Results from Swedish MOT statistics were published this week. Here's how Skoda comes out:

3 year old cars, percent failing MOT due to model related faults:

Fabia 2.1 % (ranked 52 of 258 models)

Superb 2.4 % (59)

Fabia Estate 2.8 % (79)

Octavia 3.0 % (90)

Octavia Estate 4.0 % (117)

Octavia Estate Diesel 5.1 % (150)

Average: 5.3 %

Best: Audi A4 Avant Diesel, Mitsubishi Galant Estate, Toyota Hi-Ace Traveller and VW Touareg 0.0 %

Worst: Opel Vivaro 45.9 %

Average mileage: Petrol 40,000 Diesel 68,600

7 year old cars:

Octavia 11 %

Octavia Estate 18%

Fabia 19 %

Felicia 20 %

Octavia Diesel 25 %

Felicia Estate 27 %

Octavia Estate Diesel 28 %

Felicia Estate Diesel 37 %

Average: 16 %

Best: Toyota Yaris 2 %

Worst: Renault Mégane Diesel 50 %

10 year old cars:

Octavia 26 %

Felicia 26 %

Felicia Estate 43 %

Felicia Diesel 51 %

Felicia Estate Diesel 55 %

Average: 30 %

Best: Porsche 911 1 %

Worst: Mondeo Estate Diesel 61 %

Anyone that wants the full lists? They are in Swedish but should be easy to decipher - just remember that mileage is given in Swedish miles (1 SM = 10 km):

3 years old: http://www.bilprovningen.se/Externt/bpweb.nsf/04161BA3F56AA7D5C12573E0002C27C6/$file/Personbilar_3_ar_modellrelaterade_2007.pdf

7 years old:

http://www.bilprovningen.se/Externt/bpweb.nsf/04161BA3F56AA7D5C12573E0002C27C6/$file/Personbilar_7_ar_rang_modellrelaterade_2007.pdf

10 years old:

http://www.bilprovningen.se/Externt/bpweb.nsf/04161BA3F56AA7D5C12573E0002C27C6/$file/Personbilar_10_ar_rang_modellrelaterade_2007.pdf

Don't know why the URLs don't show up as links, but cut and paste and they work.

Any thoughts on why estates seem to show significantly higher failure rates than their hatchback counterparts?

Do they just tend to be used as work horses and given a harder life?

Or maybe a higher proportion of them are company cars and driven by people who don't care as much?

Thanks for that, a little justification for my choice of motor

How does the MOT test in Sweden compare to the UK one?

Chris

They tend to show IMHO that once outside of warrenty the Skodas are going to get expensive to keep going.

How does the MOT test in Sweden compare to the UK one?

Chris

Good question. I've tried to get a grip of the UK one through the internet and it seems to me that basically the same things are checked, but maybe UK tests are a little more detailed and thorough (I've never seen a Swedish MOT tester check whether the steering wheel is properly fixed, for instance. Maybe they do with modded cars).

One difference is that MOT here is only done at special stations run by a state authority.

I found the English part of their website. Click the "Dream car or Nightmare" button, choose make and model - you can then see what is tested (and the outcome for different model years):

Bilprovningen: Bilprovningen in Brief

Any thoughts on why estates seem to show significantly higher failure rates than their hatchback counterparts?

Do they just tend to be used as work horses and given a harder life?

Or maybe a higher proportion of them are company cars and driven by people who don't care as much?

At least they have higher average mileage in the 3 yrs old table (as have the diesels):

Fabia 27,986 miles

Superb 42,540

Fabia Estate 32,386

Octavia 36,160

Octy Estate 39,860

Octy E Diesel 62,220

My picture of the average Skoda owner is one that's not careless but not particularily interested in his/her car either. Its washed now and then, it's served by the book but nothing else. On the other hand, that's probably a good description of a Yaris or Galant owner, too - and those cars score considerably better. But Jap cars are reliable.