Mazda MX-5 (2020)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 329 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,853

£154/month

MOT Pass Rate

96%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 12-25

1496cc Petrol

Great Choice

96% pass rate, £1,853/year to run. 14 points above average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft

£4.99

Check a specific Mazda MX-5

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

Petrol1496cc6 years old329 tests19k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1496cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,853

Per month£154/mo

Per week£36/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

96% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 14 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Mazda brand average of 81%.

96% of MOT tests on Mazda MX-5s from 2020 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 4 years old. That's based on 329 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 18,739 miles.

Got a Mazda MX-5 you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2020 models337th of 2,554(top 14%)

Rank among Mazda models53rd of 459(top 12%)

vs average of all models+14%(82% avg)

vs 2020 models average+4%(92% avg)

vs Mazda average+15%(81% avg)

Mileage Analysis

18,739

Average miles

29,600

Expected for age

The average 2020 Mazda MX-5 had 18,739 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is below the expected 29,600 miles for a 4-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Looking at a specific Mazda MX-5?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

Best Year to Buy?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 96%, while the 2001 model has the lowest at 73%. The 2020 scores 96%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

Mazda MX-5 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	96%	613	14,518 mi
2020	96%	329	18,739 mi
2019	95%	7,343	21,631 mi
2018	94%	8,140	26,083 mi
2017	94%	8,344	31,395 mi
2016	91%	7,859	36,898 mi
2015	90%	5,320	41,274 mi
2014	89%	5,163	41,708 mi
2013	87%	5,549	49,091 mi
2012	85%	5,782	51,355 mi
2011	83%	6,207	56,335 mi
2010	83%	8,571	61,066 mi
2009	82%	7,643	67,260 mi
2008	80%	9,907	71,545 mi
2007	79%	14,264	76,661 mi
2006	77%	11,920	78,342 mi
2005	74%	6,452	78,894 mi
2004	75%	6,025	83,106 mi
2003	75%	7,845	84,391 mi
2002	75%	6,001	88,865 mi
2001	73%	4,099	95,713 mi
2000	73%	5,716	95,771 mi
1999	73%	8,535	94,916 mi
1998	75%	8,017	96,676 mi
1997	76%	5,880	95,736 mi
1996	76%	3,588	94,755 mi
1995	74%	2,206	95,892 mi
1994	76%	1,222	106,680 mi
1993	78%	1,148	108,396 mi
1992	76%	1,259	115,553 mi
1991	78%	1,798	109,861 mi
1990	79%	1,614	108,931 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Fiesta

2018 · 998cc Petrol

£1,630/year

90%

-6%

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-4%

Vauxhall Corsa

2018 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

85%

-11%

Nissan Qashqai

2018 · 1200cc Petrol

£1,780/year

87%

-9%

Check a Specific Mazda MX-5

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

About the 2020 Mazda MX-5

The 2020 Mazda MX-5 is a small family car. Our records list a 1496cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 329 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a less common model in the UK market. It ranks in the top 14% of all 2020 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 18,739 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Mazda MX-5 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2020 Mazda MX-5 Fuel Costs

The 1496cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2020 Mazda MX-5?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,853 (£154/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 96% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Mazda MX-5 Reliability Trend

Newer Mazda MX-5s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 12 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2020 Mazda MX-5

At 6 years old, the Mazda MX-5 offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2021 model has the highest pass rate at 96%.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2020 Mazda MX-5 stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Mazda MX-5(2020)	96%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853
Ford Fiesta(2018)	90%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630-£223
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853same
Vauxhall Corsa(2018)	85%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£150
Nissan Qashqai(2018)	87%	£1,175	£200	Grp 5-15	£1,780-£73

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2020 Mazda MX-5

Is the 2020 Mazda MX-5 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 96% of MOT tests on 2020 Mazda MX-5s ended in a pass, from 329 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 14 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2020 Mazda MX-5 cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,853 a year (£154 a month): £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2020 Mazda MX-5?

96% of 329 MOT tests on the 2020 Mazda MX-5 ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 337th of 2,554 models first registered in 2020 (top 14%).

Which year Mazda MX-5 has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Mazda MX-5 has the highest MOT pass rate at 96% and the 2001 the lowest at 73%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2020 Mazda MX-5?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2020 Mazda MX-5 is 18,739 miles, which is below the expected 29,600 miles for a 4-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.