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:

• 

  Mazda6 is Great Value - 2006 Mazda Mazda6
  By Mary - November 22 - 8:16 pm

  I did extensive comparisons. I dont like driving a car that everybody else in the parking lot has. My Mazda in ash metallic can be found easily in the sea of cars. It would have been easy to spend another $8K or more on Audi A4 wagon, but I can use the difference for some nice trips. I havent had a chance to try it on any of the big hills here yet in San Francisco though.

• 

  Fix the Transmission - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Joe - November 21 - 7:36 pm

  Watch the transmission. Very annoying clunks, which make me worry it will fail in later years. Very cool looking. Small, but if thats what you want you wont be disappointed. I bought mine new and overall is a good value.

• 

  I like my 626 :-) - 2002 Mazda 626
  By skeezers - November 21 - 12:30 am

  I have had my 626 for about 6 months now. We bought the car used but I have to say that we have really enjoyed the car. Although the exterior is a little boring the performance and comfort more than makes up for it. The car is quiet and has a very sturdy feeling to it. It also has great get up and go. Weve had no problems. We took the car on a long road trip and it was very comfortable and handled well on steep and mountainous roads. We love it!

• 

  Great for the money! - 2013 Mazda Mazda5
  By tisakson - November 20 - 6:38 am

  We bought this brand new after loving our test drive. After a year, the handling is excellent. It is fun to drive...tight steering and great visibility. Road noise is fair but a bit loud. Cons include the front seat arm rests, they are very small and rather uncomfortable. Anyone over 5 10" will be kind of cramped. Also the stereo knob is very slippery to grip...silly I know but annoying. The temperature and fan knob settings are all on a very small display on the dash...hard to read. So my minor gripes may be picky but my humble opinion. Still very happy with the overall ride and versatility of this small minivan!!

• 

  Great, but... - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Too tall - November 18 - 1:03 pm

  This is a well thought out, economical family car. Seats the kids and their friends, smooth well powered ride. The big problem a shopper should know about is that you have to be short to average (< than 510") to sit comfortably in the front. I am 62" and the console angles out and is very wide, leaving no space for legs. I am always pressed up against the console and cant think about going a distance trip in this vehicle.

• 

  1998 626 LX - 1998 Mazda 626
  By shaundarbie - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Not a bad car for the price. Stay away from the automatic transmission models--they have a long history of premature failure. Luckily, ours came with a 5 speed. Unless youre very concerned with gas milage, try to find a V6. Ive found the 125hp four cylinder engine very unrewarding. Where the 626 shines is in handling. Ive been very impressed with the way the car corners

• 

  Good Car so Far. - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By BJ - November 18 - 10:00 am

  700 miles so far. Gas mileage is not good but its a sports car. Needs Climate control instead of manual. The air conditioning does not cool the car and makes a clunk sound every so often. The air bag light comes on occasionally and when the clutch is not engaged it makes a grinding sound which can be heard from inside. The stereo system could be better. The black interior causes it to get too hot in the sunshine plus makes it appear dirty with very little dust. Overall good car.....hopefully continues as that.

• 

  Fun little car with some problems - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Anna - November 18 - 6:06 am

  I bought my Mazda 3s in April 2006. About 3 months after I bought it, the brakes started squeaking, then about 5 months after I had it, the cd/time/temp display went out and I had to have it replaced, which took forever because they had to order the part; however it was under warranty. Also, be prepared to spend extra money for an oil change because it takes a special filter and oil that is an extra $20. The car does not handle well in snow or in hard rain. I really do like how the car drives and the way it looks, but I hope in the long run it will be a better car than it was this pass year.

• 

  Transformation in the Tires - 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Manny - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Most of the reviews cover the important tech issues. I love my car but from day one I assumed that the rough and relatively noisy ride was related to the "sport type tuning" of the cars suspension - and I would just have to live with it. How wrong I was. This was the only thing about the car I did not truly enjoy - it was very noisy - road noise that was magnified by any road imperfections. Living in NY, I knew I had to replace the stock 17" Summer Tires (potenza) with an all weather tire. This weekend (October 2010) I put on a set of Conti Extreme Contact DSW and wow, what a difference. The car was transformed - it is now composed and a pleasure at any speed and road surface.

• 

  Rust Problems Here Too - 2008 Mazda Tribute
  By ChicagoDriver - November 16 - 10:00 am

  So I hate to say anything bad about my 2008 Tribute, which we just traded in last week, and I loved owning. It was a simple car without any fuss, and perfect for me! The only bad thing about it is the rust. I noticed a few other reviews mentioning this, and i found it a little too coincidental that we all have found the same rust problems. Mazda must have gotten cheap on their materials, or they stared buying steel from China. I bent down to check on my tires one day and I couldnt believe how badly rusted out the wheel well was. I traded the car in a week later.