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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  tribute to tribute - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By Jim Eckenrode - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Nice "cute ute".Enough room inside,better looking outside than the Escape.It does need rear disc brakes and a limited slip would be nice.Too few dealer accessories available to customize. Minor customization only! Little add ons to make it "mine".

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  I love my 2004 Mazda Tribute - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By ChiChi - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I just turned in a leased Nissan Pathfinder and purchased a Tribute. Once I test drove a Tribute, I knew I had to have it. It handles like a dream and is the perfect size for me. On demand 4WD is great and I can find nothing about it that I dont love.

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  mazda3 - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By rgonzo - July 21 - 2:00 am

  one of the most fun cars i have ever driven.

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  eat that honda - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By bpbrand84 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Im am a high school student who showed up a few months before graduation with a brand new mazda 6. What a mistake that was, I had to beat the people away from my car with a stick. This car was built for perfection and comes very closer and much closer than its competiors. I drove the Altima, Accord, and the Camry. The Altima was the only one from the bunch that was not as boring as the rest but it still also lacked something sportiness. Then came the Mazda 6 which hit on everything the other cars were doing and then kicked it up a not.

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  Zoom Zoom - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Maria - July 20 - 2:46 pm

  This is my second Tribute. I upgraded to the 2005 from a 2002 when the interior was redesigned. I have no complaints about this fun, peppy, good looking and reliable vehicle.

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  nva mpv lx reveiw - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By ed_r_22192 - July 20 - 10:00 am

  The LX we purchased has peformed flawlessly. To include a 1500 mile round trip from Northern Virginia to East Central Illinois. While in the Indiana area we were able to see the Traction Control System perform. While travelling down a muddy dirt road the cars ahead of us were fishing tailing and seemed to have difficulty controlling themselves. The MPV had no problems and the flashing TCS light indicated it was doing its job. We were even fortunate enough to exceed to posted MPG rattings averaging just over 27 MPG. I would recommend this model MPV to anyone.

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  Incredible! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By flowbee - July 20 - 10:00 am

  This is one awesome car. Like one gentleman below, I was looking a Tribute. The Tribute is a great deal, but then I saw the Vibe and thought Id try it. The 130hp engine on the regular Vibe didnt do it for me, so I thought Id check out the 180hp GT. Then I tried the Protege 5. Wow! Much better than a Vibe. Definitely much smaller than the Tribute, but this thing is loaded, a lot cheaper, has better gas mileage, has sufficient room for my needs, and sportier. I thought Id be severely disappointed, coming from an Acura CL with 225 horses. But I was wrong! This thing kicks. Reminds me of my 1998 Acura Integra but has more room. Buy it! You wont be disappointed.

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  Great car, Great value 2.5 GT AWD - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By zoom_dan_zoom - July 20 - 4:33 am

  I did my research for a new SUV/CUV purchase, compared all the manufactures out there. Price was important, but so was power and features of the cars. My choice was clear after I test drove the CX-5, had the power I needed for every day traffic, comfort, handling (This thing handles like its on rails) and the tech included. Bose sound is fabulous, I wouldnÂ’t go without if considering this car. Gas mileage was best in class for an AWD CUV with the HP offered. Sure, the 260 HP Turbo offerings from other manufactures sure sounded nice, but the MPG suffered drastically and so did the sticker price. In my opinion, you canÂ’t get a better car in this class for the price,not with all the CX-5 offers

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  Luxury feel without the high price! - 2010 Mazda CX-7
  By lisa - July 19 - 10:50 am

  My husband and I test drove the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 but didnt like the feel or excessive cabin noise. Although those vehicles had nice features, we wanted something that offered a balance of comfort, smooth ride, and great fuel economy. We decided to test drive the CX7 and fell in love. We were both surprised at how smooth the ride was and the build quality was fantastic! The cabin is also so well insulated that we didnt even need to turn up the volume on the radio while driving on the freeway! Needless to say, we drove off with our new CX7 completely satisfied with our purchase.

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  Minivan that does not look like one - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Anwar Khan - July 17 - 9:06 pm

  Love the car for the price. The automatic transmission does not want to shift from 2 to 3 occasionally with out pausing the gas paddle extra hard. I were size 10 shoes and 6 feet tall. The brake and the gas pedal are too close. Love the telescoping steering wheel feature and the gas mileage. Highly recommend it.