Mazda 3 vs Mazda Bongo city runner: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
Mazda Bongo city runner
78%
MOT pass rate · 4 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Bongo city runner (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 | Mazda Bongo city runner |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 78% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 22% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 1.5 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,915 mi | 148,674 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 164,058 | 4 |
Most common faults
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))
Mazda Bongo city runner
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
- Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both outer lenses misted beam image deteriorating (4.1.4 (b))
- Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement nearside and offside, D bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin 3 mm approx (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Bongo city runner (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 3 report Full Mazda Bongo city runner 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.