2014 Mazda 2 1.3L Petrol · FX14 XUR

The 2014 Mazda 2 presents a mixed but largely reassuring roadworthiness profile. The most recent MOT, conducted on 12 March 2026 at 27,815 miles, passed but flagged two notable advisories. The nearside front outer suspension arm ball joint dust cover was recorded as severely deteriorated, a condition that, if left unaddressed, can allow ingress of dirt and moisture, accelerating wear on the joint itself. The offside front inner tyre was noted as slightly damaged, cracking, or perishing on its inner wall. These are the first defects recorded in the vehicle's history, breaking a long run of clean certificates. The maintenance trend is therefore stable but showing early signs of neglect in basic suspension and tyre care. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low for a twelve-year-old vehicle. Between the February 2022 test at 6,291 miles and the February 2024 test at 12,695 miles, the car covered roughly 6,400 miles in two years. It then added approximately 7,500 miles in the following year, reaching 20,152 miles by February 2025. The most recent jump to 27,815 miles by March 2026 represents a further 7,663 miles in just over thirteen months, indicating a notable increase in usage. This recent uptick in mileage accumulation, combined with the fresh advisories, suggests the vehicle is now being driven more regularly after a period of very light use or possible standing. A buyer should prioritise a close physical inspection of the front suspension, specifically the nearside lower arm ball joint. The deteriorated dust cover is a vulnerability; the joint itself may already exhibit play or wear that was not severe enough to fail the MOT but warrants a check for knocking or clunking over bumps. The offside front tyre condition raises a question about storage and age-related perishing, so the date codes of all four tyres should be examined, along with the sidewalls for further cracking. Given the low mileage and the possibility of long stationary periods, the condition of the brake discs and pads should be inspected for surface corrosion, which can develop quickly on a car that sits unused. The nearside rear child seat advisory is a minor administrative note, but it confirms the belt mechanism should be fully extracted and checked for proper retraction. Overall, the record points to a lightly used car that has recently returned to regular duty, with early-stage wear items now beginning to surface.