Volkswagen

Volkswagen Beetle build years & generations

Coverage 2012-20191 named generationHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL

The Volkswagen Beetle has one named generation (2012-2019). See how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2012
Generation
A5
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
A5
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2019
Generation
A5
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2012	A5	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2016	A5	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017-2019	A5	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Volkswagen Beetle build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2017-2020

A5 only

These build years are all A5, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

19.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

6 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

2,992

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

6 years

26414.4%

7 years

1,62519.1%

8 years

1,10322.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A5 only

These build years are all A5, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

25.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

18,096

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

1,15522.5%

9 years

3,48223.5%

10 years

4,61624.5%

11 years

5,47126.1%

12 years

3,37225.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A5 only

These build years are all A5, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

34.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

9,237

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

1,80126.2%

13 years

1,43426.1%

14 years

2,13432.9%

15 years

2,59132.8%

16 years

1,27734.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

No generation name yet

We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

34.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

13,731

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

1,21836.3%

17 years

3,71136.3%

18 years

3,36536.3%

19 years

3,46436.1%

20 years

1,97334.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 17 years old.

Built

Before 2005

No generation name yet

We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

23.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

11,344

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

1,73136.4%

21 years

3,79937.2%

22 years

1,94935.4%

23 years

1,15634.4%

24 years

99935.3%

25+ years

1,71023.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 21 years old.