Verdict
The Mazda CX-3 passes its MOT first time on 86.7% of tests, 3.2 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (83.5%). That puts it ahead of 79% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2018 CX-3 does best (beats 89% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 66%).
Of its engines, the 2.0 Petrol does best (beats 80%) and the 1.5 Diesel worst (beats 71%).
Better than average on tyres, lights & electrics, suspension.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 87.4% | Beats 80% | A |
| 1.5 Diesel | 82.4% | Beats 71% | B |
| 1.8 Diesel | 87.4% | Beats 85% | A |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Coil springs
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 2.5% | 3.0% | 0.8× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.1% | 2.0% | 1.0× |
| Brake pads | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.0× |
| Seat belt condition | 1.3% | 0.2% | 8.1× |
| Headlight aim | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.7× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.1% | 1.7% | 0.7× |
| Coil springs | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1× |
| Windscreen washers | 0.9% | 1.2% | 0.7× |
| Brake discs | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.8× |
| Shock absorbers | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.8× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 20.8 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 18.4 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 15.4 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 12.0 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 11.1 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 10.9 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 9.1 |
| Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 8.0 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2019 Mazda CX-32 engines89.8% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 89.8% | Beats 83% | A |
| 1.8 Diesel | 87.4% | Beats 85% | A |
2018 Mazda CX-32 engines89.3% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 89.7% | Beats 90% | A |
| 1.5 Diesel | 85.9% | Beats 79% | B |
2017 Mazda CX-32 engines87.5% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 88.0% | Beats 87% | A |
| 1.5 Diesel | 84.5% | Beats 77% | B |
2016 Mazda CX-32 engines83.2% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 83.6% | Beats 65% | B |
| 1.5 Diesel | 81.6% | Beats 70% | B |
2015 Mazda CX-32 engines82.5% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 83.3% | Beats 73% | B |
| 1.5 Diesel | 80.1% | Beats 66% | B |
FAQ
What is the Mazda CX-3 MOT pass rate?
86.7% of MOT tests on the Mazda CX-3 were passed first time, based on 162,564 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2015–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 83.5% of the time.
Is the Mazda CX-3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 79% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Mazda CX-3 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2018 CX-3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 89% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 66%.
Which Mazda CX-3 engine is best?
Across all years, the 2.0 Petrol does best: it beats 80% of cars on UK roads. The 1.5 Diesel does worst: it beats 71%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Mazda CX-3?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen wipers, brake pads. Compared with similar cars, seat belt condition comes up 8.1× as often.