Mazda MX-5 vs Mercedes CLS

Both are coupés & GTs. First-time MOT failure at age 7, and what each one is known to fail on.

The Mazda MX-5 is the more reliable of the two. It fails its first MOT at age 7 10.9% of the time, against 18.2% for the Mercedes CLS.

Mazda MX-5

10.9%

fail at age 7

Rank 16 of 239 · 33k miles at 7 · 41,937 tests

Mercedes CLS

18.2%

fail at age 7

Rank 115 of 239 · 64k miles at 7 · 17,327 tests

What each one fails on

Measured

The faults each records most at ages 6 to 9. Same figures as each full report.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornAdvisory11.3%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corrodedAdvisory3.4%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brakeAdvisory3.0%

A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mountingAdvisory1.5%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brakeFail1.2%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornFail0.9%

A wheel bearing with excessive playAdvisory4.7%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornAdvisory4.0%

A suspension joint dust cover severely deterioratedMinor3.0%

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakenedFail2.6%

A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mountingAdvisory1.8%

Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunctionFail1.7%