Skoda Superb vs Toyota Avensis: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Toyota Avensis is the more reliable used buy: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Skoda Superb on first-time MOT passes. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (74.1% against 81.7%) because Toyota Avensis on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 69.8% of the time, against 80.7% for cars the age of the Skoda Superb fleet. That comparison covers 12,344 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.

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 Superb

Pass rate81.7%

Age-matched national80.7%

Difference+1.0

Tests6,784

Toyota Avensis

Pass rate74.1%

Age-matched national69.8%

Difference+4.3

Tests5,560

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Skoda Superb	81.7%	80.7%	+1.0	6,784
Toyota Avensis	74.1%	69.8%	+4.3	5,560

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Skoda Superbs registered 2011–2022 and Toyota Avensis registered 2004–2017.

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 Superb

third generation 2015–2024 · large family hatchback and estate

The third-generation Skoda Superb has one large DVSA recall: R/2024/017, a brake-fluid-reservoir heat-shield fault shared with the Octavia, on cars built June 2019 to November 2023. The rest are small build-window recalls, the most notable a fuse-box cable clamp on May to December 2015 builds that could cut the engine. What Car? scores the diesel 93.9% and the petrol 85.6%, and DVSA’s MOT table rates no Superb registration year below the average for its year. Under Skoda UK’s current terms a plug-in hybrid’s battery-capacity warranty does not pass to a second owner.

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 27 June 2019 and 23 November 2023
Large recall — 15,729 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2022/087recall
The fuse in the high-voltage system of plug-in hybrid vehicles was partly produced with an insufficient amount of so-called fire extinguishing sand
2,038 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 12 December 2019 and 14 February 2022
Smaller recall — 2,038 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Diesel — exhaust, battery, air-con and electrical faultsmajor
What Car? says almost a third of the 2015–2023 diesel Superbs in its survey had a fault, across air-con, battery, bodywork, engine, exhaust and sat-nav or infotainment, and half stopped the car being driven until repaired. Only half of the repairs were covered by warranty.
2015–2023 diesel · £101–£1,000 for the repairs that were not covered by warranty, as What Car? survey respondents reported (its page, updated 28 May 2025)
Check: Ask which faults the car has had and who paid. Look for exhaust or battery work on the service record, and check the air-con blows cold and the infotainment works.
Petrol — sat-nav, infotainment and electrical faultsmoderate
What Car? says 23% of the petrol Superbs in its survey had a problem, with sat-nav or infotainment and other electrical systems giving the most trouble, and that Skoda paid for 85% of the faults.
2015–2023 petrol
Check: Work the touchscreen, navigation and phone pairing for several minutes, and check every electrical item before you buy.

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:: No sourced real-world figure for the Superb, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at.
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:: 2016, 2018

Used Skoda Superbs for sale Full Superb fault guide Used Skodas

Also compare:

Toyota Avensis

third generation 2009–2018 · large family saloon and estate

The Toyota Avensis passes the MOT first time 4.3 points more often than cars of the same age, and every registration year with enough tests is at or above the average for its year. Its biggest recalls: the accelerator pedal (R/2010/010), the fuel tank (R/2018/340, builds to April 2015), the rear suspension arm (R/2012/085) and, for 2015–2018 cars, the EGR cooler (R/2021/104). What Car? ranked it second among used executive cars in 2023. Toyota’s Service Activated Warranty can restart cover only on a car under 10 years old and 100,000 miles.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2010/010recall
Accelerator pedal may fail to return to idle
174,426 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 1 November 2008 and 31 December 2009
Large recall — 174,426 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2018/340recall
A potential crack could develop in the fuel evaporative emission control unit mounted in the fuel tank
85,909 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 28 January 2008 and 22 April 2015
Large recall — 85,909 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Cover — Toyota’s Service Activated Warranty has an age and mileage limitminor
Not a fault. Toyota UK says its Service Activated Warranty is applied each time a car has an eligible service at an authorised Toyota dealer and lasts until the next scheduled service, but eligible services are available only until the car turns 10 years old or reaches 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
All; the age limit means the oldest cars can no longer be brought back into cover
Check: Work out whether the car is inside both limits (under 10 years old and under 100,000 miles) before counting on Toyota cover, and ask a Toyota dealer to confirm for the VIN.
Interior — scratchy plastics and ignition-slot marksminor
What Car? says the dashboard plastics can scratch, and that on T2 and TR models the area around the ignition slot can be marked by the key; push-button start on T4 and T Spirit models avoids that.
2009–2015 cars; check the trim level
Check: Look at the door-handle panels and the area around the ignition, and at every alloy wheel: if all four are marked, look for other signs of neglect.

