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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  Quite possibly the worst car I have ever owned - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Chris Wieber - March 19 - 8:59 am

  The title says it all. While its roomy, comfortable, and somewhat sporty (which is what prompted me to purchase it in the first place), that cant make up for the absolute nightmare that the car has been to own. First of all, the mileage is abysmal, and youre going to have to multiply that by the fact that you need premium gas to run this thing, as its a 4-cylinder turbo. The absolute most damning thing is the reliability. There is none. I have poured so much money into this car, I could have bought another one by now. The timing chain will wear on you. Its a known issue. Its supposed to last the life of the vehicle, but Mazda dun goofed and now its the #1 repair on this vehicle (according to my mechanic, whose kids are now able to attend an Ivy league university, courtesy of incompetent Mazda engineers and clueless marks like myself). Every other month theres a problem with it... and I have NOT been ignoring the maintenance schedule. Also be aware there are several recalls currently on this vehicle (including in the "may cause serious injury or death" category), but of course the parts are on backorder and theres nothing they can do at the moment. Im not even going to try and sell it, as this is a fate I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy. If you happen to be driving through the breathtaking vistas of the Grand Canyon, and you see a guy set fire to a burgundy Mazda CX-7 and push it in, youve found me.

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  Best Minivan for the Price - 2006 Mazda MPV
  By Jason - March 19 - 7:23 am

  We looked at every other van on the market and for the price it was a great buy. Plus Mazda is willing to cut a deal to get you in one of their cars. We paid well under the listed price for this van. The power is great for a 3.0L vehicle of this size. The transmission is a bit slow to respond; that would be my only complaint. But not many of the vans we tried responded like a race car. We spent a week in the Sierras driving on and even a little off-road (mostly fire roads) and had no issues. With a family of 6 we would have liked the van to be a little longer to store more equipment. But it worked. Great style and power for $10,000 less than the Honda.

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  First Mazda - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By BBK - March 18 - 3:06 pm

  I had to buy a new car. Weve purchased Hondas since 1980. A lot of bang for the buck compared w/ a Civic. Solid build quality. Great drive experience. More standard features than Civic. Bigger engine.

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  This car compelled me to write a review - 2014 Mazda Mazda6
  By cyberathlete - March 17 - 5:15 pm

  I hardly write reviews. Of all the opinions I have for everything I buy (good or bad), I never voice them. This car changed that. Tested many cars in this range new and used: VW CC, 2013 Accord, Camry, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 I chose this because of the combination of looks, performance, comfort, economy and tech features that it offers. My friends were extremely skeptical about this Mazda 6. No one I know owns a Mazda (family or friends). Theyd never seen the 2014 model but when I let them all take it for a test drive all their concerns and premature snarky remarks were laid to rest. They all commented on how amazing it looks (inside and out) and how smooth/quick the drive was.

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  Good looking car but bad quality - 2006 Mazda Mazda6
  By bad qulity - March 17 - 11:56 am

  Its a great looking car, but a lot of repairs. For the last 2 years Ive been around 30 times to dealerships, I changed the transmission twice, trunk shocks 4 times, battery, changed tires twice and so on. Now have problem with the engine and my warranty just expired. I am not recommending to buy this car - a lot of trouble. I am so tired to go every time to the dealership and wait for my car to be fixed, sometimes its more then a week I have to wait, its time consuming and a big headache. The car is shaking when you start this car. Slow switching from gears. Does not accelerate fast enough.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By MIALT - March 17 - 9:30 am

  I spent a long time looking at cars and this is the best bet for the money. I live in New England and have no problems in snow, mud, or rain. The traction control works wonders. The features of the grand touring have everything I need. It handles like a charm and I find I get about 26 mpg with both highway and city driving. The manual is a blast, the stereo is phenomenal. There is a bit of cabin noise when your on the highway but I usually have the radio up. Overall, I have had no problems with this car and plan to keep it for a long time.

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  This car Rocks - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By TBM - March 15 - 11:40 pm

  Being an exclusive Mazda driver for the past 15 years, I have driven Proteges, 626s and Tributes. This model by far has the most bang for the buck. Luxurious interior, adequate power, 17 " WHEELS, sleek refined body, wide Euro footprin - this car is a charmer. If you compare the BMW 1 series in styling and body characteristics you will see many similarities. An awesome car for the money!

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  First one in South Florida - 2011 Mazda Mazda2
  By DJ - March 15 - 11:20 pm

  I just purchased the car tonight at a dealer that just to delivery of them on Saturday. I purchased it for my wife, she loves the look and color. We bought the green one. It is so sporty and nimble she loves to drive it and I love the way it makes her feel. So far so good. I would recommend the car to anyone who just wants to have fun while you drive. It puts a smile on our faces.

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  Very impressed with this CX-5 - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By ron277 - March 15 - 10:38 pm

  I have driven the CX5 for just a week now and I am impressed at the power in the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine. Great pickup and can do anything I ask it to do on the road. Ride is firm but comfortable, the steering is responsive, the 9 speaker Bose system sounds great and it much better than on my old Mazda 626 ES. The mileage so far as I have recorded is hanging around 28 MPG. Wonderful. The rear camera and the BSM system are all frosting on the cake. I purchase additional warranty to 84 mo/100,000 miles , beyond Mazdas 36 mo/36,000 mile

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  Good, but not that good - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Jeremy - March 15 - 3:06 pm

  I purchased my Mazda in Jan of 2005 new. I was a great price and I could not resist it. However, the had problems within the first year of owning the it. I had to replace the tires after 20K of driving. In year 2 I had to replace the breaks. I also noticed that I was getting less than 300 miles to the tank, which was pretty sad considering I drive mostly highway at 70-75 mph. Now, I am by no means an aggressive driver these types of issues should not happen in such a short amount of time. In year 3 my battery died,but what got me was that I had to replace the shock. I traded this one in for a Honda, but I think I got a lemon on this one.