is significantly better.
    Check: Use infotainment for 10+ minutes during test drive — assess if you can live with the lag.
Typical asking price:
£9,995–£15,995, median £13,850 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
55–63 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–58 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet, hatchback).
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:
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Used Toyota Corollas for saleFull Corolla fault guideUsed Toyotas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

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.

Toyota Corolla

Good for: Anyone prioritising reliability, lowest running costs, and fuss-free ownership. Ideal for new drivers and high-mileage commuters.

Less good for: Buyers wanting performance or premium-cabin feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Octavia or the Toyota Corolla?
Neither stands out on the MOT measure. Their first-time MOT pass rates sit 1.6 percentage points apart once each is compared against the national rate for cars of the same age, which is too close to call (we name a winner only at 2 points or more). 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. Pick on the specific faults each is prone to instead.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Skoda Octavia and the Toyota Corolla compare?
80.5% of Skoda Octavias pass their MOT first time (20,737 tests in DVSA's records) and 84.6% of Toyota Corollas pass their MOT first time (13,129 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Skoda Octavia's age average 78.1% and cars of the Toyota Corolla's age 80.5% — so the Skoda Octavia runs 2.4 points better than its age group and the Toyota Corolla runs 4.0 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 Skoda Octavia and Toyota Corolla should I avoid?
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. Toyota Corolla: No standout problem year — the most cited owner-reported issues are surface-level (infotainment, body corrosion in coastal areas) rather than mechanical. The safety recalls below cover particular build windows rather than a whole year, so check the car you are looking at by registration.
Is the Skoda Octavia or the Toyota Corolla cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine. Skoda Octavia: 49–57 mpg 2.0 TDI; 42–47 mpg 1.5 TSI. Toyota Corolla: 55–63 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–58 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet, hatchback). WLTP figures are official lab results; your own driving can return a different figure. 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 Skoda Octavia or Toyota Corolla 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.