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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  Good performer but has some terrible usability features - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By kmukhopa - March 16 - 1:40 am

  I have a 2009 Mazda 6 sport and have owned it since 2010. The car has good performance and is comfortable. Overall I have not had major quality issues, but I do have some complaints centering around customer usability ease. First of all, the Key FOB is terribly difficult to open when you need to replace the battery, both to open and to replace the battery are quite hard to do. I have had problems with it not working at all lately, even when I replace the battery, and I will have to take it in. Second, the headlamps are almost impossible to get to so you can replace the bulbs. You have to go underneath the wheels, take out grommets, etc. Mazda needs to work on that.

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  Fun, this is it!!! - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By miamor - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought the vivid yellow, auto with moonroof. Car gets lots of looks on the road. Car is not as comfortable as Id like or fuel efficient, but the price was right with the rebates. I figure I couldnt wait until December for the Mazda 3 to come out.

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  2003 Mazda Tribute - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By phw1443 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Having been the owner of suburbans, this was a little bit of a change. Besides the size and the power differences, I never thought I would like the smaller SUV, however driving it has been fun and relaxing. No fighting the traffic changing lanes. Rides smooth. I would recommend the Tribute.

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  Wheres the air? - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By Matt Breaux - March 14 - 6:56 am

  Do the Japanese not have summer conditions? In Texass 98 degree F weather, neither the fan has enough volume nor velocity, nor does the evaporator have enough capacity. Drivers leg room is awkward where the knee is in contact with the center console. Steering is great, shifting in manual convenient. Volume and radio controls on the wheel very nice. 1st gear leaves you desiring more. Maybe thats found in the 2.3. The trunk raises completely out of the way. Be careful with the doors when beginning to open, they dont rest until wide open, which may call for scratches and dings. Gauges are easy to read day/night. Terrible, horrible gas mileage for a 2.0L. Factory tires are low mileage.

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  Reliable and zippy family sedan - 2002 Mazda 626
  By Carcrazy10 - March 13 - 7:56 pm

  Bought my 99 626 V6 as a preowned with 84K miles on it and have driven over 22k miles since then. No major repairs other than spark plug wires. Regular oil changes and fuel additives like injector cleaners and gas treatment keeps the engine running smooth.Very reliable and friends riding in the backseat love the comfortable seats.

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  zoom zoom :) - 2010 Mazda CX-7
  By Andrew - March 13 - 4:53 am

  Spent a lot of time reading reviews before purchase. This thing is flat out fun to drive. It may not be a sports car or be the fastest thing on the road but the 2.5 motor WILL get out of its own way. There is plenty of get up and go for my liking. The ride is a little stiff, but thats a nice trade off for how well this thing handles in the corners :) There is very little body roll. The gas mileage is decent, 23-24 so far with my average driving and better on the highway. The seats are little hard but more I sit in it, the more I like it. And the CX-7 is got great curb appeal. Nicest vehicle Ive owned yet, and Ive owned a few.

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  RX-8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Michie - March 10 - 8:33 pm

  I love my RX-8. I think it has a great sleek design that really turns heads and the back doors were a great idea for those who want a sports car, but still have the comfort of a four door sedan. The car handles great & really grips the road, however it is very important to warm the vehicle up before driving in the cold weather otherwise you could possibly flood the engine. Also, you really need to keep an eye on the oil level because with the rotary it burns very hot. Other than that, the car is a ton of fun and really a head turner!

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  The Darkness has enveloped me - 2012 Mazda MazdaSpeed3
  By rickibobbi - March 9 - 2:50 am

  Just got my MS3 in black, Ive put on a heftier rear motor/transmission mount and a heftier rear sway bar (for autocross), Strange sensation to have all that power and control (particularly with the mods) and for such a low price, the dealers cant sell them because of the manual transmission, I kid you not, I test drove one that had a dead battery, it was sitting in a back lot, covered in dust, surrounded by mazda3 automatics, quite forlorn, but I got a really great price on the car! An amazing drivers car, simply fun and well sorted. Couldnt recommend it more. Youll run out of courage before this car runs out of a capability.

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  Very fun SUV! Over 200,000! - 2001 Mazda Tribute
  By Kondo157 - March 8 - 9:53 am

  I purchased my 2001 tribute used from a friend with a little under 150,000 miles on it. He was short on cash and needed to get rid of it. So far this car has been nothing but reliable, had a small malfunction with a transmission plug but once this was corrected the car runs like new. Very much power for such a small SUV. Very good modern look to it as well.

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  I Really Wanted to Like the CX-5 - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By redskins5926 - March 3 - 3:22 pm

  The CX-5 is certainly the best-handling crossover on the market, with dynamics similar to the BMW X1/X3. The ride was stiff, which was good on smooth roads but uncomfortable on rough roads. Space was plenty for passenger comfort as well as cargo. But the big disappointment with the 2013 CX-5 was the engine and transmission. The engine is definitely underpowered for the car, I literally had to floor the gas pedal every time I merged onto the highway. The transmission was even more terrible as it lagged significantly whenever I floored the pedal to get more power. Fuel economy was good, though not significantly worth it with the underpowered engine.