Is the Mazda 3 ULEZ compliant?

Most petrol Mazda 3s from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.

What insurance group is the Mazda 3 in?

The Mazda 3 sits in insurance group 15 of 50, towards the cheaper end of the scale. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.

Is the Mazda 3 reliable?

Our reliability score for the Mazda 3 is 64 out of 100 (about average), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 85% at the reference age.

What economy does the Mazda 3 get?

Expect roughly around 50 mpg combined for a typical Mazda 3, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.

What are the common problems on the Mazda 3?

On the Mazda 3, the issues that come up most by mileage include Suspension, Tyres & wheels and Brakes. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.

How many Mazda 3s are on UK roads?

About 109,397 Mazda 3s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Is the Mazda 3 reliable?

The Mazda 3 scores 64/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 46% of the cars we track. That is computed from 2,098,738 real DVSA MOT test results. The main things to check on a used one are the suspension.

How much does a used Mazda 3 cost?

A 2023 Mazda 3 with around 24,219 miles is worth roughly £16,750 today (typical range £15,100–£18,350). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.

How quickly does the Mazda 3 depreciate?

A new Mazda 3 typically loses about 35% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.

What insurance group is the Mazda 3?

The Mazda 3 sits in insurance group 15 of 50 — the cheaper end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.

What goes wrong on a used Mazda 3?

The most common age-related issues we track for the Mazda 3 are: suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.

What does the Mazda 3 cost to run?

Expect around 50 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Ranked #173 car in the UK · Hatchback · 3,841 units sold last year

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is a stylish, upmarket-feeling family hatchback that prioritises design, cabin quality and driver engagement over outright space. It uses largely naturally-aspirated SkyActiv engines, including the clever SkyActiv-X petrol, rather than small turbos. Cross-shop the VW Golf, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Audi A3.

Body: Hatchback
Years: 2018–2026
Fuel: Mild Hybrid
Economy: 50 mpg
Insurance: Group 15

The short version

56/100

Forecourt score

Value 82 · Reliability 17 · Insurance 84

The Mazda 3 holds its value well and is cheaper to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is average, 64 out of 100, ahead of 17% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 82% of models. The main things to check on a used one are the suspension.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Mild Hybrid · 1998cc

Power

150 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

47 mpg

The volume used pick. Same 2.0 mild-hybrid in 150 PS tune, manual or auto. Mazda's chassis is the draw — sharper to drive than a Golf. Chain-driven.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

Year of registration2023

20182026

Mileage on the clock24,219 mi

0Expected: 24,219180k

Conditiongood

PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Region

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Know the registration?

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

£16,750

Range £14,100 – £19,600

medium confidence

When new (2023)£26,500Age-based value£17,225Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region-£11Market calibration+£636Forecourt price£17,850Private sale£15,600Part-exchange£13,750

Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 24,219 miles it’s about the ~27,152 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Mazda 3 loses value over time.

Marker = your selection
Dashed = mileage either side

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 24,219 miles you entered above — worth about £16,750 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 8,073 miles a year.

5-year total

£15,257

Per year

£3,051

All-in per mile

£0.38

Fuel per mile

13.9p

Depreciation£2,792

Fuel / energy£5,625

Servicing£1,765

Road tax£975

Insurance£4,100

Best age to buy — around 4 years

A 4-year-old example loses roughly £1,400 a year — under half the £4,400 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 82%

Reliabilitybetter than 17%

Fuel economybetter than 76%

Cheap to insurebetter than 84%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

2.0 Skyactiv-G mHEV

Best-finished family hatch in segment — properly premium interior. Skyactiv-X discontinued — no more compression-ignition. Atkinson-cycle 2.0L feels less powerful than turbo rivals but Mazda's chassis tuning compensates. Better for driving than Golf, less practical than Focus.

New price: £26,500
Annual fuel / energy: £1,600
3-yr depreciation: 46%

Watch for

·Mk4 infotainment unit failures pre-2022 (warranty-fixed)
·Naturally-aspirated engines lack low-end torque
·Boot space (351L) smaller than Golf (380L) / Focus (375L)

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 15 of 50 (low — cheaper end of the scale) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

No-claims bonus3 years

0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+

Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£820/ year

Roughly £68 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.

