Mazda

Mazda MX-5 build years & generations

Coverage 2005-20244 named generationsConvertiblePETROL

The Mazda MX-5 spans several build years and named generations (2005-2024). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mazda MX-5 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 2005-2008
Generation
Mk3 (NC)
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
Mk3 NC2
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2014
Generation
Mk3 NC2
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND) cars built in the same years.
Built 2015-2016
Generation
Mk4 (ND)
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND) cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2018
Generation
Mk4 (ND)
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2 cars built in the same years.
Built 2019-2020
Generation
Mk4 ND2
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2 cars built in the same years.
Built 2021-2024
Generation
Mk4 ND2
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2005-2008	Mk3 (NC)	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2012	Mk3 NC2	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2014	Mk3 NC2	2013-2016	Counted together with Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND) cars built in the same years.
2015-2016	Mk4 (ND)	2013-2016	Counted together with Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND) cars built in the same years.
2017-2018	Mk4 (ND)	2017-2020	Counted together with Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2 cars built in the same years.
2019-2020	Mk4 ND2	2017-2020	Counted together with Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2 cars built in the same years.
2021-2024	Mk4 ND2	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 MX-5 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

Mk4 ND2 only

All Mk4 ND2 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)

5.6%

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

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

2,566

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

1,5675.3%

4 years

9995.6%

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

A mix of Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2

These build years include both Mk4 (ND) and Mk4 ND2 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

9.8%

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

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

15,249

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

5185.2%

5 years

2,1357.9%

6 years

4,5978.8%

7 years

4,9349.8%

8 years

3,0659.9%

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 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND)

These build years include both Mk3 NC2 and Mk4 (ND) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

17.1%

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

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

15,098

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

1,63911.0%

9 years

4,54012.4%

10 years

3,24814.3%

11 years

3,53317.8%

12 years

2,13817.1%

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 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

Mk3 NC2 only

These build years are all Mk3 NC2, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

22.5%

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

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

18,704

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

1,50916.8%

13 years

3,74418.6%

14 years

4,96320.3%

15 years

5,75422.1%

16 years

2,73422.5%

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

2005-2008

Mk3 (NC) only

These build years are all Mk3 (NC), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

26.4%

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

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

26,918

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

2,59925.1%

17 years

7,68224.3%

18 years

8,81124.9%

19 years

5,82926.6%

20 years

1,99726.4%

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 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

No generation name yet

We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

27.2%

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

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

31,502

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

1,45928.6%

21 years

3,91128.8%

22 years

4,08628.4%

23 years

3,11826.9%

24 years

2,46827.9%

25+ years

16,46027.2%

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 21 years old.