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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  Obsidian Pearl - 2008 Mazda CX-7
  By mcspoo - November 7 - 10:40 pm

  Sleek. Fast. Comfortable. I got a great price on this. CX-7 was not a vehicle I was looking for, but stumbled upon. It drives so smooth I end up over 80mph before I know it. At least, smoother than the Jeep Liberty I traded in for this. You cannot believe how much power the engine has until your drive it. Interior functionality is much better than the Liberty. Wish it had a better stereo (4 speakers, distorts when loud). Still waiting to see the real gas mileage. Massive dashboard and front window takes some getting used to.

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  Lots of room to PERFECT, not improve. - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By ericrsmith - November 7 - 8:03 am

  I LOVE my car. This is my third Mazda. My wife refers to it as "the other woman." I could have bought more car when I bought this one, and that will only become more true in the future, but I cant picture myself without this car. There is not a car made for under 35,000 that I would even trade this car for. The car handles like a champion and is wicked fun to drive. It is a beauty and has drawn countless compliments. It has proven to be reliable and inexpensive to maintain. Several friends have compared it favorably or even directly to a BMW 3 series. All of that said, read the laundry list of suggested improvements below.

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  A Sad Day - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By Mike C - November 6 - 4:00 pm

  This is my 3rd review here for this car and my last. I just traded it in last week with 184,000 miles. I couldnt have asked any more of this gem. Here is my list of maintenance and repairs over the last 4 years: 47 oil changes, 2 sets of spark plugs, 4 air filters, 2 sets of rubber, 1 radiator flush, 1 transmission flush, 1 set of brake pads, 2 head lights bulbs and 1 battery. All but the transmission flush was done myself. Unexpected repairs: Zero

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  I wish I could buy this car again new. - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By Bornaleo819 - November 4 - 8:36 am

  My brother passed this car on to me in 2005 after my car was totaled in an accident & he wanted to get a new BMW. He has regretted that decision ever since. I still have it today in 2010 & he has gone through about 3-4 cars still trying to find the right one. This car is reliable, does really well with gas, has good power acceleration to it, is comfortable and besides normal wear & tear with tires, the only thing that happened was a leak with the radiator & in the air intake hose there was a hole. I replaced both parts & runs like brand freaking new. Unfortunately, I have a small daughter so this car can feel tight sometimes but this is a car you will not regret getting. Shes a beaut.

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  Just got a GT ! - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By supersnipe - November 4 - 7:57 am

  We were having issues finding CX-5s in South Florida but found a good assortment at Ocean Mazda in Doral, FL. First of all, let me start of by saying that ive been looking into buying a car for the past year 2 years but never pulled the trigger. Ive test driven the new RAV4, CR-V, and a few other used vehicles. They werent enough checks in the box for all of them meaning there was always some sort of compromise. Well, I bought a white Grand Touring with leather, bose audio system and moonroof for 27K on May 5th. This is the complete package. Great looks, great interior, great features, great driving feel, and great MPG. Power is average compared to my 4.0L Tacoma but no complaints.

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  Mazda Rocks - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Mazda 6 - November 3 - 9:36 pm

  This car is awesome. Fun to drive and ride in. Its fast and has a good amount of room.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever bought - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By hector - November 2 - 2:00 am

  So far this car has been an A+ performer. Looks, good performance, and the cornering ability of a tuned up sports car makes this truly a fun car to drive, could use a bit more power up front which I plan to add with the Turbo kit. Excellent purchase.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever bought - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Hector - November 2 - 2:00 am

  So far this car has been an A+ performer. Looks, good performance, and the cornering ability of a tuned up sports car makes this truly a fun car to drive, could use a bit more power up front which I plan to add with the Turbo kit. Excellent purchase.

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  The Right Choice - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Zoom Zoom in NJ - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This is our first minivan. (LX w/luxury, GFX, security and entertainment packages) With two toddlers, the Camry was way too small. We looked at the Odyssey- but the dealers refused to negotiate- and the Sienna didnt have the third row flat seats. We also felt that we didnt need the huge mom-mobile yet. I also hate the exterior look of both the Sienna and Odyssey. The MPV is just the right size w/room to grow. The manuverability is excellent. It feels like Im driving a sports car (the advertisements were right about that one). The exterior is also really sporty. My husband and I actually take turns driving.

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  This is different. - 2006 Mazda RX-8
  By buteman - October 31 - 1:56 pm

  I honestly could not see myself in one of these cars, but Im really enjoying the experience. Perhaps with just buying this lovely car Im not quite qualified to offer an opinion but here is my initial impressions. I was fortunate to find a low mileage ( 25k,in kilometers ) GT model with the luxury package and automatic ( wife needs auto. ) We took it for a good run on a winding highway,,,,wow, it has more than enough power for me ( Im 64 ) the handling was great, the paddle shifters are great fun, so smooth a ride. The interior is so luxurious and very comfortable, oh sure it sucked some fuel but that is a known fact with this car and thats the price you pay,,no big deal. Nice car !!