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Mazda vehicles have a reputation for reliability — with them typically functioning well for many miles. Over the years, sedans such as the compact Mazda3 have led the way for reliability. Another dependable choice is the highly-popular CX-5 compact SUV. However, the most reliable Mazda car isn’t either of these two models. It’s the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car.

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most reliable Mazda car

Front view of 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car, most reliable Mazda car, says Consumer Reports, not Mazda3 or CX-5
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata | Mazda

Consumer Reports selected the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata as the most reliable Mazda car, which is rather surprising. For one, historically, other Mazda vehicles have a better dependability history. Also, sports cars tend to have more problems than other model types — due to the more complicated powertrains and performance features.

However, according to evaluations from Consumer Reports, the MX-5 Miata tops all other Mazda cars. It’s the best choice for reliability, beating the Mazda3 and CX-5. Furthermore, as detailed by USA Today, the sports car is the fifth most reliable vehicle for all automotive brands. No other Mazda model cracks the top 10 list. 

Mazda MX-5 Miata had fewer problems than Mazda3 and CX-5 in Auto Reliability Survey

Dashboard in 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car, most reliable Mazda car, says Consumer Reports, not Mazda3 or CX-5
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata | Mazda

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata earning the title of the most reliable Mazda car is based on CR’s annual Auto Reliability Survey. Over a one-year period, Consumer Reports collected owner surveys for hundreds of thousands of vehicles, including the ones in the Mazda lineup. Vehicle owners identified various problem areas, such as brakes, engines, paint, noises, leaks, and electrical systems.

The MX-5 Miata had fewer and less severe issues in these problem areas than other Mazda models, including the Mazda3 and CX-5. As a result, it achieved the top spot for Mazda reliability. 

While the sports car was the only Mazda vehicle to make 10 most reliable car list from Consumer Reports, the Japanese automaker fared well overall for car brand dependability. CR named Mazda the fourth most reliable brand. Only Toyota, Lexus, and BMW rank higher. 

2023 MX-5 Miata is a fun-to-drive sports car: Top speed and 0-60 mph time

Along with being very dependable, the 2023 MX-5 Miata is fun-to-drive. Its peppy 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine results in a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. However, the area in which the sports car really stands out is its driving dynamics. It has agile handling, responsive steering, and superb cornering abilities. 

Also, the MX-5 Miata is efficient — especially compared to most sports cars. It gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 26 city/35 highway mpg. Plus, the reliable Mazda offers many desirable features. This includes heated seats, an automatic climate control system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a nine-speaker Bose audio system, push-button start, and LED lighting. 

Additionally, the MX-5 Miata provides high-level safety with its wide range of driving assistance features. This includes traffic sign recognition, a rearview monitor, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a blind-spot monitor.

The most reliable Mazda car isn’t the Mazda3 or the CX-5. It’s the 2023 MX-5 Miata sports car, which is fun-to-drive and offers many great features.

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Mark Putzer

With seven years of experience writing in the automotive industry prior to joining MotorBiscuit in 2021, Mark’s work can be found on dealership websites across North America. A Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison sent Mark into the wilderness for environmental studies. Here, he discovered a passion for driving off-road trucks and SUVs off the beaten path.

During his extensive international travels, Mark developed an affinity for foreign cars and international automotive markets. Inspired by the industry-wide push toward environmentally-friendly EVs and hybrids, Mark covers topics about recent advances in the automotive industry, in addition to everything from off-road concepts to emerging EV technology.