Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2020 Mazda Cx 5?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2020 Mazda Cx 5?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2020 Mazda Cx 5?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2020 Mazda Cx 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,252 vehicles, the 2020 Mazda Cx 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2020 Mazda Cx 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2020 Mazda Cx 5 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (24.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2020 Mazda Cx 5?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mazda Cx 5 (2020)

3,252 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.9% first-time pass rate

2020 Mazda Cx 5

CarHunch analysed 3,252 real MOT records for the 2020 Mazda Cx 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 is a reliably built SUV, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9%—well above the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects affect just 10.9% of the fleet, which is reassuringly low, and petrol and diesel variants perform equally well at around 92% pass rates.

At a median mileage of 28,314 miles for a four-year-old model, these vehicles are running light, and that's reflected in the low failure count of 0.36 per car on average. When they do need attention, it's typically minor stuff: advisories average 2.9 per vehicle, suggesting wear-and-tear rather than structural problems. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection should focus on routine maintenance history rather than bracing for major repairs.

The 2020 Mazda Cx 5 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (91.9% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.36

Over 3.5 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 22k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,252 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,252 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 24.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 22.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 10.4%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 7.8%

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2020.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,252 Mazda Cx 5 cars.

Before you buy a 2020 Mazda Cx 5

Based on MOT data from 3,252 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (82%)	2,666	91.9%	0.35
Diesel (18%)	586	91.7%	0.38

Colour Breakdown

Based on 60,399 Mazda Cx 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.7%

15,512

Blue 21.6%

13,061

Grey 16.9%

10,219

White 14.1%

8,524

Black 13.3%

8,018

Silver 8.4%

5,053

Maroon 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2020 Mazda Cx 5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

28,314

typical

21,665

low mileage

36,206

high mileage

Half of all 2020 Mazda Cx 5 vehicles fall between 21,665 and 36,206 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,665 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 21,665–36,206 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2020 Mazda Cx 5s sit.

⚠ Over 48,878 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2020 Mazda Cx 5 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2020 Mazda Cx 5s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,192 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.36

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mazda Cx 5: All Cx 5 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2020 Mazda Cx 5 stacks up against a rival.

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