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:

• 

  2002 Mazda Tribute Review - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By bud - January 5 - 5:30 pm

  Drives like a sports car. Strong V6 has great acceleration. Highway gas mileage averaging 23.8 mpg. Power sunroof is great, no drafs or wind noise.

• 

  No More Minivans! - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By FL Mom - January 5 - 4:30 am

  I absolutely love this car! I traded in my minivan because I was sick of spending $70+/week on gas. The handling, design and driving experience are all top notch. The 5- speed is very responsive and gives excellent control. I average just under 30 mpg in mixed driving, with A/C on most of the time (I live in FL). The hatch is surprisingly roomy inside: my 2 kids have ample room in the back, and the hatch has plenty of room for groceries and backpacks. The dash is very attractive, with logical controls. My only real beef is with the horn: wimpy and high pitched. I dont trust that it would grab the attention of other motorists in an emergency.

• 

  I love my car! - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Little Red - January 4 - 4:40 pm

  I dumped my horribly unreliable Volkswagen Jetta to buy this car, and I couldnt have made a better choice. It has been totally reliable and fun to drive. Gas economy is great. Its also super cute. Last summer I drove it down the West Coast and had a blast. It is comfortable for long trips, but also really convenient in the city. With factory issued tires it is not great in the snow. I have to put on tire chains at Mt. Hood when its snowing.

• 

  Fun toy! - 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Ron - January 4 - 2:55 am

  Be aware that there is limited seating room (I am only 58" tall) and my knees almost hit the bottom of the dash. Also, I cannot recline the seats as much as I would like. One other fault, there is a big blind spot due to the wide area of the fold down hard top (when it is up) on both the right and left sides (would be the same for the soft top convertible). I used to have a Toyota Celica. It was not as quick (less horse power), but it had none of the issues noted with the MX5. One other thing I have done recently. I put "stickier" tires on with about 5,000 miles on the car and really enjoy the comfort knowing that the car will go where it is pointed. I modified the suspension on the Celica (added a front strut brace that allowed me to adjust the camber, lowered the car ~1.8", larger sway bars [very flat when doing high G corners] and wider tires [195 to 225 section width tires that were "sticky"] and wheels [OEM 15 X 6.5" wide to 16 X 7" wide]) and it could pull 1 G in the corners. Because of warranty issues, modifying the suspension on the MX5 is out of the picture for now. Because the car is low and short, I have almost been forced off the road 3 times by cars changing lanes while there was an overlap between my car and theirs.

• 

  Happy to zoom - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By English Guy - January 4 - 2:00 am

  I drove the spec v, the corolla s, the matrix, the vibe gt, the mini, the wrx, and many other cars. Why didnt someone just tell me about the Protege and save me the trouble? Yeah, the WRX is awesome, but its about six grand more. The MINI is fun, but who can you share the fun with? Your smallest friends? Great car!

• 

  You get everything you expect from a small roadste - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Keith - January 3 - 11:49 pm

  This is the second MX-5 ND I purchased in 2016. The first one I purchased was the Sport trim level. I thought the Sport trim had everything I needed, and for the most part thats a true statement. However its biggest Achilles heel was its cloth seats. They just didnt offer enough support for my wife and I and in the end it was its downfall. I traded it in for a Honda and to make a long story short, 40 days after I purchased it I was rear ended and the car was totalled. I decided that I really missed my MX-5 so I gave it another chance, but this time I bought the GT trim because of its leather seats. The seats feel like they sit you a little higher and the bolstering on the cushion and backrest is far superior to the cloth seats. Plus the heated seats are amazing, with three settings. All the added features make a huge difference, giving the car a more luxurious feel ... From the auto dimming rear view mirror and high beams, the blind spot monitoring, the additional USB port, the upgraded Bose speakers and the extra speakers (which includes a sub woofer), the integrated GPS, the chrome plated control knobs, the nicer 17" alloy rims ... The GT trim is the way to go. Having said that, no matter what trim level suits you best, this car is just a blast to drive because of its light weight and perfect 50/50 weight balance. It turns like its on rails. It has been designed to have some body roll, but once it hits its travel limit its solidly planted. This is a momentum car, where you dont have to let off the gas when turning. Its a "slow car fast" vehicle, meaning that you feel like you are speeding when you are within the speed limit. Its so much fun to drive at 65 MPH and you dont need to be doing 100 MPH to feel like you are going fast. Of course its small and there are traded offs if you decide to buy it (the trunk is small, there is limited cabin storage space, the cup holders are in an awkward spot, its harder to get in and out of the vehicle, etc), so you have to make sure you consider your needs before buying it. I use this car as my daily driver and for me its a perfect vehicle for that, especially since I get a combined average of 35 MPG, but I also have a truck as a second vehicle. If you are looking for a fun sports car that handles like nothing else, is reliable, efficient, relatively inexpensive to own and operate, and stylish, I cant recommend this vehicle enough .... Its just that amazing. But this vehicle isnt for everyone, and if I could only have one vehicle, Im not so sure I would have purchased it if my situation was different.

• 

  Mazda Miata - 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By CRBACSW - January 3 - 6:53 pm

  This car is stylish and a lot of fun to drive. Handles corners well. Turns a lot of heads and receives a lot of thumbs up from onlookers. It is not real good with bumps - but then again it is a small sports car!

• 

  Great Car - 2010 Mazda Mazda6
  By slademt - January 3 - 4:02 am

  The Mazda 6 2.5L has 170 horse power and 167 pound feet of torque. The 4 cylinder is pretty nimble. It accelerates the car from 0-60 in 7.9 seconds at it fastest. I think that is pretty good for a 4 cylinder engine that is not turbo charged. I am averaging 24 city and 33 highway in gas mileage. I bought the Touring Plus trim brand new for $22,514. The cars MSRP brand new was $24,625. The dealership gave me a good deal. The car is comfortable and fun to drive. My husband has the 3.7L Mazda 6 and that one is even more fun to drive. The car seems to be designed well. I have owned the car for 4 months now and I have not had any issues. I feel the car will be reliable.

• 

  2003 protege - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By dcastillo - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is more than what i expected. It has great looks and enough power to move in and out of traffic on the freeway. Handles beautifully.

• 

  Great Car Great Price - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By PFS97 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a car that I have a good time driving. I have had many cars before,most of them more expensive than the Mazda, this car is fun to drive. I also like the the Leather interior very comfortable on longer trips. The exterior styling is much better than cars in its class.