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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  Collins Review - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Collin Garcia - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I own a 1995 Mazda Miata MX-5. For a small as it is, it is a great car. Suprisingly, the Miata is very roomy on the inside and can comfortably seat a full size adult with some room to spare. THe accelleration and performance doesnt lag either. For as small as it is, its packs a powerful punch.

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  this car sucks - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By rollo - April 21 - 2:00 am

  embarrasingly slow gas mileage stinks interior is noisy and poorly assembled needs a spare tire, maybe the worst car i have ever driven in the snow and i am on my sixth rear drive manual sports car

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  Mazda3 Hatchback - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By Nuggetwrestler - April 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is a lot of fun to drive. Handles well, brakes well, and accelerates well.

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  BMW 3 Series with a Compact Price - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By TSX - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Lots of Power, Safety, Efficient, Space, Felixbility, Features, Handling.... you name it, 3 Has It!!

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  Mazda 3 Review - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By Nancy Birchfield - April 21 - 2:00 am

  A. Its hard to rate build quality after and reliability after 1 month. B. My only complaint is one of the things I loved at first. Its hard to read all the red stuff on the dash at night. Also, the emergency brake light should be a color other than red or a signal should sound. The red brake light just blends in with all the other red.

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  great car - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By yee - April 21 - 2:00 am

  great acceleration, going 60 too soon. Have the optional seats w/lumbar support and works great; very nice arms out driving position. Head rest are really that, not some funky heat restraint that only looks good but doesnt support my head. The 16 in wheels and low profile tires looks and rides good. Very nice back seat area with head rest; just like a luxury car w/o the high cost, only thing that is needed in the back to complete the luxury car status would be a folding armrest. Handling and braking is pretty good but have not really explore the limits of these two areas because the car is still pretty new- only about 2 weeks old.

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  POOR RELIABILITY - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By ANGEL PADILLA - April 21 - 2:00 am

  IVE HAD THIS MAZDA FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND UNDERNEATH THE DOOR SEALS IS RUSTING AWAY ON ALL FOUR DOORS, MAZDA CALLED IT A STAINING PROBLEM NO WAY IT IS POOR CRAFTMANSHIP OR DESIGN PROBLEM. IVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH NOISE IN THE SUSPENSION AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

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  Consumer Review - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Suzanne Falke - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this car and i fell in love with after only 3 hrs of driving. Its safety features are excellent especially to new parents.

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  Tons of features, short of the leaders - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Vince - April 20 - 10:43 pm

  Slow, very unresponsive engine below 4K. The 2.0 liter in my RSX Type S feels much stronger than the 2.3 in this. Handling is good when driven at 7 tenths, but gets sloppy when pushed to the limits. Very long list of features, but quality is extremely disappointing:drivers seat squeaks badly (driver is 100 lbs), dash rattles horribly, drivers side window slams into frame when rolling up and rear left door vibrates badly when opened and is extremely hard to shut. I now know why Mazda offers so many things on this car; its b/c they cannot match Honda and/or Toyota in terms of quality and refinement.

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  Mazda 2010 CX-9 GT AWD - details - 2010 Mazda CX-9
  By rossman - April 20 - 6:06 pm

  I purchased this vehicle less than a week ago. Have driven 250 miles on it already. So far, the drive quality is outstanding. Freeway noise minimum, good gear shifting (auto transmission), great power when taking off on a green light, good passing experience on a two lane road, comfortable seats, bluetooth works great, navigation locks out at > 5 mph but allows you to change pre-set destinations (so make sure you enter things ahead; if you want to change locations to a brand new address - sorry! I guess a safety issue); I have argued that passengers could enter a new address but then how do you prevent a driver from doing it when he/she drives alone? DVD sys