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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  Used to love her Part TWO! - 2006 Mazda Tribute
  By niccorcal - June 10 - 8:10 am

  An update to my previous post from 9/09. Sooo I ended up spending just over $3000 to have my transmission rebuilt, if only I could post the pictures! ALL of the metal parts in the transmission were all eaten up, its as if the metal they used werent heated up to the right temperature when it was being produced. The company fixing it has never seen such a thing on a new car in their 30 yrs of business. So I think its over,a little over a month and my other ABS wheel axle, one of the main reasons all the problems came to light starts going out, affecting once again my transmission, faulty axles and crappy transmission material. 3 months later Im driving a BMW X3! Obviously way better quality!

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  beautiful car piss poor reliability - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By blaznazn22 - June 6 - 7:56 am

  I bought this car 2 months ago for $3000 at an auction with 196000km on it, or about 129k miles. There oil kept disappearing quickly and I didnt know where it was going. After about $2000 in repairs and getting some tires and rims, I find out that the cars engine is through. It was burning oil rapidly, the reason for that was the piston rings being worn out, and the reason for piston rings being worn out was the catalytic converter melting and blocking the exhaust creating excessive back pressure. Not to mention the EGR valve recirulating exhaust gases as well as other particles into the engine which also screwed the engine over. Very piss poor design by mazda.

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  2004 Mazda 6 - many problems - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By mike - May 12 - 9:26 pm

  I have had an 04 Mazda6 for approximately 18 months - was great for first few months and lived up to the hype and reviews. But after about 4 months it developed several problems that 2 dealers and national support have been unable or unwilling to fix. Power and gas mileage are WAY down, shifter mechanism is very rough and sloppy, brakes repeatedly develop a squeal, rough starting when cold, traction control is terrible in the snow, clutch often stammers. I have previously owned 2 other Mazdas (89 MX6 and 99 626); both were good combination of value and reliability, leading me to get the new 6. I was very happy at first but am now very disillusioned with reliability/quality and lack of support from Mazda

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  Wish I bought the Honda - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By Quite Unhappy - May 6 - 11:46 am

  When I first got this car over 3 years ago I was very happy with it. However, now with only 9 months left on the lease, I can say I really wish I got the Honda Accord instead. The reliability of this car stinks and in 3 short years Ive had problems including: dead battery, broken shift cable, blown fan module, broken starter, 2 broken stereos, etc. Every car has its issues but you shouldnt have to deal with so many as in the Mazda6 when the car is only 3 years old.

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  Cold Water on CX-7 - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By CDT - May 1 - 3:40 am

  This is a very annoying vehicle. It was the first one delivered in the area and no doubt has some new model quirks, but that does not explain a vehicle delivered with major misalignment that scrubbed the first tires in 10k miles, nor the turbo lag, nor the awful gas mileage (17-19 in almost all country driving), nor the terrible handling in snow (except straight ahead), nor the brakes that went metal to metal in 20k miles. Its pretty and fun on dry curvy roads, but overall it is a loser and will not be bought or repeated at lease end.

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  Unreliable - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By MikeD - April 30 - 3:00 pm

  My first problem began around 5000 miles. My check engine light came on, I took it to the dealer and found out that it was a recall issue with the fan. I went through my first set of rotors around 10,000 miles. At 25,000 miles the transmission started to shift roughly between 2nd and 3rd gears. At 67,000 miles the engine blew. NO ENGINE LIGHT appeared. Mechanic said one of the rear spark plugs started to misfire and started to dump raw fuel into the cylinder; which then pushed into the exhaust system which blew both catalytic converters out. Replaced engine and catalytic converters. That engine then blew at 90,000 miles. I got rid of the useless car at that point !

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  Style Plus Bling - 2018 Mazda CX-9
  By CarGuy - April 22 - 7:22 am

  On the negative side: The high end Bose Centerpoint audio system in the Grand Touring is a big disappointment. Overall muddy sound. Distinctly lacking in clear tonality, particularly in the mid-range. Front seat bottom cushions are too short. The turbo 4 cylinder is fine at highway speeds, but it sounds unrefined when accelerating and at lower speeds. Feels like a cheap engine. Not enough miles behind the wheel to judge fuel economy, but dipping into the turbo drives down the mpg. On the positive side: Very good styling. Quality of interior materials is good. Instrumentation good. Control interface is good. Heads up display is very good and it now projects onto the windshield. Handles way better than the Highlander.

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  Last Mazda For Me! - 2000 Mazda Protege
  By Lamrin - April 2 - 4:43 pm

  This was my first new car. I regret the purchase. I should have gotten a Corolla. Gas mileage is a joke for a small 1.6L auto. I had the rad replaced twice under warranty. At 3 yrs I noticed rust on the bottom front passenger side door. I now have rust inside both rear wheel wells (winters are harsh where I live). AC no longer works and never blew very cold. CD player is extremely finicky. Sometimes it plays, sometimes not. I think it might be related to temperature and humidity. Volume goes up when turning it down. The OD button doesnt work anymore. Some dash lights in the tach are blown. The car is very reliable. Its never broken down on me. I like the interior and trunk space.

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  Fun to drive, but not so reliable - 2012 Mazda CX-9
  By wv_mazda - March 21 - 1:41 pm

  We have a 2012 CX 9 and have enjoyed it until it was slightly out of warranty. The car has a strong motor and for a third-row vehicle is pretty fun to drive. It also performs well in the snow. The brake booster failed last week at 42,000 miles, nearly causing a traffic accident for my wife. This is a recurrent problem with the 2010-2011 CX 9. My guess is you will have problems with 2013-14 models as they hit 30-50k mileage, since the brake system is unchanged. It is unfortunate Mazda chooses not to address safety concerns in a family vehicle. I would look at the Hyundai Santa Fe in this class.

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  my RX-8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Chad Foster - March 16 - 9:20 pm

  Being a proud owner of my RX-8, I made the decision over the winter to store my car for 4 months until the weather improved. Since beginning to drive it again as of March 20th, 2005 (I remember the date because of my brothers birthday), I have had my RX-8 picked up by roadside assistance on 3 different occasions. It is fast becoming the most unreliable vehicle I have ever purchased in my life.