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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  Wow I finally love my car - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Sharon - September 22 - 8:43 pm

  Ive had this car 3 months and love it! I researched/test drove too many to list. But once I drove this one, that was it. Great brakes, maybe too touchy, really fun to drive. I went for the low end because of money and really do not miss much. Yes there is lag in turbo, figured out if I get the rpms up I can control the acceleration. I leased this and will probably end up buying it or 2009 model. Best car Ive ever owned. Went from F-150/Expedition to CX-7 without any issues. Ford can keep their vehicles.

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  Fun Factor Vehicle - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By Drey230 - September 22 - 3:56 am

  My wife and I have a newborn. We needed a second car besides our Corolla and agreed that the main requirement of a new car was the fun factor. This car is a lot of fun from playing musical chairs between cargo, people, and space, its cool. The ride is pretty cool too! I agree with most that a few more horses under the hood would be nice, but Im OK because I like my gas mileage low. Handles well & looks great! No one ever knows what a Mazda5 is when you tell them but once they see it and ride in it, they become fans! We are young parents and knew this was a great car for our family but its also a hit with friends parents night off. Who said you have to drive a Scion or Mini to be cool these days.

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  Not Trust Worthy - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Ernesto - September 21 - 10:40 am

  Purchased this vehicle brand new. After a cross country drive vehicle started showing electrical problems. All started around 08/2004 and it wasnt until 12/2004 and a lemon law lawsuit that they decided to replace literally all the electrical components. Now it works but I dont trust the vehicle. Also noisy front suspension. Will recommend putting your name on the waiting list for other minivans on the market.

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  Best Miata Ever - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By FL_owner - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I cant imagine more fun for the money, and the hard top is a nice feature. Its not an SC430 or an SLK, but if you want a classic roadster in the vein of an MG or Fiat Spyder with rock solid reliability and low cost of ownership, along with some measure of practicality like a usable trunk and excellent fuel economy, theres simply no better car on the market.

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  My 3rd and easily best MX-5 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Mike - September 21 - 5:53 am

  Ive owned a 96, 99 and now an 06 MX-5. This is without a doubt the best of the three. Traded in my year-young Mazda 6s after just one test drive. The most marked improvements are the increased power, more muscular exterior and superb interior quality. Flicking through the short-throw 6-speed MT is addicting. The engine is much more willing with the increased HP. It now actually feels fast. The previous MX-5 always sounded like it was working really hard, but not producing much in the way of acceleration. That has changed with this model. Hopefully reliability will be as good as the previous models. A fantastic car.

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  Zoom Zoom! - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By ML - September 20 - 2:40 am

  This is the 3rd Mazda I have owned, and although its only been a few weeks so far I doubt that Ill have any regrets. I compared the 3 to all its competition VERY closely before buying, and the Mazda was just plain more fun to drive. Most cars in this class have similar features (see Corolla, Civic, etc.) but if you are going to fork out THOUSANDS of dollars for a car you might as well get something thats actually FUN to drive too! Before this car I had an 08 Pontiac G5, and I never really liked it. Right from the start it just had WAY too many issues. (I bought a "NEW" car to DRIVE it, not to make repeated trips back to the dealer for "warranty" repairs!) Sorry GM, but Im done. ZOOM ZOOM!

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  Good Car? - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By Mazdafan - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely loved this car from the moment I test drove it. Great handling, road feel and crisp shifting manual transmission. If you want a sporty alternative to toyota and honda this is the car, but wait till the 2004 model year.

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  protege5 flaws - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By gsj - September 20 - 2:00 am

  There are things that bother me about it. The first thing that I notice is the extremely loose unresponsive steering. I would love to see the Mazda speed steering and suspension standard in their upcoming Mazda 3s. The second annoyance is the jumpy clutch which happens mainly when the cars is cold. Again, would love to see the mazda speed clutch standard in the upcoming 3s. The 3rd flaw is the cheep back seat cushions that never want to fit right after removing them. The 4th flaw might be the loud engine which in my opion is due to the thin firewall and probably wide gapped valves. Other than that, it works for me. -GJ

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  Excited !!! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By rf1311 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  After several months of research, I finally purchased my RX-8. I love the automatic because of the "manual" option. I think it is so cool to be able to change gears on the steering wheel. Its like a video game. I have one baby and the car seat fits perfectly in the backseat. If you are thinking about it, just go buy it. You wont regret it.

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  Mazda 3 s5 - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By legally insane - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought the Mazda3 s5 to replace a 98 Jetta GLX. Like the versatility of the 5 door and the performance of the 2.3 engine. My wife liked it so much she traded her 2000 Jetta in on a 3i!