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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  Great Van - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By namber - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I have had one for a year and love it. It is fun to drive and very economical. It is much better quality than our previous Caravans and vastly superior to the Cherokee we unloaded.

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  best ride - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By hotmazzie - May 2 - 10:00 am

  hot and spunky....not a ford donkey.

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  2009 mazda3 2.0L 5spd - 2009 Mazda Mazda3
  By joey - May 2 - 5:23 am

  It seems to be a great little car. I purchased it because its a bargain. I wont mention what I paid for it, but I will say it was more than $2,000 less than the corolla, and the cobalt. Interior and exterior are better looking than the aforementioned vehicles. The gas mileage could be better.

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  Great looking comfortable CUV - 2013 Mazda CX-5
  By glennm76 - May 1 - 11:58 am

  I purchased the cx5 over 3 months ago and it has almost 3,000 miles. I am only getting about 24 miles per gallon, but i do have the 4wd and mostly city driving. I like the looks of the car. My prior car was a 2010 rav4 limited v6 AWD. I have test drove almost all of the CUVs out there. I liked the CX5 the best. It handles great on the road, takes corners like a sports car and very comfortable. It can use more power, but has enough for everyday driving. The leather seats are very comfortable. Nice and roomy inside. I got the nav, which does kinda suck. But the bluetooth is great and the Bose stereo sounds excellent. I love the blind spot detection. My very first Mazda. No problems so far.

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  Hard driver, long commuter - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By long commuter - May 1 - 10:33 am

  My 3rd new Mazda but all the local dealerships closed. Love the cx7 and I was worried about the reliability of the turbo but it holds up well. No problems out of mine other than front tire wear due to bad alignment. People complaining about turbo lag should learn to use the manual shift mode when you are starting or passing- keeping the engine in the rpm range of the turbo eliminates the lag, and few cars can keep up with this thing when it is in its turbo range (around 3500-4500 rpm). If you keep your foot out of the turbo you can get 22-24 mpg after the engine is broken in, I average about 20 due to my faster driving style and quick starts.

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  So far so good - 2011 Mazda Mazda3
  By chrisjwelch - May 1 - 6:01 am

  Owned my Mazda3 about 1 month now. Everything is fantastic. Surprisingly large in the front seats. I would not personally feel comfortable sitting in the back seat, but since I never do, it is not an issue. Great gas mileage. Fun to drive. Well priced compared to similar sedans I looked at. Looking forward to having this car for a while.

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  Cold Water on CX-7 - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By CDT - May 1 - 3:40 am

  This is a very annoying vehicle. It was the first one delivered in the area and no doubt has some new model quirks, but that does not explain a vehicle delivered with major misalignment that scrubbed the first tires in 10k miles, nor the turbo lag, nor the awful gas mileage (17-19 in almost all country driving), nor the terrible handling in snow (except straight ahead), nor the brakes that went metal to metal in 20k miles. Its pretty and fun on dry curvy roads, but overall it is a loser and will not be bought or repeated at lease end.

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  Fun to Drive is a Yes - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Cklaven - April 30 - 10:46 pm

  I just bought the S Grand Touring with a 5 speed. I love to drive it, want to go to eat at restaraunts that are farther away. I wish I lived farther from work. I had a Scion xB, which had a sporty feel, but the engine always sounded like it was laboring. The

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  Unreliable - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By MikeD - April 30 - 3:00 pm

  My first problem began around 5000 miles. My check engine light came on, I took it to the dealer and found out that it was a recall issue with the fan. I went through my first set of rotors around 10,000 miles. At 25,000 miles the transmission started to shift roughly between 2nd and 3rd gears. At 67,000 miles the engine blew. NO ENGINE LIGHT appeared. Mechanic said one of the rear spark plugs started to misfire and started to dump raw fuel into the cylinder; which then pushed into the exhaust system which blew both catalytic converters out. Replaced engine and catalytic converters. That engine then blew at 90,000 miles. I got rid of the useless car at that point !

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  Zoom Zoom Zoom - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Jon - April 29 - 10:33 am

  Great little car, fast, comfortable. Gas mileage is suspect.