Overview & Reviews

There are affordable cars, and then there are cars that offer thrilling performance. Rarely do the two ever converge, but Japanese automaker Mazda has made it a tradition of coming up with vehicles that combine both of these eminently desirable traits.

The Toyo Cork Kogyo Company, founded in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan, used the name "Mazda" for its first three-wheeled truck, built in 1931. Company founder Jujiro Matsuda chose the word "Mazda" because it was the name of the Zoroastrian god of good and light. Work on a small sedan began in the late 1930s, but development was halted so the company could pitch in with Japan's war effort. In the wake of World War II and the rebuilding that followed, the company refocused its efforts on car development and manufacturing.

By 1960, the first Mazda automobile -- the R360 coupe -- was developed, and the company's foray into the production of passenger vehicles began in full force. Other landmark developments were soon to follow. In 1961, the company entered into a technical partnership with NSU and Wankel to develop and produce rotary engines, a union that led to Mazda's distinguishing itself as the only manufacturer to offer three engine configurations: conventional gasoline piston, diesel and rotary. The '60s also saw the introduction of the company's first pickup, the B-Series 1500, as well as its first rotary-engine vehicle, the 110S Cosmo Sport.

Mazda began selling cars in the U.S. in 1970. In the early part of the decade, the automaker rolled out the RX-2. Powered by the noted 12A rotary, the RX-2 introduced America to Mazda's effort to build cars that were affordable and fun to drive. The decade also saw the introduction of the RX-3, RX-4 and now iconic rotary-powered RX-7 sports car. In 1979, Ford Motor Company purchased a 25 percent stake in Mazda after the Japanese company encountered a number of financial difficulties.

The 1980s was a decade of rebirth for Mazda. The company officially took on the Mazda name (though all its vehicles since its launch in the '20s have carried that brand). It also witnessed an upswing in sales sparked by successful new products like the 323 (which was first called the GLC in the American market) and 626. The 1990 model year saw the launch of a car that would prove a huge hit for Mazda: the MX-5 Miata. Lauded for its ultra-responsive handling and affordability, the drop top has been a consistent favorite, and now holds the distinction of being the world's best-selling roadster.

Mazda began the 1990s with a bang by winning Le Mans with the 787B; it was the first time a Japanese automaker had won the prestigious race, and marked the only win for a rotary engine. Vehicles like the RX-7 and MX-5 Miata scored kudos from automotive journalists, and landed on many top 10 lists. However, save for the Miata, the company's vehicles experienced declining sales in the U.S., and the company's fortunes suffered as a result.

The new millennium has seen Mazda regain its stride, as the automaker has invested in new development. Models like the Mazda 2 and CX-9 have broadened the lineup and won over a whole new generation of fans, while the enthusiast-oriented RX-8 and Mazdaspeed performance models have exemplified the company's spirited philosophy. Most recently, Mazda has focused on designing its cars to be as fuel-efficient as possible while also still being fun to drive and affordable to own.

User Reviews:

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  All this and fits the whole family too. - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By disney family - January 15 - 2:00 am

  My first year with the MPV has gone really well. The quality is great and the service at the dealership was excellent. They went through the warranty, maintanence, features and addressed all my questions at delivery. It was the best auto experience Ive ever had.....

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  looks fast goes slow - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By lq400 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  Like in my other reviews looks good Handled great Int/Ext great, But you red line before your peek HP. Need to add oil every other fill up Rotarys I dont get them.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By FernandoGator - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The RX-8 is a very good compromise for those of us that want a four seater car and still want to enjoy a true sports car.

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  What a Hoot - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By rgreg182 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  There is no way around it this car is just a kick to drive, we also own a 98 Cobra and the RX is the toy, for muscle its the stang. THe only way to describe the RX is "Its a go-cart on Steroids". Adding oil every couple tankfulls is a bit disconcerting at first but were getting used to it

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  ZOOM,ZOOM --AWESOME! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By melissa ann - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the first RX7 in 1979. To this day, it holds its best memories for me - 5 speed, fast, silver, and just plain fun to get into and drive. Late last year I went into the dealer just to look at the new RX-8 and came home with a brand new (silver, again) loaded RX-8. It is awesome and the thrill of being the driver of this 6 speed sports car has topped all other cars, among which have been the RX-7, Datson 300ZX, Jaguar XJS, and Mercedes 300. EVERYONE turns their head when I drive by and everyone asks about it when I park. I love, love, love, it and intend to keep it forever.. Melissa San Francisco, CA

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  not that great - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By justen - January 13 - 9:46 pm

  I bought the 02 Protege new and had it only 2 days when the stereo shorted out. Then the CD player broke after they fixed it. Five months later the stereo went out again and then driving the car from Arizona to Chicago the engine blew because of a bad head; now when the car goes above 60 it shakes very badly. The rims also rusted, more than any other car I have owned during winter. The heater also smells very bad when it gets to about 30 degrees outside.

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  Wouldnt be without my Zoom Zoom - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Dwadon - January 13 - 4:20 pm

  Awesome van. Owned a Chevy Montana prior to my MPV and have never looked back. Have 2 teens & 2 dogs and this van suits us just fine - gas mileage reasonable as well.

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  Love it! - 2006 Mazda MPV
  By rgattic - January 13 - 2:13 pm

  By far the best looking and most fun to drive minivan. Great for road trips too. Surprising amount of features and storage for small nimble size.

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  Great car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Rick - January 12 - 7:50 pm

  We searched high and low for a car for a family of 4, with good gas mileage, around $20k, sporty, lots of room and/or a 3rd row using regular unleaded. Sorry, it just didnt happen. The 5 comes with Navigation for $20k automatic and gets 25 mpg or so! I came from a Jetta so materials and final touches arent as top notch on the 5, but Id place it right behind Toyota and above Nissan. Its a GREAT value car. Lots of storage, but lacks some practical storage. Not a lot of options for the US, but overall its so fun to drive. We get looks all the time. Unfortunately, the model is new so I estimate a few features were left off for cost reasons and to see if it had a market.

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  I want to like this car, but - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By wonky - January 12 - 1:20 pm

  I really want to like this car, but I dont. Interior design is poor: window switches in a bad spot & centre console wont hold anything by design. The door cupholder bangs knees, the centre ones make centre console useless and prevents shifting properly! Seatbelt connect height is not adjustable. No spare tire means this is a suburbanite-with-a-cellphone ride. Cant go anywhere interesting without a usable spare and MAZDA is NOT helpful! Also, the Bose stereo is awful. Speakers rattle and vibrate. No aux jack. When Mazda tells you Mp3 compatible, they mean you can play a disc in Mp3 format. Even Hyundai has this stuff figured out. Mazda doesnt care, they dont have to.