Mazda 121
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 2 years from 69 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
69%
Total Tests
69
Best Year
1997 (82%)
Years Covered
2
How reliable is the Mazda 121?
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About the Mazda 121
The Mazda 121 has been tested 69 times in 2024 MOT data across 2 model years (1997 to 1999), with an average pass rate of 69%. That's 13 points below the national average of 82%, so check the year-by-year data carefully before buying. Available as petrol.
Best and Worst Years
The 1997 model is the most reliable with a 82% pass rate from 33 tests. The 1999 model has the lowest at 56%. With a 26 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (1997) averages 50,567 miles, while the newest (1999) averages 62,018 miles.
Compared to the Mazda brand average of 81%, the 121 is 12 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Mazda models.
Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.