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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  Cool drive - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By cambridgedude - August 15 - 6:26 am

  Only have owned this cool little Mazda for 10 days, but love it already. After 600 miles I am averaging 29 mpg, in about 60% highway driving. Decent acceleration, effortless cruising, wonderful cornering and handling. Slick 6 speed manual; dont get the auto unless you really cant drive a manual, this is one of the best shifters youll find under $30,000. Good deals going now, got mine under $18,200 with 0% financing, a great value. Styling is a matter of taste, personally I think its cool. Bluetooth cellphone connection is something I thought Id never use, but its extremely useful, particularly in a manual when your hands are otherwise occupied.

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  Great mix of performance and economy - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By monster289 - August 14 - 7:03 pm

  Had my car for three weeks now, 1300 miles logged. I have the hatchback with 5 speed manual. Got the s Touring model, but decided to save some money and not get options. Car is plenty quick, especially for a 4 cylinder. Im getting about 30mpg mixed city/freeway driving. It has enough power to go up steep hills on the freeway while still in 5th gear. I think they could have made 5th gear a bit taller to reduce rpms, but thats ok. Maybe having more power readily available is better than marginally better mileage. Steering wheel controls are awesome, and they are backlit at night. Ride is sporty and firm, very little body roll. May be a bit rough for some.

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  Fun Car to Drive - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Mel Martin - August 14 - 2:50 pm

  Overall very happy with the car. A little bit tight for long trips but all in all lots of fun with little to no service. Change my oil every 3,000 and drive.

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  BAD REVIEWS GIVEN BY CLUELESS PEOPLE - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By rottenrotary - August 13 - 10:19 pm

  The rotary is an amazing engine but different from regular piston engines & should be treated w/ that in mind. Many of these bad reviews stem from individuals who havent researched or properly cared for it. There are a few minor issues & if you RESEARCH it you will easily find ways to avoid those- not to mention 10 yr/100k mi warranty on the engine core components is a nice bonus should it be necessary. A rotary engine needs time to warm up. Turning the engine off while its still cold will flood it. There are reviews of people complaining about this but you can easily avoid it by letting it run for a minute or 2 Thanks to researching the RX8 first, Ive never had an issue.

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  Like the Mazda... - 2011 Mazda CX-7
  By simply_m - August 13 - 5:36 am

  Wife wanted a new ride and liked the styling of the cx7. Felt like the price was good for the amount of car we were getting. Liked the fact that it is totally built in Japan ( the Japanese are known to take pride in their workmanship). Read customer reviews and was scared by all the turbo engine problems,so stayed away from it. The standard engine is not bad and avg 24 mpg with mixed city/country road driving. Drives solid but slightly bumpy. After 15,000 miles my main complaint is the transmission. I just dont like the way it hesitates to downshift after slowing down. I havent had any problems so far. Only regret is small interior with two kids. Price to pay though for decent fuel economy

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  Smart can also be fun and stylish - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By troyolson92 - August 11 - 2:10 pm

  The SUV rocks. Cant bring myself to call it a minivan. It feels much more peppy than Edmunds describes. Everything about this vehicle is smart! Well laid out. My gas mileage consistently exceeds 28 mpg with only 10k miles on it. Thats with the air conditioning on and outside temp for two weeks exceeding 1004 degrees. I have measured absolutely NO difference in gas mileage with or out air conditioning on. Try it and expel the myth.

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  Cant get a better car for the money - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By jjinqueens - August 11 - 8:56 am

  I have had the car for 2 months (sometime in that 2 months they started calling it a wagon, not a hatch?). I bought it in Feb, during some of the worst driving weather possible, and it handled as though it were a dry sunny day. I love the performance, and the stability control in the Touring model really helps grip the road (we have some tricky ones in the mountains). My husband loved it so much he bought the same in an automatic, which also handles beautifully. We wish we got better mileage (I get about 27 mpg) for a small car, but the emissions ratings are good. We recently had 3 teens, 2 adults, and all the teens college gear in the Mazda, no problem!! Cargo space is great.

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  I LOVE this car - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By cyn - August 9 - 2:30 am

  I bought this car in college over 5 years ago and put 85,000 miles on it - no mechanical problems whatsoever. Its extremely reliable, inexpensive to maintain, handles well, plenty of storage area, and has good gas mileage.

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  Love This SUV!! - 2008 Mazda Tribute
  By c.sims - August 8 - 12:00 pm

  I just purchased this SUV after looking at, reading about and test driving almost every small SUV out here.This is one of the sharpest ones, inside and out, on the market. It has every standard feature you would need and the dash is black and shiny and looks really expensive. The interior design altogether is just beautiful. Great job Mazda!!

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  great value for all around car - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By emre - August 6 - 10:00 am

  It is simply fun to drive this car.you get everything that you want from a car for 19K with all extra features such nice 6 in dash cd and alloy wheels out the door. it gets noisy when you are driving over 60mph