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Kia Magentis Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kia Magentis car check

Is the Kia Magentis reliable? We analysed 64,198 real MOT tests across 5,165 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 64,198 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.5%
Typical Mileage
56,293mi
Annual Mileage
5,720mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
25yrs

The Kia Magentis is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Magentis.

Kia Magentis Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Kia Magentis. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Kia Magentis MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Kia Magentis to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.2%
2010
75.6%
2009
74.2%
2008
74.3%
2007
75.2%
2006
75.7%
2005
74.9%
2004
73.2%
2003
72.4%
2002
71.3%
2001

Kia Magentis Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kia Magentis fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,721
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,593
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,415
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,311
position lamp(s) not working 847
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 846
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 836
brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened 607
Registration plate lamp not working 552
constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc 537

Kia Magentis Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Kia Magentis owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,283 mi/yr
Typical
5,720 mi/yr
Average
7,464 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,279 mi/yr

Kia Magentis MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Magentis year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 2,883 76.2% 41,611 69,266 104,642
2009 4,039 75.6% 38,669 61,417 88,484
2008 2,894 74.2% 35,558 58,817 85,723
2007 6,832 74.3% 34,831 57,860 86,206
2006 11,275 75.2% 34,342 54,424 78,446
2005 10,865 75.7% 34,138 52,503 73,941
2004 8,824 74.9% 36,281 55,087 77,761
2003 8,765 73.2% 36,684 55,306 78,377
2002 5,708 72.4% 39,586 58,050 80,787
2001 2,077 71.3% 44,646 60,556 82,327

How Long Does a Kia Magentis Last?

Based on 5,165 Kia Magentis vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
25 years

Kia Magentis Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Kia Magentis MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
56,293 mi
75th Percentile
80,520 mi
95th Percentile
127,564 mi
Max Recorded
998,703 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kia Magentis

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2010

76.2% MOT pass rate from 2,883 tests

Year to avoid
2001

71.3% MOT pass rate from 2,077 tests

The best year to buy a used Kia Magentis is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.2% across 2,883 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kia Magentis Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kia Magentis THIS CAR 74.5% 64,198 56,293 mi 25 yrs
Kia Sportage 80.4% 2,634,551 53,679 mi 26 yrs
Kia Picanto 77.1% 2,626,043 39,084 mi 22 yrs
Kia Ceed 76.1% 1,665,385 60,630 mi 19 yrs
Volvo S90 86.7% 42,777 54,530 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Magentis trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Kia Magentis?

The Kia Magentis has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.5% across 64,198 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Kia Magentis are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,721 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (1,593), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1,415). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Kia Magentis owner drives around 5,720 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Kia Magentis models stay on UK roads for around 25 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Kia Magentis — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kia Magentis reliable?
Based on 64,198 MOT tests, the Kia Magentis has a 74.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Kia Magentis?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Kia Magentis do per year?
The typical Kia Magentis does around 5,720 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kia Magentis last?
Most Kia Magentis models stay on UK roads for around 25 years based on our analysis of 5,165 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kia Magentis?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Kia Magentis?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kia Magentis is 2010 with a 76.2% pass rate across 2,883 tests.