Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo build years & generations

Coverage 2002-present3 named generationsHatchbackPETROL / DIESEL

The Volkswagen Polo spans several build years and named generations (2002-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Volkswagen Polo generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

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 2002-2004
Generation
Mk4 (9N)
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
Mk4 (9N)
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
Mk5 (6R/6C)
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
Mk5 (6R/6C)
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
Mk6 (AW)
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021+
Generation
Mk6 (AW)
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2002-2004	Mk4 (9N)	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	Mk4 (9N)	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2012	Mk5 (6R/6C)	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2016	Mk5 (6R/6C)	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017-2020	Mk6 (AW)	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021+	Mk6 (AW)	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“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 Polo 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

2021 onwards

Mk6 (AW) only

All Mk6 (AW) cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

11.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

49,972

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

3 years

28,4498.7%

4 years

21,52311.2%

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 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

Mk6 (AW) only

These build years are all Mk6 (AW), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

19.7%

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

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

185,147

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

4 years

11,74611.3%

5 years

33,52414.1%

6 years

51,21319.2%

7 years

53,21019.7%

8 years

35,45419.5%

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 7 years old.

Built

2013-2016

Mk5 (6R/6C) only

These build years are all Mk5 (6R/6C), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

27.6%

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

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

242,531

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

25,88220.4%

9 years

65,28021.2%

10 years

64,58323.3%

11 years

56,10226.3%

12 years

30,68427.6%

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 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

Mk5 (6R/6C) only

These build years are all Mk5 (6R/6C), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

32.7%

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

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

187,962

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

20,85828.6%

13 years

53,41629.3%

14 years

51,61731.2%

15 years

44,38532.0%

16 years

17,68632.7%

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

Mk4 (9N) only

These build years are all Mk4 (9N), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

36.0%

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

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

108,099

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

13,92533.9%

17 years

32,77734.0%

18 years

28,34334.7%

19 years

23,19136.0%

20 years

9,86336.0%

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 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

Mk4 (9N) only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Mk4 (9N).

Fail rate at 25+ years old

30.6%

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

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

46,511

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

7,16435.9%

21 years

14,24736.1%

22 years

10,39535.8%

23 years

5,32433.9%

24 years

3,84133.0%

25+ years

5,54030.6%

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 21 years old.