Volkswagen Up Black Edition: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Up Black Edition passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 15.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,059 individual Volkswagen Up Black Edition tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate92%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+15.3 points
Tests analysed1,059
Average mileage at test16,413 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank398 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 92% first-time pass rate means roughly 8 in every 100 Volkswagen Up Black Editions presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Volkswagen Up Black Edition tested had covered 16,413 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Up Black Edition sits 15.3 points above the national average, ranked 398 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Volkswagen Up Black Edition rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Volkswagen Up Black Editions at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Up Black Edition

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.7% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.9% of tests (4.88x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.5% of tests
  4. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.3% of tests
  5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.3% of tests
  6. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.3% of tests
  7. Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes, 0.2% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Audible warning inoperative, 0.2% of tests
  9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.2% of tests
  10. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 0.1% of tests

From 1,058 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Up Black Edition tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 13.86% of these flagged Volkswagen Up Black Edition defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Up Black Edition

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Volkswagen Up Black Edition before it actually fails on it.

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 11.9% of tests, also fails
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5% of tests
  3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 2.4% of tests
  4. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.7% of tests
  5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.1% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 0.5% of tests
  8. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.4% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
  10. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 0.2% of tests, also fails

From 1,058 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Up Black Edition tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Up Black Edition pass rate by model year

From its 2020 to its 2021 model year, the Volkswagen Up Black Edition's first-time pass rate has risen 0.2 points, from 92.2% to 92.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Up Black Edition year:

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If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Volkswagen Up Black Edition MOT pass rate badge: 92%

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Volkswagen Up Black Edition most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (4.7% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/volkswagen-up-black-edition"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/volkswagen-up-black-edition.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Volkswagen Up Black Edition most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (4.7% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate