Mazda Mx-5 vs Mazda Protoge: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda Mx-5
77%
MOT pass rate · 162,634 vehicles
Mazda Protoge
50%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda Mx-5 (77%) and Mazda Protoge (50%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda Mx-5 | Mazda Protoge |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 77% ✓ | 50% |
| MOT failure rate | 23% ✓ | 50% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 | 0.5 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,085 mi | 58,804 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 162,634 | 1 |
Most common faults
Mazda Mx-5
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Mazda Protoge
- Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage fractured (2.4.G.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda Mx-5 (77%) and Mazda Protoge (50%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda Mx-5 report Full Mazda Protoge 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.