Mazda Mx-5 vs Mazda Rx-8 231 ps: 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
More reliable
Mazda Rx-8 231 ps
72%
MOT pass rate · 345 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Mx-5 is the more reliable of the two — 77% pass first time versus 72%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda Mx-5 | Mazda Rx-8 231 ps |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 77% ✓ | 72% |
| MOT failure rate | 23% ✓ | 28% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 | 0.4 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,085 mi | 62,289 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 162,634 | 345 |
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 Rx-8 231 ps
- Offside Rear 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)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
- Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Mx-5 is the more reliable of the two — 77% pass first time versus 72%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mazda Mx-5 report Full Mazda Rx-8 231 ps 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.