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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  Took the Miata over the New Porsche Boxster - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By David A. Myers - March 8 - 10:56 am

  I owned a used 1999 Boxster that I had for 10 years and was looking for a newer 2-seat convertible replacement. i was looking at the new Boxster and Audi TT, but didnt really want to shell out $50K-$60K for a new car. And even the used ones were fairly pricey. I owned a 1992 Mazda Miata that I absolutely loved but had to trade it in when we started a family. I wasnt all that impressed with the 2015 Mazda Miata, it was nice but didnt come close to the Audi or Porsche in styling. But then I started to research the new 2016 Miata and became very interested as I saw the concepts and pricing. Was very disappointed when it didnt show up at the 2016 Baltimore Car Show. When it finally hit the showrooms in the Baltimore area I immediately went to take a look. But all the cars on the lots were pre-orders so I was unable to drive one. I really liked the looks of the car but I needed to get behind the wheel and take a spin. Finally my wife and I got to take one for a test drive. My wife is a Boxster lover so I figured it was going to be a tough sell. But we both fell in love with it immediately after test driving it. We love the look and feel of the Boxster but the Miata has far more of the "fun-factor". Its simply a blast to drive. You really feel one with the road and the acceleration is more than adequate for this little car. At 63" its a little cramped for me compared to the Porsche but I dont mind at all. I find myself trying to find every excuse to drive this car. "Honey, were out of milk. Im driving to the store (as I just chug down a 1/2 gallon of the white stuff)". We took it on a 180 mile trip to the beach and I felt very comfortable the entire trip down and back. We bought two nice size, color matching, soft bags that held more than enough for a few days away and they fit perfectly in the trunk. More so than the Porsche, you can take the top down, keep the windows up, put on the heat and stay comfortable in the cockpit all of the way down to 45 degrees or so. We have had a very mild December in Baltimore this year so we have had plenty of top-down fun with this little car. Hands down the best 2-seat convertible on the market for the money!!!

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  Outstanding Compact SUV - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By TGO - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Great compact SUV although it has a ton of room inside for its size. I did a fair amount of research on available compact SUVs prior to buying. The Tribute offered the best of both worlds from great car like handling on the road and good capability in marginal conditions. The Tribute is a joy to drive and its size lets you get in and out of spaces you would never venture in a mid to full size SUV. Very safe vehicle as attested to my insurance cost decreasing $60 a year even though I went from a 2000 model year vehicle to a 2005.

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  A GREAT DECISION! WOOHOO! - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By FlyFisherman - March 7 - 2:00 am

  So glad I bought this Mazda Tribute! It has served me well and most of all is EASY to drive...what a joy. The mileage is fair/good, absolutely love the firm bucket seats that help with my back problem. Great cargo room, fold down seats rule! The stereo kicks...go for the updgraded stereo, its worth it! Great roadhandling features and in New England here the 4x4 is the smoothest I have ever experienced. Thanks for a great vehicle!

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  CanÂ’t get any better - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By sitik - March 7 - 2:00 am

  My Mazda 3 was under $18k. Because of its exterior design people thought it was European. Because of its interior design and features people thought it’s was expensive. When I told them that it was under $18k they were surprised. In addition, they were astonished, when I told them that this car pushes 160hp and does 0 – 60 mph under 8 seconds. To sum up, I love this car!

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  What the 3 Series used to be - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By D_Stutzman - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Mazda3 2 weeks ago. By far best car I ever owned. Head turner, quality is impeccable, 2.3 litre with manual is fantastic. I put in Bosch quad Platinum spark plugs that bumped my torque up a bit. Great car, handles like a rear wheel drive with no torque steer.

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  Cx9 - 2018 Mazda CX-9
  By dmac - March 6 - 2:36 pm

  I like the car very much

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  Just got it, love it already - 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By LemmiwinksGT - March 6 - 10:16 am

  The ride isnt harsh with the factory upgraded suspension kit and it corners like crazy. Acceleration is brisk and it seems even more so when youre sitting so low to the ground. The engine and exhaust have a nice sound and the car begs to be revved. I absolutely love this car. The hard top is reasonably quiet and adds to the security of the car while parked. The 2009 / 2010 models no longer have a crazy wheel gap like the 2006-2008s and the front end styling is much more to my taste. The stability control isnt intrusive, the headlights are very good, especially the high beams, and visibility with the top up isnt horrible if you fix your mirrors correctly. To sum this up, drive one.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By DS - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car summer 2001 and have loved it since. It is fun, reliable and great for two people. When you start putting more people in the car, it becomes not so comfortable. Every time I have rode in the back seat, I have gotten car sick. The storage space with the fold down seats is super fun for camping, only wish they laid completey flat. The only thing that is weird is the cruise control. You can never tell when it is on and sometimes you can accidentally hit it. Might be a safety concern. Also, no matter where I park, the front end hits every curb and scrapes the bottom because the front end is extremely LOW!!

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  Mazda5 Grand Touring, so far I love it! - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By baltimorejim - March 5 - 6:49 am

  Ive had my Mazda5 for about a month now and I am really impressed with this vehicle. Since 1987 I only owned two cars, both were Honda Accords. This time around I wanted something different and I test drove a 2012 Honda CR-V (expensive), a Hyundai Tuscon (cheap interior) and a Toyota Rav4 (just didnt like it). Finally I test drove the Mazda5. It is a feature laden vechicle that is fun to drive and is "a lot of vehicle for the money". Working with Hertitage Mazda in Baltimore was the best vehicle purchasing experience Ive had in 45 years of buying cars. The only downside Ive found so far is that gas mileage is only average.

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  Great Handling SUV - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By D K Stewart - March 3 - 5:43 pm

  This is the best handling SUV that you can buy. In fact it handles much better than most cars. For example it handles better than an Acura TSX. We average over 21 MPG in town that includes some freeway driving. We have taken one trip--over 1000 miles and we averaged 25 MPG. Even though the engine is not a smooth and quiet as a V/6, it performs better that any of the V/6s that we drove. We found that the handling on most Toyota SUVs was very sloppy and while the Acura MDX did handle and drive well, The CX-7 looks so much better and costs about $10,000 less(Im talking about what you can actually buy one for). The Acura is nicer inside but the build quality on the CX-9 is just as good.