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Mazda CX-5 Se-l Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mazda CX-5 Se-l car check

Is the Mazda CX-5 Se-l reliable? We analysed 2,603 real MOT tests across 997 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,603 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.3%
Typical Mileage
30,150mi
Annual Mileage
7,449mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Mazda CX-5 Se-l is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mazda CX-5 Se-l.

Mazda CX-5 Se-l Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mazda CX-5 Se-l. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mazda CX-5 Se-l MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mazda CX-5 Se-l to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.9%
2022
88.8%
2021
89.5%
2020

Mazda CX-5 Se-l Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mazda CX-5 Se-l models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 52
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 33
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14

Mazda CX-5 Se-l Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mazda CX-5 Se-l owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,151 mi/yr
Typical
7,449 mi/yr
Average
8,315 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,300 mi/yr

Mazda CX-5 Se-l MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mazda CX-5 Se-l year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 593 89.9% 19,397 25,914 33,567
2021 1,124 88.8% 22,879 31,283 40,352
2020 638 89.5% 21,875 29,745 40,444

How Long Does a Mazda CX-5 Se-l Last?

Based on 997 Mazda CX-5 Se-l vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.5 years
Median
4.0 years

Mazda CX-5 Se-l Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mazda CX-5 Se-l MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
30,150 mi
75th Percentile
40,250 mi
95th Percentile
60,805 mi
Max Recorded
218,333 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mazda CX-5 Se-l

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

89.9% MOT pass rate from 593 tests

Year to avoid
2021

88.8% MOT pass rate from 1,124 tests

The best year to buy a used Mazda CX-5 Se-l is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 593 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mazda CX-5 Se-l Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mazda CX-5 Se-l THIS CAR 89.3% 2,603 30,150 mi — yrs
Mazda MX-5 76.5% 2,502,760 63,190 mi 36 yrs
Mazda 3 77.5% 2,040,939 61,041 mi 22 yrs
Mazda 6 75.4% 1,904,140 77,387 mi 24 yrs
Dodge (usa) Journey Sxt Crd Auto 72.7% 1,464 64,139 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Mazda MX-5 (76.5% pass rate) and the Mazda 3 (77.5% pass rate), the Mazda CX-5 Se-l outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Mazda CX-5 Se-l you like?

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Should you buy a used Mazda CX-5 Se-l?

The Mazda CX-5 Se-l has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.3% across 2,603 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mazda CX-5 Se-l with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mazda CX-5 Se-l owner drives around 7,449 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mazda CX-5 Se-l — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mazda CX-5 Se-l reliable?
Based on 2,603 MOT tests, the Mazda CX-5 Se-l has a 89.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mazda CX-5 Se-l?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Mazda CX-5 Se-l do per year?
The typical Mazda CX-5 Se-l does around 7,449 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mazda CX-5 Se-l last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mazda CX-5 Se-l?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mazda CX-5 Se-l?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mazda CX-5 Se-l is 2022 with a 89.9% pass rate across 593 tests.