Used Mazda cars for sale

Used Mazda cars overview

Mazda is an almost ideal brand for second hand buyers, as it has much of the quality of premium brands, but it’s closer to the likes of Ford and VW when it comes to prices.

Used Mazdas scores highly when it comes to driving dynamics, styling, quality, and — in the case of the SUV models — practicality, but it gets marked down for limited diesel and hybrid options, and only one fully-electric car (the MX-30, which has rubbish range anyway). 

Overall, you’d buy a used Mazda if you value quality, reliability, and driving dynamics above all else, but look elsewhere for a broader range of engine options.

Popular used Mazda models

Mazda’s used car line-up includes some genuine star cars, but doesn’t offer much for diesel nor hybrid buyers. 

Used Mazda CX-5

The CX-5, especially the version introduced in 2017, is a classy, handsome, and good-to-drive family SUV with useful interior and boot space, and the usual excellent Mazda quality. 2.2 diesels are economical, but the 2.0-litre petrol isn’t as far off that mark as you might think. Beware of problems with the infotainment screen, and slow cabin warm-up in winter. 

Used Mazda CX-30

The CX-30 is essentially a slightly taller and boxier version of the Mazda 3 hatchback, and so it does away with the 3’s major issue of small and dark rear seats. The CX-30 is good looking, very good to drive, and has a very high-quality cabin, but you can only buy it with a choice of two 2.0-litre petrol engines, which are way more economical than you might think, but which lack the low-down performance of rival turbocharged engines. Watch for issues with the battery draining if the car is left standing for long periods. 

Used Mazda 6 Saloon

The Mazda 6 saloon is almost good enough to be considered in the same breath as a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. That’s especially the case for versions made after 2018, which came with a much higher-quality interior than previous models. The 6 has a slightly limited engine choice — a 2.0-litre petrol, a later 2.5-litre petrol, and a 2.2-litre diesel in two power outputs — but all the engines are smooth, refined, and at least reasonably economical. The 6 is also notably good to drive but rear seat space could be better.

Used Mazda 3

As with the slightly longer and taller CX-30, the Mazda 3 suffers from a lack of engine choices. You only get to pick from a pair of 2.0-litre petrol engines, with either 122hp or 184hp. The more powerful 184hp ‘SkyActiv-X’ uses clever combustion technology to achieve near-diesel levels of economy and emissions, but to be honest the 122hp engine will do the job fine for most. There was, very briefly, a 1.8-litre diesel version available, which had excellent fuel economy, so might be worth tracking down if you’re a regular long-haul driver. The hatchback 3 suffers from slightly small rear seats and small back windows, so rear seat passengers will be a bit comfier in the four-door saloon model, which also gets a larger boot. 

Used Mazda 2

This version of the Mazda 2 is the first one since the early 2000s not to be based on a Ford Fiesta (Ford used to own a chunk of Mazda). It’s very much Mazda’s own car, and that shows through in its quality levels, and in the smooth 1.5-litre petrol engine, which is very economical. Space in the back isn’t great, however, and the cabin looks and feels rather old-fashioned compared to Mazda’s larger models, but you shouldn’t have any worries when it comes to reliability.