2018 Mazda Cx-3 MOT pass rate: 91.1% (16,668 tests)

2018-registered Mazda Cx-3s passed 91.1% of 16,668 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 4.8 points better than all UK cars registered in 2018 (86.3%). This is one of the strongest Cx-3 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

91.1%Pass rate, 2018 cars

104.8Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

16,668Tests analysed

36,824 miMedian mileage at test

91.4% / 88.0%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2018 Cx-3 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	92.2% +4.2 vs same-age
2024	90.8% +4.6 vs same-age
2025	90.4% +5.6 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2018 Cx-3

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	897	37.0%
2	Brakes	658	27.1%
3	Visibility	388	16.0%
4	Suspension	168	6.9%
5	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	159	6.6%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	56	2.3%

All Cx-3 years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2015	6,996	80.9%	+2.2 pts	58,382
2016	14,521	82.1%	+0.8 pts	52,608
2017	14,373	88.3%	+4.3 pts	44,168
2018 (this page)	16,668	91.1%	+4.8 pts	36,824
2019	20,957	92.6%	+4.2 pts	28,844

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Mazda Cx-3 years to avoid.

Buying a 2018 Cx-3? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2018 Mazda Cx-3 reliable?

2018-registered examples passed 91.1% of their MOT tests (16,668 tests, 2023–2025), +4.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 36,824 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2018 Cx-3?

The median tested example shows 36,824 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2018 Cx-3?

In this cohort petrols pass 91.4% of tests against 88.0% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.