Mazda 2 sd vs Mazda 3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 2 sd
86%
MOT pass rate · 16 vehicles
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 2 sd (86%) and Mazda 3 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 2 sd | Mazda 3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 86% ✓ | 78% |
| MOT failure rate | 14% ✓ | 22% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.1 ✓ | 2.0 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 3% |
| Average mileage | 126,593 mi | 90,915 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 16 | 164,058 |
Most common faults
Mazda 2 sd
- front tyres worn on edge
- Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)
Mazda 3
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 2 sd (86%) and Mazda 3 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 2 sd report Full Mazda 3 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.