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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  Fun, practical, but also sluggish - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Jason Dee - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Car is fun to drive, but desperately needs a turbo. Acceleration is slow, and I found the fuel milage to be lower than expected...but handles better than anticipated. The 4-spd auto trans w/manual mode is slow to shift, but still fun to drive. Its a fun commuter car, and a great car for the price. The dealer offered several great incentives.

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  Cool Truck, but bad luck - 2001 Mazda Tribute
  By ejrusso - June 7 - 10:00 am

  We have had our Tribute DX V6 since November 2000. Besides being fun to drive and powerful the truck has a lot of problems. We are taking our truck in at least 4-5 times every 6 months, for repairs, since weve had it. Our transimission has been replaced along with the cylanoid, master brake cylinder, cracked fuel line, 4 check engine light sensors, the rear windshield wiper, drivers door panel, and the stripping along the front windshield. Im sure there are some I am forgetting.

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  7 seater Sport-Car !!! - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By Raymond Wong - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Got my mpv two days ago. Its accleration surprised me. Also, the 7 seater effortlessly zoomed uphill, it also stopped with precision since the ABS and electronic brake force distribution helped tremendrously. The handling is top-notch in the minivan category. The look of the GFX package is handsome. A must-have minivan for fun driving.

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  AVOID!! - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By Chuck111111 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Good GOD, stay away. Have this car 3 months, and have had nothing but trouble. Engine quits, transmission has been opened up twice for service. Im getting so I see the same group of owners in the dealership getting theirs serviced every time Im there.

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  RX-8 Rocks!!! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By RacerX8 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Got 2500miles so far and this RX-8 rocks big time!!! Paid $30300 for the sunlight silver GT package. Acceleration is good (not great) but driving is fun with that 9k RPM limit in second gear getting me to 60+mpg in just over 6seconds. Handling is great. Fits 4 adults. Slim 6 footers can sit in back and enter/exit with relative ease for shorter trips. Best combo of sportiness, civility, and practicality that $30k can buy IMHO.

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  Happy First Time Mazda Owner - 2010 Mazda Mazda6
  By Sarah - June 6 - 1:56 pm

  Bought the car about two weeks ago. Its the first car weve bought since we were SUV owners. So far the Fuel Economy is great compared to an SUV. I like how it looks inside and out. It has a lot of interior space compared to other sedans we looked at. You also seem to get a lot more features at a lower price. Love the blue tooth feature. So far I am a happy first time Mazda owner and would recommend this car.

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  I LOVE THIS SUV! - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Amy - June 6 - 11:53 am

  I bought the CX-7 in April and absolutely love it!! It is the perfect combination of a car and SUV. I was used to driving a two door Honda Civic and was able to change over to the CX-7 very easily. It drives just like a car but offers the comforts of an SUV such as the roomier interior and higher ride. I love it!!

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  beautiful car piss poor reliability - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By blaznazn22 - June 6 - 7:56 am

  I bought this car 2 months ago for $3000 at an auction with 196000km on it, or about 129k miles. There oil kept disappearing quickly and I didnt know where it was going. After about $2000 in repairs and getting some tires and rims, I find out that the cars engine is through. It was burning oil rapidly, the reason for that was the piston rings being worn out, and the reason for piston rings being worn out was the catalytic converter melting and blocking the exhaust creating excessive back pressure. Not to mention the EGR valve recirulating exhaust gases as well as other particles into the engine which also screwed the engine over. Very piss poor design by mazda.

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  I love my speed3 - 2010 Mazda MazdaSpeed3
  By Jase - June 5 - 11:56 pm

  I cant say enough good about it. My trade in was a 2005 mazda3s... Which I absolutely loved. 40,000 miles on it at trade and not a single issue other than routine oil changes. Buying the speed3 was an impulse buy while on vacation. I could not pass up the offer. I never knew the performance was anything close to what I had "heard" but wow! Its simply an awesome car with true Mazda soul and zoom zoom on steroids.

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  Still Going Strong - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By scooter - June 5 - 10:43 am

  I bought this Tribute new about two years ago. The styling is very nice, and it really is fun to drive. It has great acceleration, and excellent brakes. It is very easy to park and maneuver. The sound system is fantastic. The only negative I have experienced is the fuel economy. I only get about 17-18 city, and about 24-26 highway. Not bad, but for a vehicle this size it should be better. The build quality is very good. No rattles or other annoying noises after 17,000 miles. Overall it is a very good little SUV.