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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  Has everything for little money - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By zoomer - November 14 - 9:53 pm

  This car had everything I was looking for: wonderful manual transmission that is extremely fun to drive, enough oomph, horsepower, great gas mileage, cool looks, plenty of space for the family of four, great value for the dollar. I still love it.

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  Will I buy it again? - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By greendoctor - November 14 - 8:33 pm

  It was the most beautiful in its class when it came out. In fact its one of the most beautiful still. But will I buy it again? Ive been trading-in my cars every 3 years just before the warranty expires, since 1991. I have never bought a domestic {for obvious reasons} nor have I bought the same model of the same manufacture, twice. In other wards, no one has impressed me that much to get me to return. The Mazda 3sport, is no exception. For my taste; It is underpowered. I need at least a 100hp for every liter. I also do not need an engine bigger than 1.8L. The customer service {just like all of the previous manufacturers, at least 6 anyway}, is indifferent, at best.

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  New Car - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By Carl A. Carlson - November 14 - 6:20 pm

  We have just purchased this car and have driven it about 1500 mile, including a trip of 1100 miles and have loved every minute of it. So far it has performed to perfection. It has more bells and whistles than I knew existed but they all work and are quite useful. Would recommend this car to anyone and the dealer C & S Car Co. in Waterloo, Iowa. It far surpasses the 02 Altima we traded on it.

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  Love our MPV - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By whatever 2549 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  We bought this vehicle due to its smaller size than the other mini- vans. Seating 6 comfortably with a fold down 3rd row seat served our family of 4 perfectly. The V6 motor is peppy and doesnt get bogged down under heavy loads. Drives great in the city and highway. I can sit in the seats for extended hours with no pain from my arthritic back. Weve had no problems with the vehicle since we drove it off the lot.

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  Underrated - 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By iron_city_ap - November 14 - 4:36 am

  This car is very underrated. I never really understood it, untill I took mine for a test drive. It just goes. Its not the fastest, not the sleekest, not the most expensive, not the most exotic but none of that matters in this little bad boy. Its alot like driving a big go-kart, only more fun.

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  pretty good so far - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By abqrich - November 14 - 4:22 am

  Driving this car is a pleasure. Great engine and transmission. Had it for one year with no problems. 38mpg on 5k road trip. Not good on bad roads. Noisy at highway speeds. Dorky console.

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  Outstanding Value and Ride - 2008 Mazda CX-9
  By Aberdeengolfer - November 13 - 11:40 pm

  Have over 1000 miles. Spent 9 months researching. Am 61" and plenty of room. Can get 5 golfers and bags easily vehicle. Got WeatherTech front liners and hope they make a rear cargo liner over third row.

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  Almost Perfect - 2010 Mazda MazdaSpeed3
  By dbaker - November 13 - 9:50 pm

  Its a great all around car for the price. Good power with slight turbo lag and torque steer. Once the power is there, hang on! Interior features are awesome for the price. Bose audio sounds rich but the in dash navigation is about the same quality as if you had bought a $50 Garmin, but still a nice feature. Love it or hate it, the front grille grows on you after a while. Combining the power of the car coupled with the price/power and features, its a really good deal.

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  I Love My Minivan mazda5 - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By nmac - November 12 - 10:53 pm

  I ended up buying Mazda 5 over a year ago after giving my Jeep Grand Cherokee to my daughter who needed a car desperately at the time. I did a research on which vehicle will have a good decent mileage and can seat 6 people and I found this one with the help of edmunds.com...Thanks again for your support! I surely do appreciate this free service here. I love this car because it drives like a car and not like those regular family vans. The MPG is also a factor thats why I went for this Mazda. I put in about 450 miles on average trip such as grocery shopping and taking my teenager to and from school activities. Overall, this is very nice and it does the job of minivan/car that carries 6 pax.>

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  ZOOM CUBED - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Steve - November 11 - 7:40 am

  Handles tight. Good acceleration for a 4/automatic. Gas mileage...25 in town with a/c on; 28 without a/c; 30-32 hwy. Comfortable seats, front and back. Easy controls. Oil filter is a dealer/autoshop job, as requires a special tool and the filter is not the standard metal jacketed filter (think naked filter, needs a gasket too).