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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  Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder. - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By joe mc govern - May 16 - 5:00 pm

  Car drives excellent on dry pavement. This car isnt a daily commuter if you have snow, the OEM RSA eagles slide all over in 2" of snow. Get snow tires. The car is well worth the money, but a lot of plastic and styrofoam in front end. Insurance is high on this car, but so is the Civic. The 2.0 engine is more frugal on gas than its 2.3 liter. I rented the 2.3 liter HB but it wasnt worth the extra gas money. This car is a sports sedan with the low pro tires and sits higher than a mini and Civic, thats why I bought it. However next year its history Im going with a car that has real carpets, and a more rigid build for safety.There are not enough options on a 2.0 also.

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  Great Value - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By st - May 14 - 6:40 am

  I wanted to get a new sedan but also wanted to carry lots of luggage. It fit the bill. It is a great, comfortable people/ items mover. and Touring comes with packages that is only found in expensive cars. Overall love it for what it does.

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  Sweet, With Caveats - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By jaybee - May 13 - 5:36 pm

  Purchased partly in reponse to a regretful sale of a 1999 Miata. This is a huge upgrade to the second generation Miata. They are completely different vehicles; we purchased this after reviewing competitive offerings from GM and BMW.

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  Great year so far - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By Dewey B - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my RX-8 for almost a year and I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. In my price range, I could not find this cars same mixture of power, handling, utility, and safety features. Comparatively few of them are on the road, so I frequently get looks at stop lights, as well as many race requests, which leads me to my biggest gripe- lack of torque. Until you get into those high rev ranges, there isnt much going on, but with the positive action of the 6 speed stick, once you get it into the high part of the tach, its nice and easy to keep it there. Overall a great car; lets all thank Mazda for employing more engineers than accountants.

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  Trading this car this week - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By maxy - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in july, dealer said it would hold its value.Not true! I Will loose 6k for trade,car has under 1000 miles on it.Sticker was 33,235. Poor air conditioning, luke warm air.Cheezy knobs for heat & air.Terrable gas mileage,poor visability when backing up, (posts on the sides are in the way), trunk to high. driver seat does not go up high enough for short people. I am tradeing this car in this week for a Infinity fx35.

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  my rx - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By rx8joe - May 13 - 10:00 am

  The moment I saw the RX8 I was in love.. but having brake problems so early is changing my love to hate. Would I buy another RX8? NO... I should of bought the MazdaSpeed...

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  2 thumbs up - 2009 Mazda Mazda3
  By Mike - May 13 - 6:03 am

  Great car overall. Have both a 06 mazda 6 and this 09 mazda 3. although the interior is a bit inferior of that of the 6, the 3 is very well built and has seamless lines. The 2.0 litre is very peppy and I imagine the 2.3 would only be better, as my 6 has a 2.3. This 3 has very tight steering and has been successful to living up to mazdas zoom zoom motto. Excellent exterior as well, much better at turning heads than a civic and corolla in my opinion. Mileage is decent, although the civic may get a few more miles/ gallon (possibly 5 or so). Overall a great car for people who like to drive. Definitely recommended!!!

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  21005 miles so far - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By monicacath - May 10 - 7:38 am

  Ive owned this vehicle since April. It now has 21005 miles on it. The following is my experience with this CX5 Grand Touring FWD. Mazda, the Tom Tom navigation system is a HUGE disappointment. Ive updated the maps (twice) using Tom Tom home (which one must be able to do on their own home computer- you out of luck if you’re not tech savvy), and it factory reset 4 time ( based on the recommendation of the Tom Tom support staff) This hasn’t helped. The GPS has lead me down dead end roads, constantly lost the GPS signal in the middle of a route, routed traffic the absolutely longest route possible, instructed me to turn with no road, jumped off the route into neighborhoods along the interstate and navigated thru neighborhoods I’d rather have not visited. The navigation system has limited ability to zoom out so one could see a “short cut” or the way to the nears main road. Once zoomed out, it loses the small roads. It has been in the Mazda shop twice. Today, they are putting a new antenna on the vehicle. I no longer trust the navigation system, (which is one reason I bought this vehicle) . I keep my Droid phone available and a paper map. This was never an issue when I owned a Honda Touring Van- with maps on it from 2007. Next, when programing the GSP ( BECAUSE OF SAFETY LOCK IT CAN ONLY BE PROGRAMED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION) this is a HUGE safety issue for me. At times, I just want to get out of a neighborhood, as a home health nurse. I’ve learned don’t keep driving somewhere I don’t know, however, stopping is not such a good plan either. While programing the GPS, the air conditioner vent freezes my hand. There is no back air, so people sitting in the back seat are forced to sweat while the air is turned off, or the one programming the GSP must take breaks to warm their hands to keep them from freezing. The driver’s seat has clips which are supposed to hold the leather material clipped to the underneath side of the seat. These clips continually come unattached causing the seat material to slide around. This will have to be replaced. There is no arm rest for the driver’s seat right side. The left arm can use the door. I’ve had to use a pillow to support my arm on long trips. Obviously I have driven quite a bit since late April with 21005 miles. A back light at the hatchback would be MOST helpful while loading and unloading at night. The little lights in the front and middle do not offer enough light for the rear of the car. My tire sensor has gone off, indicating a low tire. Which one?? Who knows! There is no indication of which tire, so each and every tire must be checked. The mechanic who checked it in a small town in northern Arkansas said each tire had exactly the specified air. Mazda hooked it up to the computer and I was told that my tire was low, however it was fine now. I added no air, and did not have the tires rotated (which may cause a problem I’ was told). But now, miraculously, the air has been restored. I wonder if there is a faulty sensor? Gas mileage has been between 26 and 30 in the city (I have lots of hills here) and 30 – 33 on the highway. It takes a little umph to get this car moving to pass. These are all little things – except the navigation system-. I love my heated seats, automatic garage door opener, the sporty style, the amazing rocking sound system and the overall drive. Would I buy it again…. Maybe Update: Mazda dealership bent over backwards, lending me a Garmin to attach to the dashboard and after several attempts, including replacing the GPS system and antenna, the GPS is working. It occasionally loses signal and goes into the searching for GPS signal mode, however this is rare. The Tom Tom system isn’t as user friendly as the Honda system, Google maps or a Garmin, however using Tom Tom and Google maps, I have an accurate map.

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  Nice - 2008 Mazda CX-9
  By ckkkmk - May 7 - 8:26 am

  I like the vehicle but Im not in love with it. I prefer my old Murano when it comes to handling; the CX-9 looks nicer though. The gas mileage on it is terrible. I live at the pump. I give it 7 stars.

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  Fun to drive good looking sedan - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By Chris - May 5 - 5:10 pm

  I drove an 2006 Mazda 3 iTouring for about three years before buying my 2010 3s. This car definitely steps up the included features without doing much to the price. For under 20K you get a lot of power and a good feature set vs Honda, Toyota, etc. The ride is actually a bit louder than before but overall this is the same car I loved in 2006 with more features and refinements.