Hyundai I20 years to avoid — 360,731 MOT tests ranked

Inspect most carefully: 2011, 2012, 2013. Strongest in the data: 2015 or 2016. The ranking uses 360,731 MOT tests across 12 registration years (2023–2025) and compares each year with all UK cars of the same age. Fuel-type signal: diesels show an average 5.9-point pass-rate deficit on this model. That may reflect mileage and use as well as the car itself, so inspect DPF and emissions history rather than treating fuel type as a verdict.

Every I20 year, ranked

The age-adjusted MOT index sets 100 as the pass rate of all UK cars registered in the same year and tested in the same calendar year. Higher is better. This prevents an old car being labelled a “bad year” simply because it is old.

RankYearIndexVs same-agePass rateTests
1 2015 Strong 105.3 +5.3 pts 84.0% 38,006
2 2016 Strong 104.2 +4.2 pts 85.5% 40,889
3 2018 103.5 +3.5 pts 89.9% 25,643
4 2017 103.4 +3.4 pts 87.4% 34,674
5 2020 103.4 +3.4 pts 93.3% 11,535
6 2019 103.0 +3.0 pts 91.4% 21,863
7 2009 102.5 +2.5 pts 68.9% 27,260
8 2014 101.9 +1.9 pts 77.8% 38,651
9 2010 101.8 +1.8 pts 69.1% 28,295
10 2011 Inspect 99.3 -0.7 pts 68.5% 28,434
11 2013 Inspect 98.3 -1.7 pts 71.6% 37,005
12 2012 Inspect 97.8 -2.2 pts 69.1% 28,476

Why 2011 and 2012 and 2013 rank lower

The 2011 cohort passes 68.5% of tests (-0.7 points versus same-age cars) at a median 76,824 miles, with brakes the leading failure system. The 2013 cohort passes 71.6% of tests (-1.7 points versus same-age cars) at a median 63,418 miles, with suspension the leading failure system. The 2012 cohort passes 69.1% of tests (-2.2 points versus same-age cars) at a median 68,921 miles, with brakes the leading failure system. This is population-level evidence, not a known-fault list: service history, engine version and the individual MOT record can outweigh the registration-year average.

How to use this before buying

  • Rankings describe the cohort, not the car. A cherished 2011 example beats a neglected 2015 one — always run the specific reg through the free MOT history check.
  • Read the advisories. Repeated notes for the same component across years mean the owner has been ignoring it. Decode them in our advisory library.
  • Fuel matters on this model. The diesel deficit (5.9 points) usually traces to DPF and emissions kit on low-mileage use — check for P2463-type soot codes on the test drive.
  • Scan before you pay. A 2-minute OBD scan reveals stored faults the dashboard hides — see our scanner guide.

FAQs

Which I20 years should I avoid?

Based on 360,731 MOT tests adjusted against cars of the same age, 2011, 2012, 2013 are the lower-scoring outliers. That is a prompt for closer inspection, not proof that every car from those years is bad.

What is the best I20 year to buy used?

2015 and 2016 lead the age-adjusted MOT ranking. The score compares each registration year with all UK cars of the same age; the specific car's history and condition still take priority.

Is the I20 reliable overall?

Across 360,731 tests, the median age-adjusted index is 102.8 (100 equals the pass rate of all cars registered in the same year). Use the spread between years as one signal, then check the individual registration.

Methodology: index = 100 + the model-year cohort’s MOT pass-rate difference versus all UK vehicles registered in the same year and tested in the same calendar year. Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded; at least 1,500 tests per page. “Inspect” years are below both the same-age baseline and the model’s median index by at least 2 points. Association is not proof of a model-year defect. DVSA anonymised data 2023–2025, OGL v3.0.