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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  Zoom Zooming 1st Timer! - 2008 Mazda CX-7
  By BC94121 - November 23 - 7:40 am

  Been a proud CX-7 owner for about a month now and we absolutely love, love, love it! Its a great looking CUV/SUV that definitely handles more like a sporty car, especially when that turbo kicks in and youre hitting those curvy roads! The fun factor and looks factor sure does beat the pants off of a RAV4, CRV, or Murano. The Bose system is awesome. Its like having Bono & Edge jamming in the car with us as were driving. My only gripes would be the locks not automatically locking when the car is in gear - kind of a no brainer to include. Also wished it came with a optional manual 6 speed. Bottom line: A-W-E-S-O-M-E vehicle!

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  Adequate performance and reliable - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By lzp - November 23 - 1:56 am

  Its my first car. Bought it new in August 2002. Have been driving it ever since then and no real problems occured. If I have to be really picky, then here are some minor issues: (1) twice in winter morning, with temperature at around minus 20 celsius (I live in Toronto), the stereo stopped functioning --- the problem disappeared next day. (2) experiences over snowy roads is not as good, especially when making turns, the car could slide sideways. (3) My girl friend complained that air circulation is restrained in certain modes; from reading the reviews here that seems to be a common complain, but it didnt bother me that much. Overall, the car has been fun to drive and reliable.

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  cx-7 lemon - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By ralphculver - November 22 - 10:20 pm

  The CX-7 is a beautiful and enticing car, especially with all the zoom zoom hipe by Mazda. We have owned the car for over 5 years and have had a series of problems each year. Recently they sent a letter indicating the Air Conditioning compressor might freeze up and need to be replaced. They extended the coverage to 5 years. We had no issue of this failure but delt with tons of other issues. Today the car stopped and left me stranded. The compressor did freeze and the result also ripped out the serpintine belt. I am done with this car and dealing with Mazda, as they said too bad your out of warranty. They knew this was defective and put us in a dangerous position. Shame on MAZDA. DONT BUY 1.

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  Tire issues - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By KayakMazda - November 22 - 11:20 am

  So I am having a similar problem, alignments off, and I am not rough on driving. The tires wont last long and I have gone with several brands, they still couple. (sp) I will say Dealership was great with belts and replacement pricing. That was Gainesville GA Mazda. Cheaper than my normal mechanic. shocking.

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  6i Grand Touring - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By ctl - November 22 - 10:36 am

  After driving the Mazda6, none of the other cars I tested (Altima, Accord, Legacy, Camry) could match the combination of features/performance/style. The acceleration is better than I expected with a 4cyl and the suspension has an excellent balance between handling and comfort. The Michelin tires do squeal too early though. The dashboard is very intuitive and easy to use. The GT has more features than I know what to do with. I especially love the blue tooth connection for my cell phone. The only minor disappointment is the gas mileage. After 2 months, Im only getting 21 mpg in combo city/highway driving but thats a small price to pay for an excellent car.

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  the most fun car I have ever owned! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By sportsguy126 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  handles excellent, looks amazing, people stop me to admire my car!

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  Rotary Passion - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By Daren S - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I an extremely happy with this purchase. All the desirable features of a sports car in a very nicely designed package.

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  zoom-zoom - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By mikehkatz - November 22 - 10:00 am

  the rx-8 is the most fun car i have owned. it takes turns like a rolercoster. ane it really does have that zoom-zoom feeling specially from first to second gear .

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  Fun to drive but noisy. - 2011 Mazda Mazda3
  By mka2 - November 22 - 5:04 am

  I bought the car at the end of 2011 and currently have 10k miles on it. Its fun to drive, corners on a dime, very responsive and accelerate smoothly. The interior is nice however the seats are not comfortable. Controls are well placed and the car has a lot of nice technology. The GPS is difficult to operate and very annoying. A $200 aftermarket GPS will solve this problem. From day one, I thought the road noise is a bit much however after the first tire rotation the noise became unbearable. Mazda is aware of the quick tread loss and will not do anything about it.

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  More Trouble Than My Three Kids! - 1999 Mazda 626
  By Samantha Rector - November 21 - 9:56 pm

  I bought the car with 60,000 miles. And in two weeks of owning the car the transmission went out. The car was under a 30 day warranty so the dealership paid for a rebuilt transmission to put into the car. Less than a year later the transmission that was put in went out. I had to pay $1,800.00 to have another transmission put in (this is the third transmission in this car). I had to take back 6 months later because my car would not go into reverse. The mechanic told me that the transmission in the Mazdas are consistently failing. A/C stopped working. Pulley is going out. Trading in for a Infiniti.