BMW 2 Series vs Mazda MX-5
The BMW 2 Series has the better MOT record of the two — 10.8% fail rate versus 18.7% for the Mazda MX-5 across comparable years. The biggest single difference is suspension, where the MX-5 records failures noticeably more often.
10.8%
2 Series fail rate
18.7%
MX-5 fail rate
7.95pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | BMW 2 Series | Mazda MX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 626,646 | 557,938 |
| Pass rate | 89.2% | 81.3% |
| Fail rate | 10.8% | 18.7% |
Where they differ
| Category | 2 Series | MX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 1.6% | 8.1% |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 0.0% |
| Brakes | 1.7% | 6.8% |
| Emissions & environmental | 0.0% | 4.1% |
| Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| Visibility | 1.6% | 3.5% |
Methodology & source. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.