Mazda MX-5

79,557 on UK roads in 2025-1,789 vs 2024

On the road

79,557

79,557 licensed

Change vs 2024

-2.2%

-1,789 cars

New in 2025

1,511

first-time registrations

Electrified

hybrid, plug-in & battery

The Mazda MX-5 is a common sight on UK roads, with 79,557 licensed in 2025 - down 2.2% on 2024. 1,511 were registered new in 2025. The fleet is overwhelmingly petrol (100%), with most in the 2.0-3.0L class. Most date from the 2005-2009 era.

How many are left?

Licensed Mazda MX-5 cars on the road over time

New registrations

First-time registrations per year

What the typical Mazda MX-5 looks like

Fuel, engine size and age across every Mazda MX-5 on the road today.

Fuel mix

Current split

79,557total

Petrol100.0%
Diesel0.0%
Battery Electric0.0%
Other0.0%

Engine size

Cars on the road by engine capacity

Electric2
Under 1.0L4
1.0-1.6L10,493
1.6-2.0L33,059
2.0-3.0L35,970
Over 3.0L29

How old are they?

Share of cars by the year they were first registered

Before 20007%
2000-200410%
2005-200927%
2010-201420%
2015-201925%
2020-202510%

MOT & reliability

2025 MOT data

How a Mazda Mx 5 holds up at its MOT and how it's driven - from 102,977 tests, tracked across 2022-2025.

First-time pass rate

Average for its class

78.2%

102,977 MOT tests in 2025 · 87,661 first-time

Pass rate over time

2022

78.3%

2023

78%

2024

77.8%

2025

78.2%

▼ 0.1 pts since 2022

Pass rate by age

First-time pass rate by the car's age (tested in 2025)

How a Mazda Mx 5 is driven

tracked across 2022-25

How much it's driven

miles a year, from 95,253 cars tracked across years

3,440miles a year · low use

79.3%

low · <5k

18.8%

avg · 5-15k

1.9%

high · 15k+

Most cover 1,066-4,442 miles a year (median 2,352).

Miles driven by age

Yearly mileage as the car ages

Driven most when newer, easing as it gets older.

Mileage & condition

Typical mileage at test

Odometer when tested (2025)

66,079

22,167middle 50%: 37,487-89,010115,029

Typical odometer rising: 62,535 → 63,906 → 64,864 → 66,079

Holds up by mileage

Pass rate as the odometer climbs

Under 40k

91%

40-80k

78.6%

80-120k

68.1%

120k+

63.9%

Petrol vs diesel

First-time pass rate by fuel

Petrol

87,649 tests

78.2%

A 2025 Mazda Mx 5 passes first time 78.2% of the time - above the 77.6% UK average, and easing slightly year on year. The typical one is driven about 3,440 miles a year, and reliability is mostly about miles: 91% of low-mileage cars pass versus 63.9% past 120k.

Why a MX-5 fails its MOT

2025 MOT data

Of 19,078 first-time fails, here's what gets flagged most. Most cars fail on more than one item, so shares add up past 100%.

Where a MX-5 fails

Share of failed tests, by area

Suspension42.4%

Brakes33.4%

Lamps & electrical25.6%

Exhaust & emissions21.3%

Body & structure14.4%

Tyres13.5%

Visibility12.1%

Seat belts7.7%

Top specific defects

Exact items most often recorded as the reason a car failed

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened2,527

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired2,318

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake1,930

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer1,671

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements1,483

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc1,403

A tyre seriously damaged1,395

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn1,372

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning1,275

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen1,222

22.9% flagged dangerous·2.8 defects per fail·19,078 fails analysed

Mazda MX-5 - frequently asked

How many Mazda MX-5 are left in the UK?

There are 79,557 Mazda MX-5 cars still licensed on UK roads in 2025, down 2.2% on 2024.

How many new Mazda MX-5 were registered in 2025?

1,511 brand-new Mazda MX-5 cars were first registered in 2025.

What fuel does the typical Mazda MX-5 use?

Most are petrol - about 100% of all Mazda MX-5 on the road, with the majority in the 2.0-3.0L engine class. In total, 0% are electrified (hybrid, plug-in or battery).

