Mazda 3 s vs Mazda 6: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 3 s
79%
MOT pass rate · 85 vehicles
More reliable
Mazda 6
75%
MOT pass rate · 159,403 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mazda 3 s is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 s | Mazda 6 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 79% ✓ | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 21% ✓ | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.1 ✓ | 1.9 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | 100,469 mi | 113,866 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 85 | 159,403 |
Most common faults
Mazda 3 s
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
- Front bumper insecure
Mazda 6
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mazda 3 s is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mazda 3 s report Full Mazda 6 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.