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Abarth

Abarth 595 (2021)

1,458 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.8% first-time pass rate

2021 Abarth 595

CarHunch analysed 1,458 real MOT records for the 2021 Abarth 595. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Abarth 595 is a genuinely reliable small car, passing its MOT on first attempt 91.1% of the time—well ahead of the UK average of 80%. With only 11.2% of vehicles ever recording a dangerous defect, it's a safe choice for buyers concerned about critical faults.

At 18,220 miles median for a three-year-old car, these Abarths are running light, which explains the low failure rate of just 0.27 per vehicle. Before buying, check the service history closely, as advisory issues (averaging 1.7 per car) often relate to wear items that light-mileage cars may have neglected.

The 2021 Abarth 595 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (91.8% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
91.8%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
11.2%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.27
Over 2.4 tests on record
Low
Typical mileage
18k
Middle half: 12k–25k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 1.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,458 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,458 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 22.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 15.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 6.8%
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,458 Abarth 595 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2021 Abarth 595

Based on MOT data from 1,458 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 1,456 91.8% 0.27

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,905 Abarth 595 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 36.6%
7,287
Red 16.7%
3,330
Black 13.5%
2,691
White 13.1%
2,608
Blue 11.4%
2,277
Yellow 6.2%
1,238
Green 2%
407
Orange 0.2%
34
Beige 0.2%
33

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Abarth 595 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

18,220
typical
12,342
low mileage
25,323
high mileage

Half of all 2021 Abarth 595 vehicles fall between 12,342 and 25,323 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 12,342 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
✓ 12,342–25,323 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Abarth 595s sit.
⚠ Over 34,186 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.27
Avg failures per vehicle
1.7
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Abarth 595: All 595 years → Which year to buy? →
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: Abarth →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Abarth 595 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?