Skip to main content

Mazda CX-5 vs Volkswagen Tiguan: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Mazda CX-5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan are too close to call — 1.6 percentage points apart on first-time MOT passes once you allow for the age of each fleet, which is inside what the choice of cars counted can move. A winner is named only at 2 points or more. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Choose on the fault patterns and running costs below.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Mazda CX-5
Pass rate83.2%
Age-matched national82.7%
Difference+0.5
Tests7,514
Volkswagen Tiguan
Pass rate83.7%
Age-matched national81.6%
Difference+2.1
Tests26,428

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Mazda CX-5s registered 2013–2022 and Volkswagen Tiguans registered 2008–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Mazda CX-5

KF, 2017–2024 (2022 facelift) · mid-size family SUV

The KF Mazda CX-5 (2017–2024) is one of the more reliable mid-size SUVs sold in the UK, but the dominant 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel suffers fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF blockage on short urban journeys. Pre-2022 cars also have headlight clouding and dated Mazda Connect infotainment. Best-buy years: 2022–2024 (facelift). Worst: 2018.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2019/187recall
    Soot may accumulate around the intake shutter valve on the inlet side of the engine
    70,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 26 January 2012 and 30 June 2018
    Large recall — 70,435 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2021/435recall
    Low pressure fuel pump impeller might become deformed
    26,974 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 April 2018 and 27 October 2018
    Large recall — 26,974 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Engine — 2.2 SkyActiv-D fuel-in-oil dilutionmajor
    Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; diesel smell on dipstick; reduced oil viscosity; in extreme cases runaway-engine risk
    2017–2021 (pre-software update); risk persists on any 2.2D used mainly for short urban trips · £180–£280 oil + filter change at independent specialist; £700+ if injector seals also need replacement
    Check: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should be at or below max, not above. Sniff the dipstick for diesel. Ask the seller for the typical journey length: a 2.2D used mostly for sub-9 miles commutes is a red flag regardless of mileage.
  • DPF — 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel particulate filtermajor
    Limp mode; "DPF full" warning; loss of power on hills; failed regeneration cycles
    All 2.2 SkyActiv-D, mileage- and usage-dependent · Typical issue 55,000+ miles when used for short urban journeys · £600–£1,200 forced regen + cleaning; £1,800–£3,000 DPF replacement
    Check: Ask the seller for proof of recent motorway driving. Run a 30-minute mixed-speed test drive with an OBD reader connected (£20 phone tool) — watch DPF soot load. Avoid any car where the DPF has been removed or tampered with: under the DVSA MOT inspection manual (8.2.2.1) a missing or tampered-with DPF is a major defect, which fails the MOT, and GOV.UK says removing one is almost always illegal.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
2.2 SkyActiv-D 42–47 mpg real-world; 2.0 SkyActiv-G 31–35 mpg; 2.5 SkyActiv-G 28–33 mpg
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2022, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2018
Used Mazda CX-5s for saleFull CX-5 fault guideUsed Mazdas

Also compare:

Volkswagen Tiguan

Mk2, 2016–2023 (Allspace 2017+) · compact-to-mid family SUV (5 or 7 seat)

The Mk2 VW Tiguan (2016–2023) is the UK's best-selling premium SUV, but the DSG DQ200 dry-clutch gearbox on 1.4 TSI variants is the headline risk up to 75,000 miles, and owners report EGR cooler coolant leaks on the EA288 diesel. Post-2020 Allspace with DQ381 wet-clutch DSG is substantially more durable. Best-buy: 2020+ Allspace TDI. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2018/331recall
    A short circuit in the LED module of the panorama sun roof can occur
    37,179 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 1 April 2015 and 31 July 2018
    Large recall — 37,179 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2016/145recall
    Child lock may disengage
    13,620 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 25 November 2015 and 14 April 2016
    Large recall — 13,620 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • DSG DQ200 mechatronic failure (1.4 TSI)major
    Hesitation pulling away; juddering in low gears; jerky 1-2 shift; "gearbox" warning
    2016–2018 1.4 TSI with DQ200 · 70,000–85,000 miles · £1,500–£2,500 mechatronic; full DSG rebuild from £3,200
    Check: Confirm gearbox type via VIN check before viewing: the wet-clutch DQ381 takes an oil-and-filter service every 40,000 miles, while VW schedules none for the dry-clutch DQ200. Uphill pull from standstill — any judder = warning. Diagnostic scan for P-codes in transmission module.
  • EGR cooler coolant leak (EA288 2.0 TDI)major
    Coolant level dropping with no visible external leak; coolant system pressure drop
    2016–2018 2.0 TDI · £900–£1,400 for an EGR cooler replacement at a specialist
    Check: Check the coolant level and ask whether it has needed topping up. This is not a DVSA safety recall: DVSA lists no EGR recall for the Tiguan, so a recall check will not show it.
Typical asking price:
£10,399–£19,995, median £13,990 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
2.0 TDI 150: 40–47 mpg real-world. 1.5 TSI petrol: 31–38 mpg
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Used Volkswagen Tiguans for saleFull Tiguan fault guideUsed Volkswagens

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Mazda CX-5

Good for: Family buyers wanting a premium-feeling Japanese SUV with strong long-term reliability, lower depreciation than German rivals, and a quiet refined cabin (especially post-2022 facelift). Best fit for drivers doing regular motorway miles.

Less good for: Short-trip city-only drivers buying the 2.2 SkyActiv-D — fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF clogging are use-pattern issues, not luck. Choose the 2.0 / 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol or look elsewhere. Also not for buyers needing seven seats — CX-5 is strictly five-seat.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Good for: UK families wanting a genuine 5-seat (or 7-seat Allspace) premium SUV with strong resale value. The 2020+ 2.0 TDI with DQ381 is the best rounded buy — low road tax, solid economy, durable gearbox.

Less good for: Buyers tempted by a pre-2019 1.4 TSI with DQ200 and high mileage without DSG service history — the repair risk is high. Short-trip city drivers considering the diesel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Mazda CX-5 or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Neither stands out on the MOT measure. Their first-time MOT pass rates sit 1.6 percentage points apart once each is compared against the national rate for cars of the same age, which is too close to call (we name a winner only at 2 points or more). A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict. Pick on the specific faults each is prone to instead.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Mazda CX-5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan compare?
83.2% of Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT first time (7,514 tests in DVSA's records) and 83.7% of Volkswagen Tiguans pass their MOT first time (26,428 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Mazda CX-5's age average 82.7% and cars of the Volkswagen Tiguan's age 81.6% — so the Mazda CX-5 runs 0.5 points better than its age group and the Volkswagen Tiguan runs 2.1 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan should I avoid?
Mazda CX-5: 2018 examples — the first full UK model year for the KF — saw the highest count of engine-related owner complaints, including oil leaks, oil consumption, and earliest reports of fuel-in-oil dilution on the 2.2 SkyActiv-D. Pre-update Mazda Connect was already feeling dated. Volkswagen Tiguan: Early Mk2 with the 1.4 TSI and DQ200 dry-clutch DSG followed the same failure pattern as the Passat B8: mechatronic failure around 70,000–85,000 miles at £1,500–£2,500, as reported by owners. How often it happens is not known. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2016, 2017 and 2018 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a Tiguan by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.
Is the Mazda CX-5 or the Volkswagen Tiguan cheaper to run?
On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 47 mpg (Mazda CX-5) and 47 mpg (Volkswagen Tiguan), on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Mazda CX-5 or Volkswagen Tiguan registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.