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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  One small problem - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By Scott37042 - November 20 - 10:00 am

  In all, a good car for around town. Nice style, easy to maneuver, steady suspension. The car has good torque for start-stop driving in crowded traffic. All of the knobs and switches are easy to locate and use. The down side? It loses its "oomph" way before 60mph. There is a very irritating wind-noise over 65mph. I dont know if it is the same for every protege, but mine has a high pitch wistle at 70mph+ that seems to come from around the windshield (the dealer has been unable to fix).

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  Just the right size, great value - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Puzman - November 18 - 4:00 pm

  Weve had our Mazda5 for about 2 months now. (my other car is a 2003 Protege ES, so I like Mazdas...). You get a lot of car for your money - its quite roomy, very quiet and comfortable on the highway, gets good mileage considering the size of the car (were averaging 27 mpg overall), is reasonably fun to drive, and is perfect for a small family (were 2 adults, our 6 year old daughter, and a golden retriever). Acceleration is OK (not too different from my Protege), but its certainly not overpowered. ;-) Handling is pretty good, considering size of car (although I notice a lot of front end dive when braking). Brakes feel soft and underpowered. Great road trip car.

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  35 MPG Combined Thus Far - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By sn04 - November 18 - 3:53 am

  I have had the vehicle for about 2,000 miles now, and am extremely pleased with the gas mileage. The 35 MPG average came from my own log of gas price/quantity/mileage driven. That being said, there are a few areas that need improvement. The seats are very uncomfortable (youll feel it after about an hour on the road). The car does rev itself on start-up, and remains that way for a good 20 to 30 seconds before calming down. I havent seen anything adverse to this, but I dont like to drive until its calmed down. The center consol has a whirring sound - almost like an A/C fan is on, but its low pitched and usually doesnt bother me. I have a creak in the back during low speeds.

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  The practical car for people who like to drive! - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By 06scooby - November 16 - 6:24 pm

  We love our Mazda 5 with the 6-speed. After giving up our manual Subaru Wagon for a full size mini-van after having 2 kids, we came back down to the 5. We are manual transmission people & this was our only option, but we love it. Sporty and fun, and plenty of room for two kids. Could use a little more oomph, but we prefer driving a slow car fast. Great gas mileage & its pretty comfortable despite the factory tires. We would have like a more loaded version, but giving up the goodies was worth 3 rows & a stick shift. I even contacted Mazda & asked with a large deposit if theyd build me a Grand Touring with a 6 speed & they said no! :-(

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  Zoom Zoom with a Few Hidden Facts - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Jerry Miskovsky - November 16 - 5:33 am

  The Mazda RX8 is definitely fun to drive and I plan to enjoy it for the next year or two. Buyers should be aware of a few things you dont learn about until you own it. First, the tires are absolutely useless on snow or ice; youll need to get snow tires. Second, youre cautioned to always let the engine come up to normal operating temperature; even if you just need to go out and move if a few feet. Third, there is no spare tire (unless you want to give up your trunk space). If you can deal with these three shortcomings, get one and enjoy it as I have mine.

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  Mazda - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By bETTY - November 11 - 10:00 am

  This truck has provided me with not only protection, and reliability, but a nice girlish style! I Love it!

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  Whole lotta fun for under $20k - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Crazy Yoda - November 10 - 12:33 pm

  We were looking for a fun to drive small sedan for under the $20k mark. This was going to be used mainly by my wife and her requirements were to have a 5 speed manual, leather seats, decent handling and four doors. The 2.3L Grand touring fit the bill perfectly. We also looked at the new Rabbit but it had no real "fun factor". The Mazda 3 handles fantastic and the high revving engine makes the car feel faster than the speedometer is indicating. Curves and turns in the "3" are very tight and the car feels more like a BMW 3 series than a $20k sedan. In my opinion you will not find a better sedan with sporty characteristics than the Mazda 3.

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  Pretty good bang for the buck - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By tonyryder - November 7 - 4:50 pm

  Looked at Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, Toyota Camry, Lexus IS 250 and others before purchasing my 2006 Mazda6 (GT model in Canada - V6, leather, sunroof, NAV system) in April 2009 and in my opinion this car offered the best value in its class. The pick up is amazing with hardly any torque in the steering wheel at all. Styling is absolutely gorgeous, people are mistaking it for all kinds of other high-end cars and are surprised that it is a Mazda. Interior space is very generous and comfortable, but the drivers seat bolster feels as if its cutting off the blood supply to my left thigh causing me to shift my butt all the time. Very large trunk with room for 3 to 4 good size suitcases.

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  initial report on new 2014 CX-5 - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By tamoshanter55 - November 6 - 9:01 am

  ok...ill have to admit that im already a little biased with brand loyalty - have had a 1990 protege with 270k before selling it, and still have 2000 626 with 307k going strong. replaced my 2008 nissan rogue after its engine blew out and came back to mazda. bought it last week. so far, 600 miles, very satisfied. seats a little snug for me (am 511" and 260), but stil comfortable. adjusting to tom-tom after having garmin for 5 years - slower than my garmin; BOSE sound is very good - i like the ipod connection and pandora. acceleration a bit sensitive - downshifts quickly, but 10x better than rogues CVT. quiet and smooth. will give update later

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  Worth a look - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By hdatomzd - November 5 - 12:10 am

  Bought the Mazda6s Touring in Dec and it has been a decent vehicle. The V6 engine performs well, yet like others have said; not as refined. My 07 V6 accord was a touch more refined. It makes some odd noises at idle as well. The car is plenty quick, but you will pay the price in gas mileage. In mixed driving, I will avg. 16- 18mpg, which is not acceptable. My Accord would at least get 21, but wasnt as fun to drive. While the car is bigger, it does not always feel that way inside. The trunk is big but the height inside the trunk seems short. The base audio setup sounds terrible. No clarity or depth whatsoever, plan on a upgrade. Lastly, the 18inch tires are very loud and sensitive.