Know Your MOT

Mazda 3 vs Mazda 626: MOT reliability compared

Updated 05 September 2026.

22.4%
Mazda 3 MOT failure rate, 10.4 pts lower than Mazda 626

Mazda 3 is the more reliable MOT performer: 22.4% of Mazda 3 MOTs fail versus 32.8% for Mazda 626, a 10.4 point gap.

MetricMazda 3Mazda 626
MOT failure rate22.4%32.8%
Tests analysed2,101,290326,996
Most common failureSuspension (37.3%)Brakes (50.0%)

Questions and answers

Which is more reliable, Mazda 3 or Mazda 626?

Mazda 3 is the more reliable MOT performer: 22.4% of Mazda 3 MOTs fail versus 32.8% for Mazda 626, a 10.4 point gap.

What is the MOT failure rate of the Mazda 3?

22.4% of Mazda 3 MOT tests result in a failure, from 2,101,290 tests.

What is the MOT failure rate of the Mazda 626?

32.8% of Mazda 626 MOT tests result in a failure, from 326,996 tests.

Compared here

Mazda 3 common MOT failures and failure rateMazda 626 common MOT failures and failure rate