Mazda’s Japanese rivals, Honda and Toyota, are both known to be prime quality brands, but also ones with very low maintenance and repair costs. But where does Mazda stand – are Mazdas expensive to maintain?
No, Mazdas are not expensive to maintain – just the opposite. Mazda models are, on average, some of the least expensive cars to own. Not only that the basic maintenance costs aren’t high, but unplanned severe repairs don’t often happen with them. Those qualities made Consumer Reports voted Mazda the most reliable car brand on the market.
I gathered all the information you need to know when it comes to the price of Mazda maintenance. It will be more than helpful if you’re in the process of buying a car, so make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Table of Contents
No, Mazdas Are Not Expensive to Maintain
RepairPal claims the average Mazda annual maintenance cost to be around $450, which is way below the national average of $968. Of course, this price is calculated based on all models’ years, so you may encounter Mazdas that are less or more expensive than that.
CarMD Vehicle Health Index also places Mazda as one of the brands with the lowest maintenance price. The lowest number of engine issues was the main criteria in their study on the 100 best vehicles in the US, and four of the Mazda models made to the list:
- 2015 Mazda3,
- 2014 Mazda3,
- 2016 Mazda CX-5,
- 2016 Mazda6.
Mazdas are known to be highly dependable. They usually don’t bring sudden and expensive problems. With them, you can expect a small number of unscheduled maintenance appointments, and even then, it’s most likely that the problem isn’t severe.
Mazda’s Maintenance Costs Compared to Other Cars
Your Mechanic calculated the average cost of Mazda’s maintenance to be around $7,500 over the first ten years, which placed it in the twenty-fourth position out of thirty major brands they analyzed.
As expected, premium brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Cadillac were all at the top of this list, but Japanese Mazda proved to be more affordable than many local or European manufacturers. However, other Japanese brands, such as Toyota cars or Honda, had even lesser expenses.
Does Mazda Often Require Replacement of Parts?
As with any other car brand, the Mazda models have parts that wear out over time and need to be replaced at some point. For example, you’ll need to replace oil and engine air filters every 15,000 miles and do the basic inspection of the rest of the car parts (add brake fluid if needed, check brakes, belts, and the like).
On the other hand, spark plug and timing belt replacement is not needed that often – only every 60,000 miles. Much costlier fixes would be those that require engine replacement (up to $4,000) and VVT repairs (up to $1,100), but they are not common.
Why Is Regular Maintenance So Important?
Regular maintenance is necessary if you want to keep your vehicle’s performance at a high level and be safe while driving.
Don’t try to save up by avoiding maintenance appointments. Not only will they keep the value of your car (which is crucial if you decide to sell it at some point), but they will prevent much more expensive problems down the road.
Annual Maintenance Price of the Most Popular Mazda Models
Take a look at the table below to learn more about maintenance and insurance costs, as well as repair frequency when it comes to some of the most sought after Mazda models:
| Model | CX-3 | CX-5 | CX-9 | 5 |
| Repair Frequency | 1.0 time per year | 0.3 times per year | 0.6 times per year | 0.4 times per year |
| Average repair price | $349 | $573 | $432 | $546 |
| Average car insurance cost per month | $116 | $121 | $137 | $61 |
Mazda Is Considered One of the Most Reliable Brands Year After Year
Different reliability rankings, such as those made by Consumers Report or J.D. Power, place Mazda very high, making it an excellent choice in general, but especially if you’re looking for a good first car.
A car’s reliability is usually based on the number of unpredictable repairs per year, available warranty offers, average repair price, and repair time. Mazda model clearly excels in all these elements, which resulted in Consumer Report even declaring this brand as more dependable than other cars.
Save On Repair Costs by Choosing Mazda Extended Warranty
Whether you decide to buy a new or pre-owned Mazda, an extended warranty is a thing to consider. Note that Mazda offers only a three-year warranty, which is not a long period compared to other manufacturers.
An extended warranty may be a way to get some peace of mind. Yes, we determined that Mazda doesn’t have significant repair costs, but every situation is different. If paying an upfront fee seems more tempting than thinking about if the next repair will cost you an arm and a leg, an extended warranty can be a perfect choice for you.
The only downside of Mazda warranties is that they require you to get your repairs at Mazda dealerships – and they are not easy to find. If that is inconvenient for you, start looking at the best third-party warranty offers.
Mazdas Bring the Winning Combination of Dependability and Affordability
If you’re looking for a car that won’t be a financial nightmare after you purchase it, Mazda is one of your best choices. Compared to BMW and Mercedes, Mazda is a reasonably cheap brand, especially when it comes to repairs.
However, make no mistake – it does bring prime quality. According to the US News, superb performance combined with beautiful appearance led Mazda to the top of the list of best car brands in 2020.
