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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  Squeeks, rattles and no rolls - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By SPD - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my first true cold winter with the Trib and its developed some noisy squeeks and rattles. The most annoying is the center arm rest. Any small amount of pressure applied to it and it squeeks...this has to go. Ive read all the possible problems with the Trib, but this is a new one. The next one is the back window; rattle, rattle and rattle. I realize that most "hatchbacks" develope rattles, but I dont want to hear them on my year old, 25k vehicle.

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  Shame on Mazda - 2009 Mazda CX-9
  By Ruthann - April 28 - 11:51 am

  I drove my car for a long time and was quite pleased. It had its minor issues but nothing major. The one thing I kept having problems with was the brakes. I took it into the mechanic 4 different times and they couldnt stop the squeaking. The Mazda dealership later told us thats just Mazda brakes and they all do that! That is not normal! It was only when I backed up, but then started when I stopped at a stop sign. I spent a lot of money trying to fix this problem, and I have yet to fix it. The final problem was the transfer case. The mechanic said it is designed very poorly because there is no way to do maintenance to it. You just have to replace it once it wears out, and if you dont replace it in time then it is linked to the transmission and then you need a new transmission. That is what happened to us. You know there is a problem when the mechanic cant even get the part because they dont have enough parts because there are so many cars having this issue. The final cost was $5,200, and the car is only worth $9,000. It hasnt even hit 100,000. I thought we bought a quality vehicle, and I really loved certain things about the CX 9, but I will never recommend this car to anyone.

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  Goes Early - 1998 Mazda 626
  By Brandon - April 24 - 7:13 am

  I bought the car at 115,000 miles. It looked like it was in great shape and also had a new transmission put in. But the engine is where I got my problems. This engine sludged up on me and gave way too early. I paid way to much for this car to not even last me a year and a half! Overall I give it a bad grade. Maybe thats why they dont make them anymore?

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  Fun to drive at times but many negatives - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Mike - April 23 - 7:36 am

  Sure, its kind of quick for an SUV. And the seats are comfortable. It also rides nice during cruising speeds. But, the turbo lag takes away from the fun. There have been many times where it took 1-2 seconds for it to take off. Very annoying. Especially when pulling into traffic. The back seat is not practical at all for a family. Its very small. Not much leg room. The tires wear like crazy due to front wheel drive w/turbo and the high performance soft tires. They are expensive to replace. The car is also a gas guzzler for a 4 cylinder. We owned this car for almost 3 years. We regretted this purchase. I give it a D+.

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  TRANSMISSION,TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSION! - 1999 Mazda 626
  By Tamika - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Yah, I KNOW that I have more than 90000 mi on a 1999 626, But does that mean that I should not be upset that my car has been in the shop more than I have had it in my possesion?! Not only did I change the transmission, but the enginge. Oh! And it gets better, the car is currently at the shop(Im still paying a car note monthly!) because the check engine light has been on forever. I am paying for the sensor to be changed, and was told if that doesnt work the dealership will have to order me a new chip! Basiclly I have replaced the entire car. If I decide to sell it, its not worth even close to what Ive put into this.

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  DONT BUY A MAZDA CX-7 - 2009 Mazda CX-7
  By debbiec13 - April 2 - 2:38 pm

  Our Mazda CX-7, with 57,000 miles on it, experienced the same sludge build up resulting in a turbo blowing out, timing chain stretching and VVT needing replacement, as thousands of other CX-7 owners have also experienced. With the original warranty and extended warranty still in place, Mazda denied all service claims stating "poor vehicle maintenance"--as they have with all the other CX-7 owners. In speaking with Mazda technicians, they stated to me that there is a problem with the oil cooled turbo that Mazda refuses to admit to because it will result in a huge recall. Mazda needs to be held accountable for their poor design on these cars and stop putting the blame on consumers.

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  Good car for price - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Newbie - March 31 - 6:23 am

  This is a good car for the sticker price. I found that the handling was good and the "power power" rating is incorrect. The AC could be more powerful. This is my second minivan & I am not complaining.

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  Terrible technology! - 2014 Mazda Mazda6
  By driveitforev3 - March 27 - 9:43 pm

  The car is good - a little more sluggish than I expected, but still cute and fun. The problem is the technology package. After 4 months, I can say that I have given it my best shot, and it sucks. We have another car with similar features and this one is so sub-par. The touch-screen is so painfully slow, the features are clunky, entering in an address is horrible, and you can only do it while stopped - even if you are the passenger, so plan ahead! The voice control is totally useless. The Sirius radio loses the signal if you drive under a thick tree. And the phone bluetooth hook up keeps crapping out. If the technology package is important to you - look elsewhere.

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  No resale value - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By bobsbob - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The value of this car has dropped like a rock. Not just the normal depreciation of a new car. Dont buy if you ever think you might have to sell...

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  Dont buy if you have bad roads - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By steve333 - March 16 - 10:19 pm

  I actually wanted a sporty handling car, at least for a compact. However, I was not prepared for the horrible ride quality the 3 has on anything but perfect roads. The car feels unstable, the freeway ride is awful with the car tramlining all over the place. 2 dealers told me thats just the way the car rides. Biggest mistake was buying this car over the Chevy Cruze.