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:

• 

  The Best Choice - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Zoom -Zoom in NJ - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This is our first minivan...and we are completely satisfied. Honda wasnt willing to negotiate an inch- and Sienna was too big with DULL exterior styling. We have an infant and a toddler so we werent ready for the huge mom-mobiles! We got an excellent dealer incentive- and great treatment. Drives and handles like a car. My son loves his "new big car"! We take turns driving. By far this was the best choice. GFX, Luxury, Entertainment, Security packages.

• 

  Its a good car for the money I paid for - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By voodoo - July 19 - 2:00 am

  it (100 over invoice) but Mazda could make it better by fixing the damn wind noise (when going about 50 or faster) and the transmission hesitation problem which also happens around 50 mile/hr.

• 

  Read before you buy a 2005 Maxda RX8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By firebabe - July 18 - 9:12 pm

  The rotary engine is horrible, you have to treat it like a diesel in cold weather which we didnt know and got it flooded. It ended up costing us $1500 to finally get it started and to help prevent it from happening again but now I want rid of it. Check engine light is on all the time and no one knows why. It now sounds bad and every one is now telling me after owning it for 6 months with 69,000 that the rotary engine dont live past 60,000. I know Im going to lose with trading it in put I cant afford to keep it running. Wish I had never seen this beautiful car but the rotary engine is horrible.

• 

  Keeps On Tickin - 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By damdelion12 - July 18 - 3:46 am

  This vehicle requires gasoline & synthetic oil & thats about all - I dont even wash it/last wash job was April 06. Four sets of tires. Two sets of brakes - 235,000 miles and going strong. Oh, my back windshield plastic yellowed up.

• 

  Lots of Car for Little Cash - 1999 Mazda Protege
  By MM - July 18 - 2:13 am

  Picked up a used 99 ES in the local paper with 74k on it. This car is unreal for the money. A much better value than Civic, Corolla or Sentra. The ES model with its 122hp and 15in wheels sometimes make you for get that this is an econobox. Build quality and materials are 1st rate. Eight years on the road and the car is still tighter than many new cars.

• 

  loved this van - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By jd - July 17 - 5:20 pm

  We bought our MPV used with 50000 miles on it. We have not had any major problems other than a sensor on the gear shift went bad and the auto sliding doors quit working, cost 500 to fix. It was really nice on long trips and had plenty of power. In the winters we lost 4 mls per gallon and the check engine lite would come on, then in spring all would be fine. We had planned on keeping it for a long time till a kid ran a stop sign and hit the back fender of the van at 60 mph. We spun around a few times and hit a telephone pole. The van was a loss but my 6 yr old and i walked away with a few bumps. I hate to see it go and now my wife wants a volvo.....

• 

  My fun car - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By jrhamel - July 17 - 12:26 pm

  What a lot of fun to drive. It handles like its on rails and the mileage, even when driven hard is better than 25 miles per gallon. I hope to own this for several years!

• 

  No 11s?? - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By canuk5838 - July 16 - 8:30 am

  Fantastic! you would need to spend a LOT MORE money to get this kind of quality and performance. Then you might be afraid to scratch a $60-70K vehicle. This is a fun toy that the average Joe or Jill can afford, abuse and have a lot of fun.

• 

  2003 MPV LX - Bought New - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Tommy C. - July 16 - 5:03 am

  My MPV was bought new and now has 143K miles on it. It has had all the issues that others stated here. Check Engine light is a regular happening! Catalytic Converter issue that I will ignore until the end! Replaced the two common coils in front - water issue/design - stupid! Leaking rear AC antifreeze tubes - under warranty at 130K - thanks Mazda! Tubes were rusted gone! transmission issues - reprogrammed in 2004 and seems to be ok since. Rust around rear wheel wells AND bottom seals of front doors! Happened at 35K miles in beginning! Worst design - no power lock button on pass.side door! No dimmer over-ride to switch on inside lights after 10 Minutes! Ugh! AC is weak! Heater is weak.

• 

  Sleeper - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By mgrabo - July 15 - 11:23 pm

  A really great option to the garden variety commuter cars despite gas mileage is in the low 20s (partially due to my shift points ;-). It has a very eager, smooth running motor & handles very well on the stock 17" rubber. In wagon format, it really occupies a niche of one (220hp V6, handling biased, manual transmission wagon under $25k). If you dont demand 30mph from a daily driver, the Mazda6 is worth taking a close look.