Diesel Kia Rio: MOT pass rate
66.1% of diesel Kia Rios pass the MOT first time, measured across 19,769 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 89,386.
Diesel against the other Kia Rio versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 76.8% | 77,352 |
| Diesel | 66.1% | 19,769 |
| All Kia Rio | 74.7% | 97,123 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Kia Rio specifically, petrol is the strongest at 76.8%, and this diesel version sits 8.6 points below the 74.7% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The diesel Kia Rio fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Kia Rio had covered 89,386 miles at test, against 59,898 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Kia Rio page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Kia Rio fuel types
- Petrol Kia Rio - 76.8%