Skip to main content
Check
Mazda

Mazda 323 build years & generations

Coverage 1985-20044 named generationsHatchbackPETROL

The Mazda 323 spans several build years and named generations (1985-2004). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

  • Built 1985-1988

    Generation
    BF (Mk4)
    Figures from
    cars built before 2005

    Counted together with BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7) cars built in the same years.

  • Built 1989-1993

    Generation
    BG (Mk5)
    Figures from
    cars built before 2005

    Counted together with BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7) cars built in the same years.

  • Built 1994-1997

    Generation
    BA (Mk6)
    Figures from
    cars built before 2005

    Counted together with BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7) cars built in the same years.

  • Built 1998-2004

    Generation
    BJ (Mk7)
    Figures from
    cars built before 2005

    Counted together with BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7) cars built in the same years.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Mazda 323 build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Mazda 323 Before 2005
Built

Before 2005

A mix of BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7)

These build years include both BF (Mk4), BG (Mk5), BA (Mk6) and BJ (Mk7) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

29.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

21 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

1,389

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age
AgeFail rateMOT tests
21 years
9630.2%
22 years
18829.3%
23 years
18833.5%
24 years
12235.3%
25+ years
79529.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 24 years old.