Subaru XV MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Subaru XV in Great Britain in 2025 — 6,950 tests. Figures cover every XV first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the XV ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
80.8%
8.5 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
6,950
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
4.4%
of XV first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
73,750
middle half: 53,750–93,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Subaru XV cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 7,426 Subaru XV cars that were taxed or on SORN: 7,268 taxed and 158 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Subaru XV vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
7,268
97.9% of the 7,426 XV cars taxed or on SORN; 30 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
158
declared off the road by their keepers — 2.1% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed XV cars peaked at 7,458 at the end of 2023 and has since fallen by 190 (2.5%) to 7,268 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 22 at the end of 2014 to 158 at the end of 2025, up 618.2%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed XV cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

02k4k6k8k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed XV cars, year 2014: 2kTaxed XV cars, year 2015: 2kTaxed XV cars, year 2016: 3kTaxed XV cars, year 2017: 4kTaxed XV cars, year 2018: 5kTaxed XV cars, year 2019: 6kTaxed XV cars, year 2020: 6kTaxed XV cars, year 2021: 7kTaxed XV cars, year 2022: 7kTaxed XV cars, year 2023: 7kTaxed XV cars, year 2024: 7kTaxed XV cars, year 2025: 7k7k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed XV cars
20141,806
20152,420
20163,178
20173,745
20184,798
20195,670
20206,066
20216,676
20226,961
20237,458
20247,405
20257,268

XV cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

0501001502002014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)XV cars on SORN, year 2014: 22XV cars on SORN, year 2015: 30XV cars on SORN, year 2016: 25XV cars on SORN, year 2017: 43XV cars on SORN, year 2018: 63XV cars on SORN, year 2019: 80XV cars on SORN, year 2020: 69XV cars on SORN, year 2021: 41XV cars on SORN, year 2022: 55XV cars on SORN, year 2023: 83XV cars on SORN, year 2024: 101XV cars on SORN, year 2025: 158158
View this chart as a table
YearXV cars on SORN
201422
201530
201625
201743
201863
201980
202069
202141
202255
202383
2024101
2025158

Which model years survive

Taxed XV cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 7,268 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed XV cars
20235277.3%
20223715.1%
20215577.7%
20203184.4%
201992712.8%
20181,07314.8%
20175898.1%
20167109.8%
20155958.2%
20145848.0%
20135307.3%
20124726.5%
All other build years (two years, each under 1%)150.2%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name XV under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the XV ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, XV vs all cars, 2025.

Subaru XVAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Subaru XV, vehicle age 4: 93.2%Subaru XV, vehicle age 6: 89.3%Subaru XV, vehicle age 7: 87%Subaru XV, vehicle age 8: 81.3%Subaru XV, vehicle age 9: 77.8%Subaru XV, vehicle age 10: 72.9%Subaru XV, vehicle age 11: 69.6%Subaru XV, vehicle age 12: 66.7%Subaru XV, vehicle age 13: 61.5%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%Subaru XV 61.5%All cars 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)XV testsXV pass rateAll cars
457493.2%87.2%
694389.3%83.5%
71,09687.0%80.9%
860081.3%78.2%
971777.8%74.9%
1063072.9%71.9%
1161569.6%68.6%
1254766.7%65.8%
1350161.5%63.5%

Better or worse than the average car?

The XV's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the XV beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

XV aheadXV behind
-8-4+0+4+8Age 4: +6.0 points vs the average carAge 6: +5.8 points vs the average carAge 7: +6.1 points vs the average car7Age 8: +3.1 points vs the average carAge 9: +2.9 points vs the average car9Age 10: +1.0 points vs the average carAge 11: +1.0 points vs the average car11Age 12: +0.9 points vs the average carAge 13: -2.0 points vs the average car13Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
4+6.0
6+5.8
7+6.1
8+3.1
9+2.9
10+1.0
11+1.0
12+0.9
13-2.0

The XV fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the XV fleet still in use.

05001k1k2kAge 4: 5744Age 6: 9436Age 7: 1kAge 8: 6008Age 9: 717Age 10: 63010Age 11: 615Age 12: 54712Age 13: 50113Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
4574
6943
71,096
8600
9717
10630
11615
12547
13501

What an XV fails on

Where the failure items land when an XV fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Suspension27.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment27.1%
Brakes17.5%
Tyres10.9%
Visibility8.0%
Body, chassis, structure3.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.1%
Steering1.1%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (98.4% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a XV, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Tyres: 32.3% of advisories32.3%Suspension: 32.1% of advisories32.1%Brakes: 26.1% of advisories26.1%Non-component advisories: 4.2% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 1.8% of advisoriesIdentification of the vehicle: 1.3% of advisories
TyresSuspensionBrakesNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureIdentification of the vehicle
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres32.3%
Suspension32.1%
Brakes26.1%
Non-component advisories4.2%
Body, chassis, structure1.8%
Identification of the vehicle1.3%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid XV?

First-time pass rate for the three most-tested XV fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 81.7% of 4,141 tests81.7%Petrol4,141 testsDiesel: 68.9% of 1,617 tests68.9%Diesel1,617 testsHybrid electric: 93.8% of 1,192 tests93.8%Hybrid1,192 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol4,14181.7%
Diesel1,61768.9%
Hybrid electric1,19293.8%

What mileage is normal for an XV?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) XV; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical XV (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k468101213Vehicle age (years)Age 4: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 18,750–36,250)Age 6: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 26,250–51,250)Age 7: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 33,750–63,750)Age 8: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–73,750)Age 9: typical 63,750 miles (middle half 46,250–83,750)Age 10: typical 73,750 miles (middle half 53,750–93,750)Age 11: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 61,250–103,750)Age 12: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–111,250)Age 13: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 73,750–116,250)96k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
418,75026,25036,250
626,25038,75051,250
733,75046,25063,750
838,75053,75073,750
946,25063,75083,750
1053,75073,75093,750
1161,25083,750103,750
1263,75086,250111,250
1373,75096,250116,250

What fails at each age

The XV's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresVisibilityBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentSuspensionEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres30.8%
3-5 yrsVisibility24.0%
3-5 yrsBrakes19.2%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13.5%
3-5 yrsSuspension10.6%
3-5 yrsEverything else1.9%
6-9 yrsBrakes25.8%
6-9 yrsSuspension20.8%
6-9 yrsTyres20.4%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.3%
6-9 yrsVisibility7.3%
6-9 yrsEverything else6.4%
10-13 yrsSuspension37.4%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment23.3%
10-13 yrsBrakes16.5%
10-13 yrsTyres6.6%
10-13 yrsVisibility4.7%
10-13 yrsEverything else11.5%
How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.