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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  Mileage? One word: Regular - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By RSX owner/hater - April 2 - 2:00 am

  I thought the gas mileage was a real concern. I almost gave up on it. Then I found out that it takes regular. 18mpg using regular will cost me the equivalent as 20mpg using premium in my RSX-S.

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  Miata Smiles - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By elvenprince - March 31 - 9:43 pm

  I still am smiling! :-)

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  Mazda cx5 - 2017 Mazda CX-5
  By db - March 31 - 6:09 pm

  I have only had rhe car a few weeks so cant speak to all the issues. So far great except the outdated navigation system. Real time is essential, historical data is useless.

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  this car rocks - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By xostarbunnieox - March 31 - 11:30 am

  This is a very reliable car. Fun to drive and great handling. Its hard to believe its a wagon! Ive had it for 4 years now and hope to have it for many more.

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  Perfect Protege - 1999 Mazda Protege
  By St. Denis - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive been very impressed with the Mazda Proteges performance and quality. Everything seems solid and well-made. My mileage is in the high 30s and even though it only has the 1.6 liter engine, it is really peppy.

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  So far I am a happy camper!!! Zoom Zoom - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Chafic - March 31 - 10:00 am

  The P5 has an outstanding style, from the exterior and interior. It has the capacity to respond when I demand sudden acceleration, not to mention an amazing curve handling. This car drives like a sport machine. The low profile tires help handling those 30 MPH curve at 50-60 MPH w/o a glitch. As for the interior, P5 offered a nice European styling, as opposed to the competition (i.e. the Civic, or Acura which I test drove). My hope is that the reliabilty of the P5 is as good as my Nissan Quest Van which we owned since 95!!!

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  Happy - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By englishmastiffzeus - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I am happy with our choice. We got the car with moonroof, ABS, side airbags and alloy wheels for $16,750. Excellent value. Fun to drive. Pretty big inside, even for my 67" frame. My biggest beef is that the car has some wicked interior rattles on the highway. They drive me crazy. I will be taking it in to the dealer to take care of these. Also, you absolutely cannot store anything in any of the storage compartments without them rattling. A power point in the cargo area would be nice. Right front cupholder is unusable if you need the 12 volt power point at the same time. Handling is awesome. Would have liked a 175 hp version like the Matrix/Vibe.

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  Good car, good value - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By The Defender - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for two weeks and just passed the 1,000 mile mark. So far, so good. Other than a minor glich with the keyless entry, I have no problems at all to report. Overall the car handles good and looks great. I got the windows tinted and now they look even better. The cargo space is better than I expected for such a small car and the gas mileage is average at best. I got 32 mpg on my first half tank (boy was I excited!), 27 on the second, 28 on the third and 24 on the fourth (reality sets in). The incentives Mazda offered helped in my overall decision to buy this car, otherwise I probably would have bought either a Toyota Matrix or a Pontiac Vibe.

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  Dissapointment - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By Seadog - March 31 - 10:00 am

  No question the performance and power for this SUV were great. But I had it in 4 times for repairs to the drivers outside mirror (vibrated)a rattle in the right rear and an engine failure. The egine was fixed but they were never able to fix the other things.

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  Viewpoint from a Professor - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By Professor - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 2001 Tribute DX/V6 for a little more than a year. Call it luck, or simply a reasonably well-designed vehicle, no problems at all @ almost 40,000 miles. With the exception of some wind noise at highway speeds, and wishful better fuel economy...pretty satisfied with my purchase. I would encourage a tight maintenance schedule however.