Mazda

Mazda 6 build years & generations

Coverage 2002-20234 named generationsSaloonDIESEL / PETROL

The Mazda 6 spans several build years and named generations (2002-2023). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mazda 6 generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

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 2002-2004
Generation
Mk1 (GG/GY)
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2007
Generation
Mk1 (GG/GY)
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH) cars built in the same years.
Built 2008
Generation
Mk2 (GH)
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH) cars built in the same years.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
Mk2 (GH)
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2014
Generation
Mk3 (GJ/GL)
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift cars built in the same years.
Built 2015-2016
Generation
Mk3 GJ facelift
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
Mk3 GJ facelift
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021-2023
Generation
Mk3 GJ facelift
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2002-2004	Mk1 (GG/GY)	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2007	Mk1 (GG/GY)	2005-2008	Counted together with Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH) cars built in the same years.
2008	Mk2 (GH)	2005-2008	Counted together with Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH) cars built in the same years.
2009-2012	Mk2 (GH)	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2014	Mk3 (GJ/GL)	2013-2016	Counted together with Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift cars built in the same years.
2015-2016	Mk3 GJ facelift	2013-2016	Counted together with Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift cars built in the same years.
2017-2020	Mk3 GJ facelift	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021-2023	Mk3 GJ facelift	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row'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.

“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 6 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.

Built

2021 onwards

Mk3 GJ facelift only

All Mk3 GJ facelift cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

8.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

1,241

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

3 years

7817.9%

4 years

4608.9%

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 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

Mk3 GJ facelift only

These build years are all Mk3 GJ facelift, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

16.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

15,600

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

4 years

4448.3%

5 years

2,56810.9%

6 years

4,57213.0%

7 years

4,49416.7%

8 years

3,52219.0%

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 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift

These build years include both Mk3 (GJ/GL) and Mk3 GJ facelift cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

25.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

28,831

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

8 years

3,17020.4%

9 years

8,49622.1%

10 years

7,78623.4%

11 years

6,51025.2%

12 years

2,86925.9%

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 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

Mk2 (GH) only

These build years are all Mk2 (GH), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

30.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

17,961

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

12 years

1,22929.6%

13 years

4,08829.5%

14 years

5,36130.7%

15 years

5,09030.8%

16 years

2,19330.0%

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 15 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH)

These build years include both Mk1 (GG/GY) and Mk2 (GH) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

34.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

7,960

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

16 years

1,45035.2%

17 years

3,10634.0%

18 years

1,88233.9%

19 years

1,10334.5%

20 years

41934.4%

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 16 years old.

Built

Before 2005

Mk1 (GG/GY) only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Mk1 (GG/GY).

Fail rate at 22 years old (latest age)

37.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (29.3%)

Ages with data

20 to 22 years old

MOT tests counted

550

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

20 years

14330.8%

21 years

27236.0%

22 years

13537.0%

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 22 years old.