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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  Perfect for city/hwy sporty commute - 2015 Mazda Mazda3
  By shouravv - October 5 - 8:49 am

  The Mazda 3S sedan certainly feels very sturdy compared to my previous car, a 2010 Corolla, specially when taking sharp turns, changing lanes in busy traffic, or simply when a speeding tractor-trailer crosses you. The brake is super responsive, and the acceleration is decent without the sport mode turned on, and superb in the sport mode. With the 18" alloy wheels, thin tires, and sport tuned suspension, the ride feels very sporty (to be positive) or stiff (to be negative). But I guess thats a matter of taste. In rush hour (50-55mph), I average about 41mpg. At off-peak freeway (70-75mph) or in local traffic (35-40mph), it is about 35mpg. Very decent numbers for a 2.5L engine :-)

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  Really great car! - 2006 Mazda Mazda6
  By mazdaman24 - October 4 - 10:13 pm

  I bought this car a few months ago after my former Mazda Protege was totaled. I bought it because it was a great value, fully loaded V6 for $13k and only 27,000 miles. The interior isnt as rich as the new model but it is certainly respectable and intuitive. There is storage aplenty and its just the right size. The exterior styling is great, and the ride is firm but not punishing with the 18 inch wheels. The only downside is a slightly notchy transmission at low speeds, but at highway speeds this is the best car ive driven. The Ford-sourced V6 is potent, and I get between 24 and 29 MPG, excellent for a V6.

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  Head Turner Down Under - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By JOE FARR - October 4 - 1:13 pm

  Living on the Gold Coast and trying to find sporty car on a budget is not easy as the prices here are 25% higher than in the States. This fits the bill with change to spare. At $1.23 per liter or $4.75 a gallon, fuel is important. We couldnt be happier. This is our 5th Mazda in 5 years. 2 Mazda 6, RX8, and Tribute. This one is the best of the bunch. Anything else is second class.

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  Love This Car - 2011 Mazda Mazda3
  By pradis - October 3 - 10:00 pm

  I have only owned My Mazda3 for a few days now, and Ive never owned one before. My previous car was a 2009 Honda Fit. I thought I was very happy with the Fit, but there is little comparison to the Mazda3. I have the 2.5 liter, S trim package with all the bells and whistles. This car feels like one costing much more. I have heard people complain about road noise, but compared to my Fit, it is very quiet. I got 0% financing too which let me upgrade the tech for the car. Road handling, accelaration, and over-all feel are just excellent in the 3. Gas milage is a bit lower than some expect, but my Fit barely got 30mi on the highway. So pretty comparable, and the Mazda is way more fun!

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  ...and it just keeps getting better....NOT!!! - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By subszero - October 3 - 12:03 pm

  1. Turbo replacement at 65K miles....$3400 2. FIRST VVT replacement at 72K miles....$1600 3. SECOND VVT replacement at 90K miles....$1200 (got only the part...$450...as "goodwill"...yeah me!) 4. Transmission replacement at about 100K miles....$4000+ ....getting a letter from Mazda in the mail that "extends the warranty" on the VVT...thinking I may be able to recoup ~$3000, only to find that the extension was only to 70K miles.....PRICELESS!!!! Does anyone else find it odd that these warranties expire JUST before something MAJOR happens? Someone is getting "ZOOM ZOOMd" alright!!

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  The RX8 Rocks - 2006 Mazda RX-8
  By MaryAnn Allison - October 3 - 5:16 am

  Ive had my RX8 for almost 2 years. It is both automatic and manual. It looks great and handles like a dream. Looks like a sophisticated sports car and has a back seat. Ive never had anything malfunction so far. The gas mileage is poor but it is worth it. 100% satisfied

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  Great value - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By gogiboy - October 2 - 11:28 pm

  I bought my 07 new in March of that year. In 4 1/2 years only scheduled maintenance was required. It has proven to be even more reliable than my previous Honda Civic over the same near 5-year period. The hatchback offers versatility and the engine is punchy while still offering respectable mpg. The interior quality compares favorably with other vehicles in this price category. You can probably pick up a decent used one in the $10K to $12K range depending on condition/mileage, which makes it a very competitive car in the small hatchback category. The 3 Hatch seems to offer that perfect mating of reliability and functionality with a small dose of sportiness.

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  First time Mazda driver. - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By gonegolfin - October 2 - 11:43 am

  I bought the MX-5 GT 6-speed at the end of March 2006. It is the True Red color and I have lost track of how many people have stopped me to ask questions about the car and in some cases asked if they could drive it. Obviously, my answer was no. The car has been exactly as described and lived up to all the pre-launch euphoria. Its impossible to overstate the "fun" factor of driving this car top-down. Outstanding!

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  good, reliable, fun car - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By SPC protege - October 2 - 6:43 am

  I love my Protege. It might not be the fastest car, or strongest car out there, but you can still leave a lil Civic in the dust. Im into the tuner world and I’m trying to do some modifications to it but it’s hard to find parts for it and when I do find some aftermarket parts, they are really expensive. All in all it is a great, reliable, and fun car to have.

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  Mazdas CX-7: The coolest CUV - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By ljmattox - October 1 - 2:26 am

  Weve just finished our lease of a 2007 CX-7, and had a very positive experience overall. Ours was an early-build 07, so we had quite a few TSB service visits at first: reprogram the TCM for highway surging, reprogram the ECM for slow speed throttle response (as delivered, a little "gas" did little, then a little more lit a rocket), install new, better protecting door seals, and finally a new A/C control head unit to prevent condenser freeze-up in very hot weather. Since then? Nada. Its been bulletproof, fun to drive, and still so "cool" to look at; *great* styling for this class. Fitting real snow tires in the winter made it unstoppable, and we had it cross-country many times.