Are Mazdas Expensive to Maintain? (Cost Calculation)
Just like Honda and Toyota, Mazda is also one of the famous Japanese Car manufacturers in the US. Known for its affordability and reliability, Mazda has been one of the least expensive cars in the market for years. But how inexpensive?
In this article, I will give a real cost calculation of owning a Mazda.
Are Mazdas Expensive to Maintain?
Mazda is known as an affordable brand. Sometimes Mazdas are even cheaper than Hondas. Normally, a Mazda costs an average of $462 on annual maintenance. And since the company demands maintenance every 7500-10000 miles, they only need maintenance once per year.
As per CarMD Vehicle Health Index, the average engine-related repair cost for Mazda’s is around $340. And it ranks third in the list of lowest average check engine repair costs. Since Mazda’s are reliable, averaging 4 out 5 stars in reliability rating, the chance of unscheduled repair is also incredibly less.
The Mazda CX-5, for example, has a frequency of 0.84 for major maintenance for 3 years. Which compared to an industry average of 1.3 is way less, meaning that Mazdas need very less investment to maintain.
Below I’ve calculated the average repair cost of 5 major Mazda models over 5 years.
Also read: Where are Mazdas Made? (The Full List)
How Much Does Mazda Repair Cost in 5 Years Time Frame?
Mazda 3: The Mazda 3 is one of the famous Mazda models, which is known for its incredible value. On average, the Mazda 3 annual repair cost is around $433. It needs basic engine maintenance at every 7,500 miles and has a maintenance and repair cost of $5,409 for 10 years.
For the first five years, however, the Mazda 3 cost $1432 in basic maintenance with an 8% probability of showing major engine faults that might cost you above $500 to fix.
While the Mazda 3 is reliable, it does have some common problems. This includes rear rattling noises, boot release failure, and misfire. All of which costs a total of $520 to fix them altogether.
Mazda 6: The Mazda 6, just like the Mazda 3, beats the industry average with an annual maintenance cost of around $487. Over 5 years, the total maintenance and cost of the Mazda 6 amount to $1480 when the free warranty work is also included.
Whereas the average annual repair cost is around $367 with a potential expense of $1837 over 5 years. While the older 2013-14 Mazda had some regular problems, the current Mazda 6 models, 2020 and 2021, are some of the best-rated sedans with very few issues.
Mazda CX-3: The CX-3, which is Mazda’s smaller crossover SUV has an annual maintenance cost of $345 as compared to the industry average of $651. This amounts to a total of $1775 spent over 5 years in maintenance.
It also has a minor 5.66% probability of showing major faults in the first 5 years. The CX-3 also doesn’t have any record of common issues, which makes it incredibly reliable. According to a consumer reports survey, the CX-3 has an 89% reliability score.
Overall the CX-3 leaves a very less chance of needing additional care than regular maintenance, which makes it incredibly affordable.
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Mazda CX-5: The CX-5 is probably the most value for money Mazda ever. It is also the most loved Mazda, with an average sale of 138,276 units every year. That is because the CX-5 only costs $477 in average annual cost. And has a frequency of 0.3/year of unscheduled maintenance.
The CX-5 has also had a negligible 8% chance of showing major faults proving its reliability. This brings its average Maintenance and repair cost to a mere $2000 over 5 years.
Mazda MX-5 Miata: The MX-5 Miata is Mazda’s most iconic car. It is one of the least expensive roadsters, with an annual expense of $449 on maintenance. The Miata is so reliable that it only has a 10% chance to show major fault in the first 5 years.
With a similar maintenance frequency as other Mazda, the Miata costs a total of $1564 in maintenance. Since it is equally reliable as others, Miata doesn’t show any major faults in the first five years, which can add to your expenses.
Also read: Are Japanese Cars Good? Best in the World?
Is Mazda Servicing Expensive?
Mazda, in general, is not expensive at all. Especially when you have a new one, and you enjoy the warranty and free servicing. For the first five years, the chance of maintenance to cost more than $2000 is extremely rare.
However, if you have an older Mazda, the servicing would be costly, all because old cars have old parts that need to be replaced. Since Mazda suggests at least one annual service or at 7,500 miles, with alternate full servicing, you can expect to pay $150 for basic service and $350-$450 depending on the full servicing.
These charges include oil change, filter change, belt, and hose inspection, brake maintenance, aircon, battery transmission, etc. For basic maintenance as in oil/filter change $50-$90, clutch replacement $100-$500, brake pads $65-$136, and around $72-$122 for wheel bearings replacement.
