Mazda 2 vs Mazda Cx-3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 2
78%
MOT pass rate · 146,943 vehicles
Mazda Cx-3
88%
MOT pass rate · 25,048 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Cx-3 is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 78%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 2 | Mazda Cx-3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 88% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 12% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.7 | 1.1 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% ✓ | 4% |
| Average mileage | 76,654 mi | 53,081 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 146,943 | 25,048 |
Most common faults
Mazda 2
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Mazda Cx-3
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- 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))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Cx-3 is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 78%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mazda 2 report Full Mazda Cx-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.