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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  Love it!!! - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By Carin - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. You definitely get more bang for your buck. The stereo rocks, the moon roof is romantic and the sport package with the rear spoiler and a sporty clutchless stick puts any girl in a class with the boys.

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  Mazda Tough, Mazda Reliable - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By odydapogi - March 2 - 7:10 am

  Rough, reliable sporty. The best SUV. An all rounder. Very very reliable.

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  Love it - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By Steve & Renea - March 1 - 7:36 pm

  We replaced a 2000 Honda Accord with the 2007 Mazda 6s grand touring. So far the car has been great. We love the style and comfort.The performance is decent but the Accords and Camrys have more horsepower. We have 9100 miles and the car hasnt had any problems. The only real complaint we have is the Pirelli 18" tires that came on the grand touring are noisy, but this is expected for performance tires.

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  How Do I hate thee? - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By TCooke - February 28 - 10:00 pm

  Hate this car. With less than 3K on it the left front strut busted & now with 22k I am about to take it in for same strut #4! Dealer insists no issue causing this to happen, whatever! Have had oil pan seal replaced, rear interior lites repaired, exhaust mounts had to be lubed & needs again - rattling/squeak, steering shaft had to be lubed, squeaky seat fixed by removing a clip, passenger front window motor replaced. Most repairs before 15k! Not to mention that its 150 miles round trip to dealer, eating up time & warranty miles! Car has not held value at all, Im way upside down but I will trade before warranty is out, cant afford repeated repairs out of warranty. turning radius is terrible

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  Mazda3 skyactiv - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By rxb3 - February 28 - 4:28 am

  Traded my 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT with 200k on it. Great car and it got me 30mpg! The only reason I got the Mazda3 sedan was for the 39mpg (manual trans). So far, with 3k miles, I have been avg 38.2. Thats better than my last car but... Pros: when in the right gear, it has some get up and go (for a 4cycl) Bluetooth is great. Works very well with iphone, hands free calls that are voice controlled are great, and streaming music. Handles well, seems sporty Of course the MPG is the real sell. Cons: the seats are horrible! I commute 1hr20min each way every day. 78miles each way every day adds up. This is a huge deal for me. The savings in gas is great but the seats suck!

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  Zoom-Zooms Past Other 3s... ;) - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By patchmonkey - February 27 - 4:33 am

  Ive managed to put nearly 5000 miles on this car in the three months Ive owned it - its just that much fun to drive. I have the fully-loaded (navigation, leather seats, AFS headlamps, etc.) model - and my girlfriend thinks that its hilarious that I literally smile and go "I love this car" every time I push the button and turn it on. Its a winner in every sense - and beats that "other 3-series" car on price, features, and...well, everything.

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  Zoom Zoom For Sure! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Nutfield1 - February 27 - 1:26 am

  Love it! Very few on the road ... so everyone looks. Fun to drive, very comfortable. Big improvement over my Grand Caravan. Who needs to drive anything that big everyday? Saving over $15 a week in gas ... gotta love it!

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  nice car - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Dave - February 26 - 11:20 pm

  Bought this car (2004 S sedan) as a demo, Got it for my wife. great car. have driven it 66,000 miles and have had 0 problems.It needed a new driver seat, but they replaced it under warranty. It still has the factory brakes on it. The interior is a little cramped for bigger folks.

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  Not Impressed - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Jake Christensen - February 26 - 6:26 pm

  I have not been very happy with this car. It does not get the gas mileage the sticker on the window said it would and I feel it is very poorly built. I believe they used cheap products to built this car. Everything from the paint on the outside to the carpet on the inside. Dont get me wrong; I think it is a very stylish car and it is fun to drive. But I would not recommend it to anyone.

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  Zoom Zoom - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By UNCW - February 26 - 10:16 am

  Sold SUV because of gas prices and got a 2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value Edition. Excellent car especially for the money. I got a copper red mica color, 5 spd, 17" wheels, foglights, one touch moonroof, 6 disc w/ auxiliary input and excellent sound, power windows and keyless remote, soft touch plastics and good interior feel, and neat interior illumination. I have had it for about 2 weeks and cant wait to get in it every time. First time I got 29.92 mpg with the 2.0 5-speed but that was mixed driving. Only city, I get about 24 or 25. After comparing to the Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic respectively, this was definitely the best choice