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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  Miata M - 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By mhitesman - January 4 - 6:23 am

  I bought this car used but have owned it for nearly three years. Oil changes, radiator flush, and a new battery. What a reliable, fun, and economical car to drive. The M series, with its larger tires and ABS, is a reasonable choice for winter driving as well in most parts of the country.

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  Didnt buy a new care to use the warrenty - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By ssgoverbey - January 3 - 2:02 am

  Have owned my Mazda CX5 since May 2012. I keep having problems almost since I bought. The very first thing was the GPS said it was out of date. I tried to update the memory card like it said with TomTom online. Was a big pain. Then was trying to get my trial of satellite radio which didnt work well. Could use some more power. At around 9,000 miles all the warning lights came on, cruse control wouldnt work. Bad battery. Then this last week at around 16,000 miles all warning lights came on again and would not shift. Waiting on some transmission part now. I do not have faith in taking the car on any long road trip now.

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  Exceptional auto - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By Dario - January 1 - 5:46 pm

  I am most pleased with this car. This is the 4th Mazda product I have owned and they have only gotten better. I actually had a PR5 for two years until the 6 wagon became available. It never fails to get compliments from men and women and Ive been stopped many times to answer questions. The car is very fun to drive and although I opted for the automatic Tiptronic, I find I use the manual mode often. Comfortable, practical, attractive, and quick, makes this a sports car in wagons clothing. I highly recommend it.

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  MY CX-5 - NEARLY PERFECT - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By sonowop - January 1 - 4:20 pm

  Have driven my Grand Touring 2014 for 5,000 miles now. The good: handles wonderful, brakes are great, visibility excellent, comfort very good. No complaints on build quality, style, or driveability. Its not perfect but was the best choice for me relative to its competition. Major surprise is the driveability of car. I did not really expect it. 2.5 is a little beast (thats good). Major disappointment is the radio, gps, and gas mileage.

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  1999 Mazada ES - 1999 Mazda 626
  By Doug Turner - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Liked the car. The 4 cyl lacked power. Main complaint is road noise at any speed.

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  little jewell - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By mazdon - January 1 - 10:00 am

  We are very happy with the Tribute, it gives us enough space to carry our 4 year old girl and her stuff, and still feel comfortable. The cargo cover and the tinted back windows make us feel secure when leaving things in the cargo area.

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  Anticipation was worth it! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By wpavlik2 - January 1 - 3:56 am

  I have wanted one of these cars since I saw the first sneek peek in Motor Trend over 2 years ago! First impressions are that it has me grinning from ear to ear each time I get in it. I know the fuel economy stinks, but thats OK. I didnt buy an economy car, I bought a sports car. Insurance costs are only slightly more than the car it replaced. (Mitsubishi Galant) You wont regret it!

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  Very good value - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By Happy _overall - December 31 - 12:50 am

  I bought the 4-cyl, 5-speed Value Edition after driving a 4-cyl Altima for 7 years. The value is unbeatable, it looks great, excellent handling, good gas mileage. The interior is good, with a number of features I did not expect at this price. Front seats are very supportive. The ride is stiff but not harsh. The engine is not as responsive as Altimas, and does not feel as strong. Another complaint is somewhat short gearing, the engine is close to 3k revs at 60 mph; it gets buzzy at higher speeds and MPG suffers. The stereo sounds great, but there is occasional static on FM stations; this did not happen in any other car.

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  Owned it for 5 years now - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By B Davis - December 29 - 7:10 pm

  I bought this car new almost 5 years ago. Just turned 70000 miles. 4 cylinder 4 speed automatic. Have had no major problems. Transmission shifts a tad hard from 1st to 2nd when cold, but dealer found nothing wrong. Just learned to baby it for the first 1/4 mile. I find I use the manual shift mostly, especially on back roads when I want to keep it in 3rd gear, and not let it go to 4th gear. Overall very pleased.

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  Mazda 3 Hatch - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By tuckerk801 - December 29 - 1:14 pm

  This car is amazing, it is fun to drive and gets excellent gas mileage. Glad when mazda built a gas miser they didnt forget their roots of zoom-zoom!