Also read: Do Mazdas Last Long? (8 Popular Models Lifespans)
How Expensive is Mazda Insurance?
The average cost of Insurance for brand-new Mazdas is around $186 a month, resulting in $2,230/year. While it does vary greatly for the models, you can expect to pay upwards of $3000 annually.
If we individually take the above five mentioned Mazda models, the average insurance cost of Mazda 3 is $1400/year or $117 a month. For the Mazda 6, the average insurance cost when compared amongst all companies is around 2,730/year or $227 each month.
For the CX-3, being on the affordable side costs $1,192 in annual insurance, whereas the CX-5 costs $227 a month and $2724 annually in insurance. Surprisingly the MX-5 Miata has the cheapest insurance cost averaging $152 or $1824 annually.
How Much Do You Lose on Mazda Depreciation?
The older Mazda models had a higher depreciation rate due to certain reliability issues. However, the newer ones have shown some great reliability holding 58.81% of their original value after 5 years. Mazda ranks 5th amongst the cars with the best resale value, with the CX-3 at 65.27%.
While the depreciation rate varies, you can expect your Mazda to depreciate 8%- 10% annually, resulting in 50%-58% residual value after 5 years. Below is a year-wise list of Mazda depreciation rates.
| Vehicle Age | Depreciation | Residual Value | Percent Left |
| 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| 1 | 15.40% | 84.60% | 91.67% |
| 2 | 20.33% | 79.67% | 83.33% |
| 3 | 26.84% | 73.16% | 75.00% |
| 4 | 33.42% | 66.58% | 66.67% |
| 5 | 41.19% | 58.81% | 58.33% |
| 6 | 50.63% | 49.37% | 50.00% |
| 7 | 54.80% | 45.20% | 41.67% |
| 8 | 61.19% | 38.81% | 33.33% |
How Much Should You Expect to Pay for Mazda’s Fuel?
The Fuel consumption of different Mazda models is different. And with the introduction of the Mazda 30 hybrid, the consumption would get extremely low thanks to its hybrid powertrain.
Still, to give you a clear overview of what owning a Mazda will cost you over fuel charges. Here is a list of 5-different Mazda models with the cost of fuel required over 1 Month, 1 Year, and 5 Years.
The calculation is based on assuming that you drive your Mazda 13,500 miles a year, which is the average annual driving distance for an American. Also, assuming the average gas cost to be $3.00/gallon.
Miles Driven:
1 Month- 1,125
1 Year- 13,500
5 years- 67,500
| Model | Fuel Cost/Month | Fuel Cost/Year | Fuel Cost/5 year |
| Mazda 3 | $93.65 @ 36 mpg | $1,125 | $5,625 |
| Mazda 6 | $129.8 @26 mpg | $1,557.6 | $7,788.4 |
| Mazda CX-3 | $108.8 @ 31 mpg | $1,306.45 | $6,532 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $140.62 @24 mpg | $1,687 | $8,437.5 |
| Mazda Miata MX-5 | $116.3 @29 mpg | $1,396.55 | $6,982.7 |
Note: The fuel efficiency taken is the combined mpg of the based variants.
How Much Does it Cost to Maintain a Mazda Car in 5 Years?
Taking the average expense of all five models, you can expect to pay an average of $33,063 ($7,072 in fuel, $4300 in maintenance, $9,870 in insurance, $11,821 in depreciation) for 5 years.
This can be lower or higher depending on the Mazda model you buy. So does it make Mazda expensive? Not at all. Amongst all Japanese and Korean automakers, Mazda is one of the most value for money brands.
The Toyota Corolla sedan, for example, costs $30,000 in 5 years, whereas the Kia Forte costs $34,000. Compared to which the 2021 Mazda 3 costs $33,000 in 5 years. For 5 years, $1000 or $2000 doesn’t make any difference.
Owning a Mazda is as affordable as owning a Toyota, a Kia, or a Honda in terms of expenses. So, to answer your questions,
- Is Mazda expensive to own? No, it is as affordable as other brands.
- Is Mazda a Reliable Brand? Yes, Mazda is one of the most reliable automakers in the American Market.
- Is Mazda worth buying Mazda? Definitely.
- Should you buy a Mazda? If it fulfills your needs, then why not.
Is Mazda better than other brands? It depends on the model and makes you compare.
