Mazda 3 vs Mazda Mpv: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
More reliable
Mazda Mpv
68%
MOT pass rate · 3,202 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mazda 3 is the more reliable of the two — 78% pass first time versus 68%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 | Mazda Mpv |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 68% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 32% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 ✓ | 2.6 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,915 mi | 138,182 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 164,058 | 3,202 |
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 Mpv
- 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)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mazda 3 is the more reliable of the two — 78% pass first time versus 68%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mazda 3 report Full Mazda Mpv 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.