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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  Should be recalled - 2010 Mazda CX-9
  By albanian - August 15 - 7:20 pm

  Average interior. The plastics inside feel cheap. Seats are not comfortable. Lacks power going uphill. Rough ride, you feel every tine ridge on the road. The sheet metal body has light tin feeling. Definitely not worth almost 40 k sticker. The passenger seat heated up while the car was parked due to electrical malfunction and created a fire hazard. The heated seats had to be disconnected to stop the battery from draining. Dealer does not have a fix. I think this being reported by many owners. No word of any recall from Mazda. They are probably waiting till there are reports of spontaneous combustion of few front seat occupants to occur before doing something about it.

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  MPV = Lemon, Lemon, Lemon - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By anonymous12345 - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Transmission was replaced with less than 4000 miles on vehicle. Transmission still having problems. Dealer unwilling to resolve. Car in body shop being dismantled to attempt to resolve knocking sound. Over the last 2 months this car has been at dealer over 25 days. This car has the highest NHTSA incidence of consumer complaints. Would not have purchased this car if I had known.

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  Purchased Damaged Car - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Alan Arbeitman - July 5 - 7:06 pm

  Numerous problems with car: air cond out first month. New head had to be ordered to replace cracked one that was on engine at time of manufacture due to "casting flaw" as attested to by Mazda technicians. Local dealer bent over backwards to try and make it right. We eventually went to Mazda USA and asked for our money back based on fact that car was damaged at time of manufacture. They refused, saying they had repaired car. Now a window wont work. This has been a nightmare and we are very unhappy, wondering what will happen next. Will have to take a loss and trade for another brand soon.

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  Zoom Zoom to Boom Boom - 2001 Mazda Tribute
  By jose tejas - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Everything started to break under warrenty. New Tires since frist set had belt problem, new rotors and brakes at 23,000 miles!, new computer, plus a few other smaller problems. Once the warrenty gave out about 4k ago we have had to replace a brake wiring harness that melted! and TWO ABS brake sensors within a week of each other! I am selling this car and buying a Honda Pilot this week.

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  I think I got a lemon? - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By harleyhoney - June 22 - 8:23 am

  I bought my 6 brand new, I thought it looked really cool, I owned it til 6/2008, I only had about 25K on it... things were always wrong with it, first thing my headlights kept burning out I went thru 4 sets of bulbs over a 1 yr time frame next the transmission would shift randomly, and clunk all the time, dealership said nothing was wrong with it. Blew out vacuum hoses, brakes went out, battery was shot after 1 yr, there were many other things. The seats were hard as a rock, it was not safe on ice, handled very badly always got stuck in the snow, traction control (what a joke) the dash scratched so easily. I was not very happy with this car, I was so happy to trade it in.

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  Ok for what it is - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By blue - May 22 - 2:00 am

  If you are looking for a functional second vehicle this is a great option. Minivan features without a minivan feel. Build quality is definitely cheap, and absolutely consider getting this only under warranty. Driver comfort is an issue for me (62"), my large foot (size 15) does not fit on the gas pedal, i need to push it with my toe. Its my wifes car and she is 510 and loves the car. In cold weather (-20C), intake manifold control runners were getting stuck due to cheap plastic composite materials that seem to be unavoidable these days. In hot weather, sway bar bushings caused terrible creaking, just annoying noise. Excellent service from dealer/Mazda for both issues

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  After 6 months, traded it for a Subaru - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By akchris - May 18 - 7:29 am

  After falling in love with the CX5 and really enjoying it, some warts really started to show. My commute changed from 55mi a day, 70% hwy to 40mi mostly city and my MPG really crashed. Was getting 30+ mpg per tank, after moving I never saw 20 mpg again. Then theres the wear on the interior - the seats in my 2004 Honda with 170k looked better than the CX5s after less than 6 months. The drivers seat looked beat after 8k miles and stray threads were popping up in the pass seat. The carpet in the rear hatch was trashed after I moved bags and boxes, I hauled tons of stuff in my Honda and it looked better, cant imagine how bad the CX5 will look in 5 years, brutal. Got a great Subaru trade.

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  It eats Gas as if there is no tomorrow - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By It is a Guzzler - May 14 - 10:00 am

  The Tribute drives well but it is an absolute guzzler. The sticker says 18/23 but it is more like 14/17. When you add in the fact that I only use 89 or 93 Octane gas, and ONLY purchase from a big name gas station such as Mobil or Amoco, I can only guess that the numbers on the Sticker would be reached if you drive in a place called Fantasy Land. Those people at Mazda must have been drinking something when they came up with that inflateable and untrue gas mileage number for their sticker. If I knew the real deal I would have purchased a different SUV.

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  Decent economy car - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By hmowner - May 13 - 10:44 am

  Of so many choices in the compact car market, Mazdas marketing motto has been "Zoom Zoom". Well, I bought into that hype but found the car to be just one of the economy compact cars. It gets decent mileage and it is fun to drive if you rev the engine and give up the mileage. You do pay a bit more than other compacts for the privilege of enjoying the "Zoom Zoom" - which is really about the car handling, not the acceleration. Interior is a bit old compare to Hyundai/Kia. The major surprise that I found is the terrible road noise. Dont know if its the factory tires or the car itself, but this is one of the nosiest compact!

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  holding my breath.... - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By jp2spidey - May 11 - 10:00 am

  bought 2/2002. been in the shop 3 times as of 9/12/02. 2x for stalling problem. 1x for headlight switch not working. (relay problem i was told). headlights not coming on at night is a "bit" of a problem.the dealership has been great, no question about that. i even believe that mazda has not been very forthcoming with them. still,having to keep returning to the dealer on a new car is not very encouraging at all.now we must drive with a constant "readiness" to take the gear shift and quickly move it back into neutral to restart the car while moving.who wants to drive with that kind of pressure??we are considering the lemon law as of this moment.