Mazda MX-5 vs Mercedes-Benz Clk
The Mazda MX-5 has the better MOT record of the two — 18.7% fail rate versus 25.3% for the Mercedes-Benz Clk across comparable years. The biggest single difference is suspension, where the Clk records failures noticeably more often.
18.7%
MX-5 fail rate
25.3%
Clk fail rate
6.62pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Mazda MX-5 | Mercedes-Benz Clk |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 557,938 | 204,964 |
| Pass rate | 81.3% | 74.7% |
| Fail rate | 18.7% | 25.3% |
Where they differ
| Category | MX-5 | Clk |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.1% | 14.7% |
| Tyres | 0.0% | 6.1% |
| Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 11.2% |
| Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 0.0% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 8.2% |
| Visibility | 3.5% | 4.2% |
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.