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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  2nd time around - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By tdogg - January 23 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd new Mazda. My 1992 MX6 was a piece of junk. I hope this car is built better. I have a 6i 5 door, auto,luxy package,6CD Bose. I ordered the car with roof and sercurity package , but Mazda could not fill that order. The roof and alarm were put in at the dealer. The gas milage is good. 28 mpg highway. The car is fun to drive and gets a lot of looks.

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  Watch out! Rolls backwards when in auto-drive on hills - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By sfmaggie - January 22 - 6:56 am

  The automatic transmission doesnt behave like other automatics. I learned this at a stop sign on a steep hill. It was frightening to roll backwards uncontrollably. Took it to the dealer and mechanics said they hadnt heard of such a thing. They tested it on a steep ramp and confirmed what I said. They couldnt find any documentation on how to fix this, so they called their helpline and were told thats just what these automatic transmissions do. Theres an item in the owners manual they were pointed to that instructs drivers to slowly accelerate the gas while letting out the brake pedal. I had more control on hills with a standard stick shift.

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  Mazda 3 - great comfort - poor dashboard - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By WVMazdaMan - January 21 - 5:50 pm

  I wanted to move down to a smaller car to get better mileage, but I still wanted room, so I started looking at 5 dr wagons. Im a big guy 63" and after checking out all of the competition (focus, matrix, versa, astra, etc) I found the Mazda 3 by far the most comfortable. It looks great, good price, and has been averaging 29 mpg at 75% commute, 25% interstate. While the instruments, controls and displays are well laid out, the back lit orange display leaves something to be desired. The radio display is hard to read in many lighting situations, and is almost impossible to see with sunglasses on. It would have been really nice to see an MPG readout.

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  2000-mile review - 2015 Mazda Mazda6
  By pb4128 - January 21 - 2:51 pm

  I have had my Mazda6 for a month and a half now. I am, overall, very happy with the vehicle. I was leaning towards a Honda Accord because I have owned Hondas in the past, but I could not stand the CVT. This brings up my favorite feature in the Mazda: the automatic transmission - perfect, absolutely perfect. It is smooth and quick shifting, and always eager to downshift for more power. It is like it reads my mind and is always ready for the next move. It is, quite simply, the best automatic transmission I have ever experienced. The engine is smooth and powerful enough. I have not really measured fuel economy. The interior and exterior design are clean and un-cluttered.

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  5 door fun - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Gee - January 20 - 11:03 pm

  The 3 5-door Gran Touring is a solid, well put together vehicle that is fun to drive. As a suburban commuter, i get 23 MPH. The original Goodyear RSA tires were bad, only got 18,000 miles out of them, and they were terrible in bad weather. Put on slightly wider yokahamas that are terrific. This car is heavy, and a bit of a pig off the line, but at speed is handles well, accelerates well, and is comfortable.

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  My 2008 Tribute Mazda - 2008 Mazda Tribute
  By Hosam Dajani - January 20 - 7:40 am

  All options were basic and standard. I am missing many nice features when I compared my Mazda to the Ford Escape. The car can out perform a Honda on the highway. The car felt solid on the ground when making sharp turns. The engine felt smoother with synthetic Mobile One 0W-20. The transmission is slow and heavy. The power of the engine is felt best on the highway. Solid when driven on sand or rocks. It needs many changes in my opinion.

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  5 years in and very happy - 2006 Mazda Mazda6
  By faztang1 - January 18 - 4:22 pm

  Im winding down my life with my Mazda6 and must say overall it was a good 5 years. The car is 10 times better looking than a vanilla Camry or Accord. The subtle hatchback look is very sporty and the trunk is huge! Great looking car. Performance wise, the 215hp V-6 is not the strongest in class, but gets the job done. However I was not impressed with the fuel economy. Most small to mid sized current cross overs get better mileage. Handling is good but the 18 inch tires really bang around on bumpy rounds. I bent all 4 rims and went down to 17s. Reliability has been great, only some small plastic pieces are starting to get loose. Interior is decent, but rear seats are a little tight.

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  Zoom Zoom Zoom - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By sc - January 17 - 3:10 pm

  Just purchased pleased with look and interior wish it was a little more comfortable. I am average height 510" and is a little crampted. Fuel economy is not bad. I wish it was closer to 32- 35 the I have read about. Average is about 30 mpg. Warranty is ok, changed in the last few years I noticed. I am pleased, its a good car smart buy.

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  Wolf in sheeps clothes - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By ex mazda fan - January 16 - 5:23 am

  Purchased the vehicle in July of 06 with just over 18,000 miles and was as happy as could be for the first year or so. The second year on the other hand was not so good, I felt as tho I was taking the car in once a month for something different it started with a squeaky driver seat then some recalls then some weird clunks then a defective starter and several other things. Once everything was fixed things were okay until the car reached 58,000 miles and decided that it would be a good time to blow up! According to the mechanics the piston rod snapped and blew two holes in the block. The worst part is I was doing about seventy on the freeway not even accelerating. $9000 later the car is running ok

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  Nice, but quality??? - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By quality6? - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Love the car! However, Im actually quite annoyed by the lack of quality. The dash rattles, my fan broke and was replaced by Mazda, there is a rotten egg smell, and my front sunshade is loose. In all honesty, Mazda has a potential winner here, but how can they succeed without the quality? I really like the car, but one should not have to deal with these problems associated with a new car. My fault for buying the first year...