How old is the typical Mazda MX-5?

Most Mazda MX-5 cars on the road today date from the 2005-2009 era.

How reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

78.2% of Mazda MX-5 cars pass their MOT first time, compared with a UK average of 77.6% across all cars. The typical tested Mazda MX-5 has around 61,495 miles on the clock.

Buying a Mazda MX-5?

Before you buy a specific Mazda MX-5, run its registration through AnalyzeMyCar for MOT history, mileage checks, service history and valuation.

Check a car

What the typical Mazda MX-5 looks like

Fuel, engine size and age across every Mazda MX-5 on the road today.

Fuel mix

Current split

79,557total

Petrol100.0%
Diesel0.0%
Battery Electric0.0%
Other0.0%

Engine size

Cars on the road by engine capacity

Electric2
Under 1.0L4
1.0-1.6L10,493
1.6-2.0L33,059
2.0-3.0L35,970
Over 3.0L29

How old are they?

Share of cars by the year they were first registered

Before 20007%
2000-200410%
2005-200927%
2010-201420%
2015-201925%
2020-202510%

MOT & reliability

2025 MOT data

How a Mazda Mx 5 holds up at its MOT and how it's driven - from 102,977 tests, tracked across 2022-2025.

First-time pass rate

Average for its class

78.2%

102,977 MOT tests in 2025 · 87,661 first-time

Pass rate over time

2022

78.3%

2023

78%

2024

77.8%

2025

78.2%

▼ 0.1 pts since 2022

Pass rate by age

First-time pass rate by the car's age (tested in 2025)

How a Mazda Mx 5 is driven

tracked across 2022-25

How much it's driven

miles a year, from 95,253 cars tracked across years

3,440miles a year · low use

79.3%

low · <5k

18.8%

avg · 5-15k

1.9%

high · 15k+

Most cover 1,066-4,442 miles a year (median 2,352).

Miles driven by age

Yearly mileage as the car ages

Driven most when newer, easing as it gets older.

Mileage & condition

Typical mileage at test

Odometer when tested (2025)

66,079

22,167middle 50%: 37,487-89,010115,029

Typical odometer rising: 62,535 → 63,906 → 64,864 → 66,079

Holds up by mileage

Pass rate as the odometer climbs

Under 40k

91%

40-80k

78.6%

80-120k

68.1%

120k+

63.9%

Petrol vs diesel

First-time pass rate by fuel

Petrol

87,649 tests

78.2%

Why a MX-5 fails its MOT

2025 MOT data

Of 19,078 first-time fails, here's what gets flagged most. Most cars fail on more than one item, so shares add up past 100%.

Where a MX-5 fails

Share of failed tests, by area

Suspension42.4%

Brakes33.4%

Lamps & electrical25.6%

Exhaust & emissions21.3%

Body & structure14.4%

Tyres13.5%

Visibility12.1%

Seat belts7.7%

Top specific defects

Exact items most often recorded as the reason a car failed

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened2,527

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake1,930

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer1,671

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements1,483

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc1,403

A tyre seriously damaged1,395

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn1,372

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning1,275

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen1,222

22.9% flagged dangerous·2.8 defects per fail·19,078 fails analysed

Mazda MX-5 - frequently asked

How many Mazda MX-5 are left in the UK?

There are 79,557 Mazda MX-5 cars still licensed on UK roads in 2025, down 2.2% on 2024.

How many new Mazda MX-5 were registered in 2025?

1,511 brand-new Mazda MX-5 cars were first registered in 2025.

What fuel does the typical Mazda MX-5 use?

Most are petrol - about 100% of all Mazda MX-5 on the road, with the majority in the 2.0-3.0L engine class. In total, 0% are electrified (hybrid, plug-in or battery).

How old is the typical Mazda MX-5?

Most Mazda MX-5 cars on the road today date from the 2005-2009 era.

How reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

78.2% of Mazda MX-5 cars pass their MOT first time, compared with a UK average of 77.6% across all cars. The typical tested Mazda MX-5 has around 61,495 miles on the clock.

Buying a Mazda MX-5?

Before you buy a specific Mazda MX-5, run its registration through AnalyzeMyCar for MOT history, mileage checks, service history and valuation.

Check a car