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Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI car check

Is the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI reliable? We analysed 3,375 real MOT tests across 1,027 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,375 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.1%
Typical Mileage
30,315mi
Annual Mileage
7,989mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI.

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

93.2%
2021
91.8%
2020

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 13

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,459 mi/yr
Typical
7,989 mi/yr
Average
9,314 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,126 mi/yr

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 541 93.2% 20,601 28,943 38,229
2020 2,772 91.8% 21,577 30,423 41,874

How Long Does a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Last?

Based on 1,027 Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.2 years
Median
4.0 years

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
30,315 mi
75th Percentile
41,489 mi
95th Percentile
64,894 mi
Max Recorded
136,062 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI

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

Best year
2021

93.2% MOT pass rate from 541 tests

Year to avoid
2020

91.8% MOT pass rate from 2,772 tests

The best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.2% across 541 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI THIS CAR 92.1% 3,375 30,315 mi — yrs
Skoda Fabia 76% 4,863,673 58,216 mi 26 yrs
Skoda Octavia 77.7% 3,816,734 87,093 mi 28 yrs
Skoda Yeti 84.4% 844,079 52,202 mi 17 yrs
Chausson Unknown 88.2% 5,865 15,934 mi 12 yrs

Compared to the Skoda Fabia (76.0% pass rate) and the Skoda Octavia (77.7% pass rate), the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI?

The Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.1% across 3,375 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI owner drives around 7,989 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.

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.

Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI reliable?
Based on 3,375 MOT tests, the Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI has a 92.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI do per year?
The typical Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI does around 7,989 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI?
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 Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition TSI is 2021 with a 93.2% pass rate across 541 tests.