Mazda or Toyota — what we actually found
Side by side from 203 Mazdas and 708 Toyotas buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 61/100.
Head to head
| Mazda | Toyota | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 203 | 708 |
| Average condition | 64/100 | 62/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 61% | 56% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~115k mi | ~145k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 77% | 78% |
| Structural repair found | 6% | 4% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 25% | 17% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Mazda▬ Toyota▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Mazda▬ Toyota▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
66%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
33%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
33%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
15%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
15%
Oil leaks · Engine
48%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
36%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
29%
Leaking or worn shock absorbers · Suspension
21%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
20%
Trajectory by generation
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 911 inspections · updated Sep 11, 2026