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:: What Car? gives official lab (NEDC) economy of 67.3 mpg for the 2015–2018 1.6 diesel, 62.8 mpg for the 2.0 diesel and 46.3 mpg for the 1.8 petrol (its March 2019 update); real-world economy will be lower, and we have no sourced real-world figure.
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:: 2013, 2014

Full Avensis fault guide Used Toyotas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Skoda Superb

Good for: Buyers who need a large, quiet car for long journeys and will check the build-window recalls, and the battery cover on a plug-in hybrid.

Less good for: Anyone buying a plug-in hybrid who is counting on the capacity warranty, or a diesel with no record of exhaust and battery work.

Toyota Avensis

Good for: Buyers who want a plain, quiet, reliable family saloon or estate and will check the age and the service record rather than chasing a particular year.

Less good for: Anyone who wants an automatic diesel (What Car? says the 2015–2018 diesels had no automatic option) or a car that is engaging to drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Superb or the Toyota Avensis?

The Toyota Avensis. Measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Skoda Superb on first-time MOT passes, across 12,344 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (74.1% against 81.7%) because Toyota Avensis on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 69.8% of the time, against 80.7% for cars the age of the Skoda Superb fleet. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

How do the MOT pass rates of the Skoda Superb and the Toyota Avensis compare?

81.7% of Skoda Superbs pass their MOT first time (6,784 tests in DVSA's records) and 74.1% of Toyota Avensis pass their MOT first time (5,560 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Skoda Superb's age average 80.7% and cars of the Toyota Avensis's age 69.8% — so the Skoda Superb runs 1.0 points better than its age group and the Toyota Avensis runs 4.3 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 Superb and Toyota Avensis should I avoid?

Skoda Superb: No year is named: DVSA’s MOT table rates no Superb registration year below all cars registered that year, and the one recall of 10,000 or more vehicles (R/2024/017) covers cars built across 2019 to 2023. The first months of the third generation (built 1 May to 1 December 2015) are in R/2016/005, a fuse-box cable clamp that could stop electrical functions and, in the worst case, cut the engine, and R/2016/071 (sunroof clamping software, to April 2016); each covers fewer than 2,000 vehicles and is a free dealer visit, so ask for the record on a 2015 car. Toyota Avensis: No year is named: DVSA’s MOT table rates every Avensis registration year it can measure (2013 to 2017) level with or above all cars registered that year. The oldest cars carry the oldest recalls: those built 1 November 2008 to 31 December 2009 are in the accelerator-pedal recall R/2010/010 (DVSA gives one total of 174,426 vehicles for the whole recall, across seven Toyota models) and, to January 2011, the rear-suspension-arm recall R/2012/085. The table has no row for those years, so ask for the car’s record for both.

Is the Skoda Superb or the Toyota Avensis cheaper to run?

On fuel it depends on the engine. Skoda Superb: No sourced real-world figure for the Superb, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at. Toyota Avensis: What Car? gives official lab (NEDC) economy of 67.3 mpg for the 2015–2018 1.6 diesel, 62.8 mpg for the 2.0 diesel and 46.3 mpg for the 1.8 petrol (its March 2019 update); real-world economy will be lower, and we have no sourced real-world 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 Superb or Toyota Avensis 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.