Mazda 3 vs Mazda Protoge 5: 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 Protoge 5
100%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Protoge 5 (100%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 | Mazda Protoge 5 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 100% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 0% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 1.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,915 mi | 81,344 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 164,058 | 1 |
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 Protoge 5
- Front brake pads.Inner pads appear to be approx 70% worn.
- Front+Rear suspension anti-roll bar vertical link rod ball joint protective boots are split open.
- Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
- Nearside front chassis rail under battery is in early stages of corrosion.
- Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
- Slight play in nearside+offside front steering outer track rod ends.
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Protoge 5 (100%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 3 report Full Mazda Protoge 5 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.