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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  good looks, many problems - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By raslov - February 24 - 9:30 pm

  I was drawn to the Mazda 6s because of the exterior styling and price, but after only a few months of owning noticed really bad front wheel brake dust followed by a bad sulfur smell coming of the engine; then noticed the colling fan was really loud. Most recently my right front speaker blew out and just this week my check engine light came on. Needless to say Ive been spending a lot of time at the dealership and theyre starting to be less sympathetic. I stuck with Mazda after owning a Mazda Protege for the last 7 years without any problems but this will be my last!

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  Mazda5 Complaint - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By DriverManJones - February 21 - 12:00 pm

  I never thought I’d be filing a Mazda5 complaint, but here it is. Consumer Reports raved about it, so I bought one. What a mistake. If service is even remotely important to you, you will have a Mazda complaint too. My Mazda5 has a bad burning smell coming from the engine into the cabin. It stinks and gives me a headache. I’ve taken it to two different dealerships for service; both simply disagreed with me and refused to do anything. It’s hard to consider any of the pros of this vehicle with this problem present. I was looking forward to a happy experience with this vehicle. The Mazda5 has been a huge disappointment.

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  Good Van But - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By Jeremy - February 5 - 6:03 pm

  The Mazda 5 is the MINI Van everyone wants to love, my wife and were shopping for a MINI van and we test drove the Mazda 5 3 times plus borrowed my mothers Mazda 5 for a week and found that the Van wobbles at highway speed causing motion sickness problems for the passengers. The Mazda 3 has the same backend wobble as the Mazda 5 except it is more pronounced in the 5. We found that the wobble is only noticeable at highway speeds, however 90% of our driving is highway, in short this wasn’t the van for us.

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  My Mazda Protege-5 - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By PrincipezzaJen - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I have been mildly pleased with this car. I like that is has pep, and a sporty look on the inside. It does not drive well in the rain/snow/ice. It hydroplains very easily and is very unstable in the snow. There are limited tires that you can purchase for this car, and they are very expensive and NOT good in adverse weather conditions. The tires you get for the car are very soft and wear down faster than other cars. Ive had to get the wheels balanced many many times. The roof rack makes a lot of wind noise, and the cross beams have to be removed. I have not been able to find a comfortable position in my drivers seat-knobs very hard to turn.

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  Worst car ever. - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By briannnaaaaa - January 30 - 10:46 am

  This is my first car. Ive had it for about 2 years and 2 months. I loved it at first, then things started to break. My window almost fell out on a highway, all my tires have been changed at least twice, and they went bald after a year and 6 months. Ive had my breaks changed after a year. My passenger has stopped working, twice. So many more things have gone wrong with this car, I dont have enough room to type it all. I never should have gotten this car. It is horrible in the snow, and just starts failing after a year. Im never getting another Mazda, and Im ending my lease as early as possible. The driving is pretty decent, but its definitely not worth the money.

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  interior changes you should know about - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By consumer77 - January 23 - 8:37 am

  There have been new updates to the interior as of November 2013 on the 2014 cx-5 model. I just purchased a white GT with Tan leather interior. The transmission shift gate has been greatly improved to a straight up and down shifter with a leather boot and chrome surround. No more cheap plastic look. I was pleasantly surprised when my CX was delivered to the dealer as I was not expecting this.

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  The Lemon of the Year - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By Tess - January 21 - 4:46 am

  I bought a new 2004 Mazda 3 in 2004. From day one the brakes squeal when reversing (5 new sets have been renewed with no end in site - apparent reason, wet); transmission went at 48,000; Radiator chip dysfunctional and caused engine to overhead (1st time mis-diagnosed) second time (chip replaced). Have been towed 3 times before car reached 50,000 miles. While at servicing (same dealership bought at), car has received 2 door bang marks, engine was not cleaned of antifreeze from overheating, and recently black marks all over headliner when car was receiving new radiator chip.

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  Will never buy a Mazda Again - 2006 Mazda Tribute
  By firsttimer8 - January 20 - 1:20 pm

  At first this vehicle was great. Loved how sturdy it was and how it drove. UNTIL I hit 70,000 miles. Things went south and fast. So far the oil pan had to be re-sealed TWICE, the transmission was leaking, the rack and pinon leaking (for break fluid), the starter had to be replaced, and now the alternator is bad. This all has happened in under a year. The dealership I bought it from stated I had an extended warranty for buying it and they also did not honor that warranty so all of the above was paid out of pocket. I really got a crappy Mazda. With 2 kids and hubby being the only one that works and me in school, This car has really put us in a hole and that is an understatement.

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  2012 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring Review - 2012 Mazda CX-9
  By tim218 - January 7 - 6:00 pm

  Pros: Driving feel, features Cons: Reliability. interior rattles, gas mileage The car handles very good for such a big auto. I find the driving experience to be enjoyable. The family (6 pax) just returned from a 1600 mile trip. We used a thule attachment on the roof and found the overall driving experience to be very enjoyable. Right before our trip, the front differential started to leak and had to be replaced. The car only had 10,000 miles on it. A fairly major job that almost derailed our vacation. Fortunately for us, the dealer had the part in stock. A little research online revealed this has been a habitual problem for this model.

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  Dont Bother! - 2008 Mazda CX-7
  By JD - December 27 - 2:43 pm

  Terrible in winter conditions; poor visibility; safety belt signals 30x for front passenger if you so much as have a briefcase on the seat; really dim driving lights (I have to use my high beams as much as possible).