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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  Great Car - Poor Quality - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By wardboom - December 25 - 3:53 am

  The car drives excellent and feels solid. However, I have had problems with the engine light repeatedly coming on (5k-10k miles) for no reason. The repair is under warranty but it is a nuisance to keep taking the car to the dealer for repair. Now at 38,000 miles the driverÂ’s side wheel bearing needs to be replaced and the tires need to be replaced soon. The wheel bearing is also under warranty but I am told that the tire is normal wear and tear. It appears that the tires are an off-brand. I like the car but quality is poor. I would not buy another Mazda of any kind.

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  Great, if impractical car. - 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By meeata - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Im from Michigan and the Miata was an impulse buy for me. But I can live with all the impracticalities because it is so fun and involving to drive. With winter tires it fares decently in snowy conditions too. There are many faster cars out there, but the point of the Miata is the handling and feel. Friends always compliment on how classy and sleek the car looks.

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  Driving an SUV can be FUN - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By Tribute lover - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I drove 5 other SUVs and this stood out as the overall winner. Some other SUVs did certain things better - but this was the best package. Wind noise does intrude over 40 MPH, but with the radio on it drowns out the outside noise. This SUV really does handles great. My old car was an Acura Integra and I was worried Id be bored in an SUV. This car is fun to drive and it is zippy. It has a smooth ride, and lots of cargo space. You have to test drive this car. I drove it last and bought one that day (after driving the other SUVs for 3 months!).

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  All the minivan you need - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By Braq - December 22 - 4:46 am

  After really discussing how much cargo and passenger capacity we need most of the time we found that the Mazda 5 is actually all (and sometimes more then) the car we need. The handling is fantastic, for us the engine power is sufficient for everyday use and the great pay-off is a moderate pricing and good fuel economy.

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  What Fun - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By HighRPM - December 19 - 7:16 am

  Came from a Toyota Prius getting 45 mpg. I miss that, the climate control, the outside temp. display, and the bluetooth. But I wouldnt trade back! Nothing beats a great handling, manual transmission little car like this for a smiling commute. And, I havent yet dropped the top!

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  Good car, dont get black - 2011 Mazda CX-7
  By kcpaull - December 18 - 5:02 am

  In the past, Mazdas interior design was light years ahead of anything American you could buy so I was somewhat disappointed with the interior design of the CX-7. Dont get black interior as everything shows up on it. Its got all sorts of "extras" I dont need and dont use such as blue tooth, 5 disk cd changer (who needs that), and a link for a mp3 player. I must admit the heated seats are nice when its cold out. Other than these extras its just a basic car that drives well and gets me where I need to go. Im not much of a gear head so Im not even going to try to say anything about performance.

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  Peppy engine and trans - 2000 Mazda Protege
  By opher123 - December 17 - 7:33 pm

  Bought this car from the dealer. It has a strong transmission as well as super handling on even wet pavement. The only thing i notice with this car are the belts which are very annoying and its a common problem with this car.

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  love this car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By SweetCJ - December 16 - 8:43 pm

  this is a great handling car, fun to drive, gas mileage isnt all that good, but you do have fun driving the RX8

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  My second review - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By TKLK - December 14 - 2:40 pm

  Have had the car for almost two months now. Still happy with it! Gas mileage has been 25 or 26 mpg mixed. No long trips yet. The car should have daytime running lights, automatic locking doors and rear tinted windows as standard features. Didnt realize it didnt have them when we test drove. Climate controls take a while to get used to - they are not very intuitive.

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  Great truck - 2001 Mazda B-Series
  By jon - December 9 - 1:13 am

  I have had this truck for a little over 2 years now and am very happy with it. I bought it with 30,000 miles on it and it now has 64,000. I have not had one problem with it and it still has the original tires. All that I do is oil changes. I currently get around 26 to 27mpg in mainly city driving. I have gotten as high as 33mpg on the highway before (55- 60mph). You can easily get upper 20s. Dont expect a lot of power from this truck but compared to the S-10 it does seem to have more get up and go. This is awesome basic transportation and I probably will drive it into the ground.