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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  P5, not your fathers station wagon - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By satisfied owner - December 8 - 10:00 am

  A great car, fun to drive, nice to look at. I keep telling my wife a bought a station wagon, she says it is a sports car, who is right, maybe both of us. Some people say it could use more power, but for everyday driving it has more than enough.

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  Love My Protege5 - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By pciskowski - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This is an excellent vehicle. I dont think it is underpowered like the press does. I think the styling is better than the Matrix or Vibe. I have removed the roof rack, and the ride, noise, and gas mileage improved considerably. I have noticed a rattle in the front passenger door. On the plus side, I find the seats to be very comfortable. Given the wheelbase, wheel and tires, and suspension, the ride is somewhat harsh but the handling is excellent. Note that the tires develop a slight flat spot after 24 hours and need 5 minutes of driving for the ride to smooth out, so dont judge the ride before that point. I would buy this vehicle again in a second!

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  GREAT AFFORDABLE ES-V6 TRIBUTE - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By TREXY - December 8 - 10:00 am

  CAR-LIKE RIDE, GREAT ACCELERATION, STEREO SOUND IS GREAT....limited package at TOYOTA`S HIGHLANDER starting price !!!!!!!

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  Love it! - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By MichaelB - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my Tribute for almost a year and absolutely love it. I have had one minor problem (faulty sensor caused check engine light to come on).

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  Perfect Solution Vehicle - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By ruddyduck67 - December 8 - 8:26 am

  With a newborn and 4 year old we ran into the issue that you have NO ROOM for a 5th passenger in a standard car with the 2 car seats, (we had a Civic and a Outback Wagon). Looked around for somthing to carry the occasional 5-6 passengers and found a limited market. Considered the standard Odessey/Sienna and even the RAV4 with tiny back bench. Anyway...the full size vans seemed to be overkill and were reaching 40K so I looked at the 5. Wow! We love it. Comfortably fits six, drives like a sporty sedan and fits in the tightest spots. Looks small on the outside but is roomy inside.

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  Duanes RX8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Duane - December 8 - 5:00 am

  Fun to drive, the car handles the road nicely. My last car was a 5 series BMW and I thought it handled extremely well, but Mazda did not let me down one bit. It holds the road tight, but is still quite comfortable. Had a few parts fall off of it in the first couple days, so I am not highly impressed with the quality, but the issues were minor. I drove a couple business clients back to their hotel and one was a very large man (I put him in the passenger front, and the other average sized gentleman rode comfortably in the back seat behind me. The back seat really is usable by adults and certainly by children. I wish the 20 mpg in mostly highway driving was better.

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  Yup - I love it - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Mike - December 8 - 3:53 am

  I replaced a 1999 Audi A4 ($35K+) with a new Mazda3, GT, Bose, Nav. This car has more features than the A4, is just as much fun to drive and cost almost half as much!

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  Why I Like my Mazda Tribute - 2001 Mazda Tribute
  By Phil Henderson - December 7 - 1:06 pm

  I researched all SUVs in this category and bought the Tribute based on specific criteria. I wanted a front wheel drive (traction in snow), not 4WD (maintenance risk and mileage), head room (Im only 6 tall and if I pitched forward in an accident in the Sante Fe, it would have hit the ceiling - Tribute has lots of room), 6 cyl, rear gate opens up, carry 4x8 sheet of plywood through the rear window, carry 8 ft 2x4 inside with the doors closed, internal storage of spare tire, fits in the garage, styling interior and exterior, elevated rear seats, visibility for the driver, and excellent driving feel.

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  I agree with everybody else! - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By randomo - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Wow, is the handling great! Tight, zippy -- just crisp, clean fun. Too bad they couldnt have given it more horses. I test drove a Protege LX a few years ago, and it was woefully underpowered; the much bigger engine in this ES seemed as if it would overcome that hurdle. Sad to say, it needs to go into 4th gear well before 40 mph, and into 5th in the high 40s. It strains a bit to maintain 65-70 on highways where that is the dominant speed of traffic flow. Give this car a 6th gear and youd have something truly great! ;-) My only other concern is the dashboard illumination. The red glow works great in the dark, but at dusk the instruments are hard to read.

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  Mazda MPV Unreliable - 2001 Mazda MPV
  By Dont buy one - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Engine knocking caused by rocker arm shaft design. Transmission shift is delayed. radio broke early. Dont buy one!