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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  best in class - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By mazda autocrosser - March 12 - 10:26 pm

  This car is hands down the best economy car you can (could) buy. Yes, it could use more power, but its still peppy. The handling is better than cars costing a lot more, and the brakes are the best I have ever used, period. The Protege is truly a budget BMW; so much more fun than a Sentra, Civic, or Corolla. It looks good, too; after 3 years, I still find myself turning around to look at it as I walk away. Its a little loud on the highway, but the high-performance tires have a lot to do with that. I usually get 25mpg around town and a bit over 30 on the highway. My last Protege (a 1990 model) was running strong at 225,000 miles, and I dont expect this one to be any different.

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  Finally Settled on the CX-9 Touring After Months of Test Drives - 2011 Mazda CX-9
  By anotherfan1 - March 12 - 5:27 pm

  I switched from a 2008 Camry, a car I only liked for the gas mileage, to the CX-9 Touring. We looked at the GMC Acadia, the Pilot, the Highlander, Volvo XC-90, the Flex and the Explorer. XC-90 - Uncomfortable, cost too much Flex - Comfortable but strange looking Acadia - Didnt seem to have the quality I was looking for Highlander - Built on a Camry chassis and this was what I was trying to get away from Pilot - Seemed clunky and I did not like the dealer. The CX-9 is comfortable, spacious and it drives great. It has a very easy to manage center console, radio, etc. What I dont like is the mileage and how its tough to be more a la carte while building your car online.

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  Almost Perfect - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By Kimm - March 12 - 1:56 pm

  Ive had my Mazda 6i SVE about 15 months and I love it, mostly. Ive gotten as high as 31.25 mpg on the highway, 23 city. The car is not exceptionally quick but is roomy, comfortable, reliable, and handles phenomenally. Its quiet at freeway speed with good visibility and a lot of nice standard features like ABS, EBD, and traction control. Mines a redfire metallic and its an attractive car with the black interior. The only complaint I have at all with the car is the interior quality. The seats are nice and soft but the fabric roughs up and shows wear very quickly. Go for the touring model with the leather seats and door panels if you can. Doors sometimes dont shut well without a retry.

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  Second Mazda 3 - same zoom; better mileage - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By madriver10 - March 12 - 1:31 pm

  We traded in a 2004 mazda 3 sedan for a 2012 mazda 3 i Grand Touring hatchback with all the options. Also looked at the Focus Titanium and Subaru Impreza. Both seemed like solid cars, but Focus was more expensive for similar specs, and we dont need the AWD (and slightly lower mpg) of the Impreza. The Mazda hatchback has plenty of room in the hatch for a medium-size dog, and is still a fun-to-drive compact car. Our mileage has been in the low 30s in mixed driving.

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  High Mazda5s - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By ezdad - March 12 - 6:10 am

  Best small minivan - maybe best small car - on the market. Plenty of room for 6 and some luggage, good gas mileage(got 36 mpg on one trip), handles better than some sports cars, inexpensive. Buy it - youll love it.

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  RX-8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Michie - March 10 - 8:33 pm

  I love my RX-8. I think it has a great sleek design that really turns heads and the back doors were a great idea for those who want a sports car, but still have the comfort of a four door sedan. The car handles great & really grips the road, however it is very important to warm the vehicle up before driving in the cold weather otherwise you could possibly flood the engine. Also, you really need to keep an eye on the oil level because with the rotary it burns very hot. Other than that, the car is a ton of fun and really a head turner!

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  Im thrilled! - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By Kevin - March 10 - 3:53 am

  Bought my Mazda 6 last weekend. Six cylinder Grand Touring - loaded except nav system. The tech features are so great - blue tooth, Bose stereo, Sirius radio, hi tech key fob, fantastic seats. I remember driving my friends 8 cylinder Mustang GT when I was in college and this car feels exactly like that. Feels very "American" to drive. I absolutely love the way the car handles and after owning a Miata in the past, I hope the maintenance and reliability hold up like that car did.

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  Love this car! - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Stever - March 10 - 12:40 am

  I bought this vehicle on impulse - had to test drive one after seeing it and had to buy it after driving it! Not sorry at all. Love virtually everything about it, but the trunk opening could be a little larger to make it more accessible, the disable switch for the remote trunk opener is in a poor location as items in the trunk can press it and inadvertently cause the remote to be disabled (happened to me...). And the radio reception in AM is poor. I know: "who uses AM?" However, I do travel where AM is about it sometimes and a longer optional antenna would be nice (I am assuming the problem is antenna length). Note that these are very small things. Overall, I love the car!

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  Jack Rabbit 3i - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By PnBoo - March 9 - 9:40 pm

  Bought the car for my 25 mile (one way) trip to work. After 8,000 miles, could not be happier. Averages about 32 MPG on highway. Very agile and turning radius is incredible. I test drove a few other small cars; this is the only one I felt a smirk come across my face during the test. I wish I had purchased the manual transmission. Only initial complaint was the seats, I had to use a seat cushion to be comfortable (very minor).

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  Gorgeous - 2014 Mazda Mazda6
  By skyactivity - March 9 - 11:36 am

  For the same price as a boring old camry, you can have the Mazda6, an extremely good looking, road-hugging, fuel sipping beast of a car. It looks like an infiniti with more character, it drives like a low and light bimmer, and costs half of either. While not perfect on the inside (the seats leave me a little sore; maybe its just cause Im 64") its definitely a no brainer to get.