Ford vs Volkswagen: Which Is Cheapest to Repair?
FixMyCar reveals which popular car manufacturer is the cheapest to repair.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Friday August 01 2025
3 min read
In 2023, Volkswagen was the most popular car manufacturer in the UK for the third consecutive year, pulling further away from Ford, which used to wear the crown. But is VW the best choice for long-term savings? At FixMyCar, we decided to find out by comparing average repair prices.
Average repair prices
Based on the data below, Ford is cheaper than Volkswagen for repairs by just over £22.
| Ford | Volkswagen | |
|---|---|---|
| Clutch replacement | £631.93 | £678.70 |
| Cambelt and water pump | £630.80 | £597.88 |
| Brake pads and discs | £252.68 | £256.18 |
| Alternator repair | £496.32 | £507.19 |
| Exhaust repair | £131.30 | £125.28 |
| TOTAL | £2,143.06 | £2,165.23 |
Clutch replacement
The cheapest current models for each manufacturer are:
Ford Puma - £373.44
Volkswagen Polo - £531.92
Winner: Ford
Cambelt and water pump
The cheapest current models for each manufacturer are:
Ford Puma - £543.54
Volkswagen Polo - £550.72
Winner: Ford
Brake pads and discs
The cheapest current models for each manufacturer are:
Ford Fiesta - £224.32
Volkswagen Polo - £235.65
Winner: Ford
Alternator repair
The cheapest current models for each manufacturer are...
Ford Focus - £462
Volkswagen Polo (pictured below) - £381.53
Winner: Volkswagen
Exhaust repair
The cheapest current models for each manufacturer are...
Ford Puma - £88
Volkswagen Tiguan - £78.95
Winner: Volkswagen
Ford vs Volkswagen: which is cheapest to repair?
Ford cars are cheaper to repair than Volkswagens and, according to WhatCar?'s 2023 reliability survey, are also more reliable. However, when comparing the cheapest model in each category, Volkswagen won three out of five.
If repair costs are a big concern, buying a Ford is the best option. But the Polo is a solid choice for die-hard VW fans who can't bear the thought of betraying their favourite car maker.
How we worked it out
We compared the repair prices of Ford and Volkswagen in five common categories using data from FixMyCar collected over the last 12 months. All prices in this guide are averages.
We excluded any discontinued models from the head-to-head sections.
Whether you need repairs or maintenance, FixMyCar can help you find the right garage at the right price.
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- Related topics:
- Cost
- Ford
- Repair
- Volkswagen
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.