Age band	Lower risk	Typical	Higher risk
Age 17-25	£1,870	£2,337	£3,038
Age 26-32	£976	£1,148	£1,401
Age 33-39Selected	£722	£820	£968
Age 40-49	£613	£681	£789
Age 50+	£546	£607	£716

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

Annual mileage8,073 mi/yr

2,000UK avg for this model: 8,07330,000

Routine service

£185

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£210

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£1,163

50 mpg, £1.49/L

Insurance

£820

Age 33-39, group 15

Clean-air zones

✓ ULEZ compliant

Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,573 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£80

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£240

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£520

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£900

per year · high risk

Tyres

195/65 R15 · 205/55 R16 · 215/45 R17

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

Option	New cost	Added used value	Return
Tow bar (factory-fit) Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.	£650	£450	69%
Parking sensors & reversing camera Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.	£500	£300	60%
Heated seats / cold-weather pack	£450	£200	44%
Metallic or premium paint Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.	£600	£200	33%
Panoramic / opening roof	£1,100	£350	32%
Larger alloy wheels	£700	£200	29%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 24,219 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450high severityParts high

Recorded in 16.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120medium severityParts high

Recorded in 10.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 3.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Identification & otherUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £20-£150low severityParts high

Recorded in 3.3% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,076,096 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Mazda 3, from its 2019 assessment.

5/5

TEST YEAR2019

Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the Mazda 3 remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 2,098,738 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

89.2% at 3yr → 65.4% at 22yr

A 3-year-old 3 passes its MOT 89.2% of the time; by 22 years that has slipped to 65.4%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

3%of 23-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 197 vehicles registered in 2003.

Survival by registration year

3% of 2003 cars still on the road

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every 3 currently MOT’d in the UK. From 179,190 vehicles.

Petrol 83.8%
Diesel 15.0%
Other 1.1%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this 3 fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category	0-30k	30-60k	60-100k	100k+
Suspension	2%	5%	11%	16%
Tyres & wheels	3%	5%	6%	8%
Brakes	1%	4%	5%	7%
Lighting & signalling	—	1%	5%	10%
Driver's view	1%	2%	2%	3%
Identification & other	—	—	1%	3%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a 3 at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

0 yr11,550
1 yr25,765
2 yr25,997
3 yr27,152
4 yr35,062
5 yr42,934
6 yr50,762
7 yr58,448
8 yr65,896
9 yr73,127
10 yr79,747
11 yr85,754

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

64/ 100

Average

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 2,076,096 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

85%first-time pass rate

46th percentile — Below catalogue average

Based on 186,449 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

01The naturally-aspirated engines are smooth and reliable but need revving for performance and are thirstier than turbo rivals.
02Cabin quality and design are a cut above the mainstream - a strong point of a used Mazda 3.
03Rear space and boot are tighter than some rivals; check they suit before buying.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Mazda 3, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Around average

Theft risk is around the UK average. Like most modern cars it has keyless entry, so relay theft is the method to guard against.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Mazda 3 into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

City	Area	Daily charge	Likely outcome
London	All of Greater London (within the M25)	£12.50	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Birmingham	Inside the A4540 Middleway	£8.00	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Bristol	City centre and part of the Portway	£9.00	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Glasgow	City centre	—	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Edinburgh	City centre	—	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Aberdeen	City centre	—	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
Dundee	City centre	—	Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Mazda is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~120

Large network

Mass-market

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Mazda is 2.7% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,300 mm

Width

1,790 mm

Height

1,460 mm

Kerb weight

1,350 kg

Boot

380–1,250 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

Of every Mazda 3 ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

129,401

Currently taxed & on road

109,397

85% of all registered

SORN (off road)

5,878

5% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

14,126

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

-2.1% vs 2024

103,765109,397

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

Mazda 3, answered

Is the Mazda 3 ULEZ compliant?: Most petrol Mazda 3s from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the Mazda 3 in?: The Mazda 3 sits in insurance group 15 of 50, towards the cheaper end of the scale. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the Mazda 3 reliable?: Our reliability score for the Mazda 3 is 64 out of 100 (about average), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 85% at the reference age.
What economy does the Mazda 3 get?: Expect roughly around 50 mpg combined for a typical Mazda 3, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the Mazda 3?: On the Mazda 3, the issues that come up most by mileage include Suspension, Tyres & wheels and Brakes. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many Mazda 3s are on UK roads?: About 109,397 Mazda 3s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

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Same underpinnings

Built on the Mazda Skyactiv (FWD) platform

Mazda's transverse-engine front-wheel-drive platform underpinning the smaller Mazda cars. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Mazda Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture (transverse/FWD) · Mazda

Common questions

Mazda 3, answered from the data

Is the Mazda 3 reliable?: The Mazda 3 scores 64/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 46% of the cars we track. That is computed from 2,098,738 real DVSA MOT test results. The main things to check on a used one are the suspension.
How much does a used Mazda 3 cost?: A 2023 Mazda 3 with around 24,219 miles is worth roughly £16,750 today (typical range £15,100–£18,350). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Mazda 3 depreciate?: A new Mazda 3 typically loses about 35% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Mazda 3?: The Mazda 3 sits in insurance group 15 of 50 — the cheaper end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Mazda 3?: The most common age-related issues we track for the Mazda 3 are: suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Mazda 3 cost to run?: Expect around 50 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.