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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  Happy Mazda Owner - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By DanM - May 8 - 10:30 am

  I like to drive the car, it handles great on Vermont mountain roads, is great on longer runs on the Interstate and has given me no trouble. Performance is good, plenty of power. Highly recommend one. I just wish they would offer an all wheel drive model.

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  Good Car For The Money - 2001 Mazda 626
  By Chris - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car four years ago with a little over 70,000 miles on it. In that time, the only big repair Ive had to make is replacing the axles due to the CV boots, which were busted when I bought it. Other repairs were minor, including new spark plugs, plug wires, new battery, and a valve cover gasket. Regular maintenance has kept it on the road and relatively problem- free. I trust it to get me to work and back and to occasionally drive almost the full length of Texas and back, which Ive done a few times now. The car isnt sexy, but the looks have held up for close to ten years now. Not fun to drive because of the 4 cyl engine. Its just a tool to get from A to B, and its done it well.

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  Nearly perfect for my purpose - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By MindDrive - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I needed a good vehicle, nothing fancy, that would fit my large music keyboards, but not be a monster truck. Mazda 5 is a "micro-minivan" (hip term for station wagon.) It has room for two adults up front, 2½ adults in the back (typical nonsense about a 3rd adult in the back, no way,) and 2 kids all the way in the back. The 4 back seats fold down for a lot of cargo room. All this and it still drives like a car. It is well configured overall.

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  As time goes on I love my Mazda 3 more! - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By Adam. W - May 8 - 10:00 am

  After my first test drive of a 2010 Grand Touring Sedan I fell in love and knew this was the right car for me. The handling in the Mazda 3 is downright amazing! This car just hangs on and is how every front wheel drive car should handle. The ride is very good for the sporting capabilities of the Mazda 3. Interior is fantastic. Materials are all very high quality, feature content is superb. Seats are VERY comfortable and supportive. The engine and transmission are gems. The 2.5 engine is so smooth it is easy to hit the rev limiter while winding it out. Fuel economy is good. The power from the 2.5 may feel "soft" initially but once you get it above ~2500 RPM it goes well.

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  most stylish sedan around - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By mtaylor - May 8 - 2:00 am

  Moved up from a Mazda3, and am very impressed with how smooth and quiet the car is. Exterior styling is edgy without being too trendy and should hold up well over the years. Interior styling is simple and elegant, and mostly very high quality (but whats up with the thin vinyl on the armrest and the Buick velour on the door panels??). On a 500 mile trip I averaged 34mpg in mostly rural driving at 60-65mph with a good bit of stop- and-go intown driving, and have been averaging about 27mpg around town. Pretty awesome for such a big car. I love that the car looks big, but drives like a much smaller car. The ride is firm, but very compliant, a near perfect balance of handling and ride comfort.

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  Slides around in snow really bad - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Deb - May 7 - 10:43 pm

  If you are considering buying a used 07, this car is great, until there is snow on the road. It isnt anywhere close to being safe in the winter. The tires are too low. Id have to change the wheels to get an all weather tire on it and with those big brakes, Im not even sure it could be done. If you live where it doesnt snow, the car is great, buy it. If you live where it snows, dont even consider it. If I didnt also have a 4- wheel drive pick-up to drive, I would have sold this car the first winter I had it.

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  Great car - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Peter - May 7 - 4:56 pm

  Its a great choice for people who are looking for a small minivan. Definitely many notches more practical than most SUVs. Use it to transport people & large items. Fuel economy is pretty good.

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  Love this car. - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By John Moses - May 7 - 12:26 pm

  Overall, I have been extremely happy with my new Mazda 3. The i Touring edition, while not lush, is comfortable and well designed. Driving the car feels natural, with a sporty engine and great suspension. The car holds the road with minimal roll, and I believe that this is partly because of the standard stabilizer bar and multi-link suspension. Gas mileage is also great, around 32 mpg. Overall the cost of ownership is great. And with such a low sticker price, its a hard deal to beat.

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  fun to drive but window worries - 2009 Mazda CX-7
  By sue sellman - May 7 - 7:40 am

  I researched this car for weeks before making my purchase (lease) in January of09. The car is so much fun to drive and is really a good looking vehicle- I have black on black. I have been having weird problems with the car, though. At first I thought it was driver error, but no. Occasionally when I would return to my locked vehicle I noticed the windows were half way down on the front, and the moon roof was partially opened. Once in a while after turning the key off the driver seat would automatically go back. Well, the window thing kept occurring so I took it to the deal and they replaced the main "brain modular". Now it is happening AGAIN!! Unsure on the quality of this vehicle!

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  solid tank of a car - 2017 Mazda CX-3
  By Gene O - May 7 - 7:12 am

  This car feels like a hybrid of a small tank and a porsche. The car handles excellently and because of the way this car handled and steered on a test drive, I picked the CX3 over a subaru crosstrek - an uninspired driving disappointment, by comparison. The CX3 is not quite a utility vehicle. Its more like a station wagon thats a little jacked up higher off the ground and has AWD. It feels powerful with a 2L engine and has good acceleration if you drop the pedal. In the snow, it bites and drives great. Bad weather is no match - snow, ice, rain - it can handle any of that stuff. Several inches of wet snow and going uphill - barely a slip. Its a little beast. On the highway its smooth sailing and very good MPG. You dont get a huge gas tank - max range is about 295-300 miles. Comfortable interior and lots of USB ports and stuff for phones and other junk you want to plug in. the touch screen has good visibility and all the functions work well - good ergonomics with the console dial, voice control, rear camera and steering wheel buttons. The inside climate control is a little wonky - its not easy to get it just right for some reason. either you get ice cold air or something that doesnt defrost your glass or something thats hot....odd. Sometimes my kid likes to sit in the middle of the back seat when I drive and hes very close to me there - like a parrot on my shoulder - which Im not crazy about. The back seats are not huge. He says theyre comfortable. A USB port or two back there would be cool instead on me having to run a wire from the front. the cargo area is big enough for me to carry 2 hockey equipment bags for both my kids and most other bulky stuff but its not huge, either, which is something I happily accept for what the car is. It has a small sub-section under the floor so you can make it a little bigger, if you want. Stereo may sometimes have a little buzz if you set the bass all the way up to max. My pet peeve with the CX3 is that the outside back of the car gets FILTHY with road stuff and spray. I suppose a set of mudflaps would fix that. If youre driving on wet and salted roads, the back of the car is coming home covered in a filthy grime of road salt. Not nearly as bad in summer when roads are cleaner. Even a good car wash has trouble eliminating all that filthy grime off the back so theres the Achilless heel of the CX3.