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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  Sad to let her go - 2000 Mazda Protege
  By soosa - September 30 - 8:50 pm

  I keep vehicles a very long time. This 2000 Protege DX was purchased used in 2002 and has been a reliable ride ever since. I mount 4 snow tires every winter and hold my own with the mid- size SUVs in Colorado winters. As an older woman taking solo road trips, Ive laid the seats down in this hatchback sedan to sleep in the "capsule" when the tent was blowing away. I would never buy a car I couldnt sleep in! Dont know why I get an incredible 38-42 mpg, but I do. At 155,000 miles I replaced the clutch as the manual transmission took a beating on 1-70s slow crawls up into the mountains winter & summer. Id keep her until 300,000 if I didnt have to go to an automatic for health reasons.

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  2006 Tribute Cant Tow - 2006 Mazda Tribute
  By frisbeeboy - September 28 - 9:44 am

  I researched and bought my 2006 Tribute s AWD, but it did not have the factory tow package. The dealer told me that you can add a hitch. The only problem is that it wont accept aftermarket wiring! I had two different trailer wiring harnesses installed by a pro and they both fired the module. The second one burned out the Tributes computer. Mazda replaced it as a "good will gesture", but said that it cant accept an aftermarket trailer harness. My tribute also needed the leather drivers seat cover replaced, and a sunroof switch. Can anyone help with the wiring issue. I really want to tow a small trailer and also want to keep the tribute. BTW- it only gets 18-20mpg around town.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By C Powers - September 24 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy driving on curves with this vehicle, it really hugs the road. The seats are more comfortable than the Mazda Protege model. My Protege5 looks great and I get comments on it all the time.

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  Love this car! - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By BluZoom - September 21 - 7:16 pm

  Factory ordered Jan04; picked Strato Blue out of the book. What a looker! Will never find another paint this beautiful; even Mazda changed it after 2004, probably because it scratches so easily. Still turning heads after 75,000 miles though. Absolute fun to drive on tight back roads, but really tough on tires. Easy to spin even from a stop sign. Gas mileage with aftermarket roof rack is around 23-25 mpg mixed, but 30-33 mpg on long trips using cruise control. Good reliability; only three unscheduled trips to dealer that was the cars fault...dash cracked, CD player fried, and transmission programming issue. Most difficult is thinking of trading it off! Might just have to buy another one!

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  Just Purchase CX-5 - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By kudzu68 - September 18 - 4:14 pm

  Just purchased a CX-5 Touring 2 weeks ago. So far so good. It rides well. Im getting over 26MPG with city and freeway driving. The blue tooth/touch screen stereo system is great. Very intuitive. All the controls in the interior are intuitive. Overall Im very happy with my purchase. Some things to consider: 1. The headrests are very far forward and can be and uncomfortable neck position for some. 2. Blind Side Monitoring can take some getting used to. 3. Very new vehicle so there arent many accessories available yet.

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  way to rusty - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By nannyp - September 18 - 1:56 am

  Overall my Mazda performs well, but body rust is a BIG problem. I only have 100,000 KM on it but it started to rust the 3rd year I had it. I had a special rust coating applied at the time of purchase but the dealership will not honor it until there are holes in the body. For that reason I will not buy another Mazda.

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  Decent car - 2006 Mazda Mazda6
  By M6 - September 17 - 1:50 am

  I bought this car used and when I took it for a check up there were no problems after two years of use. There was slight battery corrosion after a few months but it was easy to fix. The interior is awful, there are so many cup holders but cups wont fit in most. There are also a lot of compartments that even a CD holder wont fit in. This car is great on the highway but guzzles gas in the city.

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  Can fun cost this little? - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Miata Driver - September 16 - 10:16 pm

  This car is as fun as driving gets for those who want handling over power. The top is incredibly easy to opperate, steering is great, shifting is beautiful, and handling is superb. The car has bulletproof reliability and drives as solid as you can get. Its lower performance limits make this an incomparibly fun city vehicle, and it loves to be driven like its hated!

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  Fun, Nice, not for everyone - 2008 Mazda CX-7
  By Houston Dad - September 12 - 11:23 pm

  As I read my fellow CX-7 owners reviews I get the feeling that many of us purchased this car more due to looks and the ability to boast about having a turbo charged vehicle than anything else. Yes, the styling and presence of this vehicle cannot be denied. Nor can I say that it isnt fun to drive. However, if you are considering this car think about these few things: MPG - it gets at best 20 for me on highway and 17 combined on top of the fact that it needs premium fuel. If you think you are going to get away with less, the dealer will tell you that you can but you lose the whole point of having a turbo charged engine and might as well buy a 6 cylinder something else.

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  30000 miles, still love it but..... - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By 30000 miles - September 12 - 11:46 am

  Love the car but afraid of reliability. Been in shop 9 times so far for air pres. lights, check engine lights, power window problem, transmission computer problem. 3 gas caps, new gas tank filler line. Irregular tire wear due to misalignment. Just had 30000 mile check done. All seems well for now.