Comparison · family SUVs

Land Rover Discovery Sport vs Mazda CX-5: which is more reliable?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mazda CX-5 are very close at the MOT: scores of 101 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 168,566 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Land Rover Discovery Sport	Mazda CX-5
3–5 years	96Below average	102About average
6–9 years	104Above average	104Above average
10–14 years	–	102Above average
15+ years	–	–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Land Rover Discovery Sport	Mazda CX-5
2021	82.9%	89.2%
2020	82.0%	88.2%
2019	82.5%	86.7%
2018	82.7%	85.9%
2017	81.8%	84.5%
2016	80.2%	79.3%
2015	80.1%	76.4%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Land Rover Discovery Sport	Mazda CX-5
Tyres	6.7	4.4
Brakes	4.1	5.2
Lights & electrics	5.6	3.6
Suspension	1.9	6.0
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.8	3.3
Emissions & leaks	2.8	1.9
Steering	0.1	2.6
Body & chassis	0.5	0.2

Land Rover Discovery Sport: top failures

Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.5%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.3%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.2%

Mazda CX-5: top failures

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.8%
Coil spring: fractured or broken1.5%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Land Rover Discovery Sport or the Mazda CX-5?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mazda CX-5 are very close at the MOT: scores of 101 and 103. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mazda CX-5 can be compared?

Both were tested for 7 registration years (2015–2021). The Land Rover Discovery Sport had the higher pass rate in 2 of them and the Mazda CX-5 in 5.

What fails most on each?

Land Rover Discovery Sport: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. Mazda CX-5: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.