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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  So far, So good... - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By stratt911 - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2002.5 model when they first came out and I currently have 9k miles on the car. Option include the sport automatic, leather, and moonroof. I was debating between this and a WRX but at the time, Subaru wasnt offering any financing specials. I am very happy with the P5s handling, sporty looks, and quality. I would definitely recommend the P5 to anyone looking for a great package at a great price. The only problem that I have so far is wishing it had more power (thats what i get for driving a wrx first). But this will soon be fixed with a turbo addition via Flyin Miata.

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  The Best for Less - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By P333 - March 22 - 10:00 am

  The Mazda MPV is quite simply the best minivan for the money. It offers a car- like ride and performance yet has enough cargo space to haul the whole family across the country, I cant say enough good things about this vehicle. You can get into a nicely equipped MPV for around or just over $20k, try to do that with the new Nissan Quest that is set to debut in the summer of 03. The Nissan dealers told us to expect prices STARTING at $27k. Its a freakin Nissan minivan. There was a time when Nissan products offered the most car for the money. I think Mazda has taken over that title.

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  Nice fun car to drive. - 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By CrazyGuy - March 22 - 9:50 am

  I just picked up this 10th anniversary edition Miata with 100,000 miles on it. The car still runs and idles like new. No vibration at all. The paint is in very good condition. I love 6 speed manual tranny and dual tone interior design. Leather and suede buckets seats. The handling is excellent. RWD. I love this car. A nice Christmas present for myself

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  Very Impressed - 2015 Mazda Mazda6
  By jfcpamba - March 21 - 4:27 am

  I was looking for a fun car to drive, manual that could fit our family of five. Test drove many cars and decided on the 6. This car is not perfect, but it is an excellent car for this price point. The best part of this car is the drive. It feels and handles great, like you are connected to the road. The fit and finish on the inside are fantastic as everything has a really nice look and feel to it. Nothing fantastic, but everything is nice. On the outside, I think its a beut...but thats my opinion. Ive had it for 6 weeks now and am now averaging 33 mpg in mixed driving. Hard to believe! This car is what I was looking for.

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  protege fun - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By protegepal - March 19 - 11:36 am

  Have owned my car for 7 years and still love it. I have a manual transmission and this car is fun to drive and feels/looks sporty. Roomy for four of us and luggage. Still gets great mileage. Hard to find tires for it that arent expensive and not the greatest in the snow, but those are my only complaints. I get tons of compliments on it as well.

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  Will buy the same car if I need one - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By crazyjerry - March 18 - 5:40 am

  I constantly pay attention to better cars. Mazda 3 hatchback is still the ONE in this price range, best overall value for an upscale economy car. I have the strip version of hatchback with the exception of rearview mirror and mp3 player. I did not drive it hard (except break-in period), but rather lively most of the time. And this car definitely lived up to every occasion with zoom zoom, never missing a beat. It averaged 30 mpg in cold weather and 32 in warm weather, with about 70% of freeway driving, in its first 16k miles.

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  Great Car!!!! - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By mazdaguy - March 18 - 4:50 am

  Had this about 1 week so cant comment on reliability but this thing is a blast to drive, I test drove the corolla, civic, elantra and sentra and this car beats it by leaps and bounds. The interior is so upscale, they spared no expense (it looks like a BMW). No cheap plastics or loose panels. But the best part is the handling, this car wants to be driven fast and it handles great. You can take corners with confidence

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  Another Review - No Change - Still Great - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Mustangleadr - March 18 - 2:39 am

  I own currently two 2003 models , one manual the other automatic with sport mode. Bought both ironically with 133,000 miles separate times. The first one has 172,000 miles and the other has 152,000 miles now. I bought both after selling a new 2014 Mazda 3 which I found boring to drive compared to the "zoom, zoom" ride of the PR5. Due to gearing, the car has very good low and mid range torque range compared to the 6 speed manual 155 hp of the Mazda 3. I chipped my first PR5 2002 model ( which had 235,000 miles which I sold for $4500) along with turbo muffler and cold air intake. This gave the car high torque power but current ones I own have only a cold air intake with provides more than enough power to allow me to drive between 75-80 mph going up the Grapevine in So Cal/No Cal. I know, above speed limit but I just driving the flow if you drive that route. Still get between 28-30 mpg. Though it lower than the 34 mpg from 2014 M3, the car still "feels" like a sport car which was the final analysis in Car and Drivers Comparison test placing the car in 1st place. Too bad Mazda stop making the car but if you read Consumer Reviews like Edmund you see how owners feel. Car is reliable, great handling made for the twisty roads and fun car to drive. What else can you ask for a daily car.

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  More zoom-zoom than your typical compact SUV - 2017 Mazda CX-5
  By Jeff B - March 18 - 12:15 am

  If money was no object, Id be driving a Porsche Cayenne S. But since my current car budget did not have room for a $90K SUV (and the associated high maint costs), I feel I did the next best thing and got a Mazda CX-5 GT with prem pkg. No, its not nearly as fast as a Cayenne, but for about a third the the price, this little SUV acts a lot like that Swabian icon of the road. This is my second CX5. I had a 2013 as well. The 2017 is a HUGE upgrade from the 2013 model. I got my new one in Soul Red Crystal, and it literally glows! Love it. The 2017 is MUCH quieter inside than the earlier model, and compared to even a new Honda CRV, or a Ford Escape, the Mazda is quieter and more composed on the road, and handles much better than those rivals. Although the stability control is a little too aggressive for my taste, you can still toss this thing around like a sports sedan and not worry about the suspension getting flabby & floppy on you. It just tracks beautifully and handles mid corner bumps with aplomb (just like the Cayenne). If your main goal is having a lot of interior room & cargo space, go for the CRV (which is MUCH roomier) but in every other aspect I can think of, the Mazda scores higher. The Honda is more like a nice mini-van, disguised as an SUV. Sure its roomy and peppy, but it in no way rewards the enthusiast driver like the Mazda. The parchment leather interior is just gorgeous, and looks much nicer than (for example) the interior in a BMW X3 or X5. Mazda obsessed over every little detail in this car. I was a bit concerned that I might not like all the "active safety" features, but they are so well done and so well integrated into the operation of the vehicle, that it was easy to get used to, and now I miss them in my other cars. With about 1100 miles on the clock I am averaging 26.9mpg. I do not do much urban driving, but still I am very happy with that result. I expect this result will improve as the engine breaks in. (Over 4 years I averaged 28.4mpg in my 2013 CX5). In short, if you want a "drivers car" but need the room and practicality of an SUV get the CX5 -- unless of course you can spring for the Cayenne :)

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  Responsive - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By ACTD - March 16 - 12:40 pm

  Steering, handling, ride, and throttle response are nearly perfect. This car reacts to control inputs without hesitation while maintaining a comfortable ride. This is a true drivers car. No other cars in the compact class can compete. The true competition is in the near luxury class. I have owned Audi, Lexus, and Acura, and I dont feel like anything is missing from the Mazda 3. The 167hp will not win a drag race, but the power delivery is smooth with quick throttle response. Plus, there always seems to be plenty of power reserve waiting for merging and passing. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my purchase.