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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  BAD TIRES! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By nlhjacob - August 24 - 9:30 pm

  Bought this car because it had extra seats and fair mpg...in comparison to others w/ extra seating. The tires are awful! Should not be on this car. They were replaced at 19,000 miles. Got new ones, rotated once, took in to rotate again and was told that they cant be rotated because my rims are bent and that would cause steering wheel vibration (to be worse than it already is). Rims get bent from potholes because the low profile tires on this car do not protect the rims. The tires/rims on this Mini-Van make this car a very bad purchase. If regular tires were on it, it would be a pretty good car, but theyre not so it is a very big mistake to buy a 5. Itll keep on costing you money!

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  High tech traditional sports car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By cactusrose - August 22 - 8:16 pm

  A sports car. Rear wheel drive, light snick-snick gear box and a hunger for the twisties. And you get to check the oil, and warm it up before buzzing the engine, just like an old Triumph. Yet if you know how to look after a rotary, unlike an old Triumph this car is tediously reliable, at least it has been for me. The car has a slightly overdone exterior, but draw your own conclusions on the looks. Yet from a practical perspective the interior is like the Tardis (check with a British friend for the definition of Tardis) and very well finished. I wasnt going to buy a car like this, but one test drive had me hooked. I havent looked back - buy this car!

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  2010 mazda3 sport - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By Guy Senat - August 19 - 4:13 pm

  The 2010 mazda3 sport is one, if not, the best car in its class. With so much extra to offer ( automatic wipers, bluethooth, and even gps available ) will truly give you more then youd expect from a 3 and is truly worth the money .

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  Great bang for your buck - 2010 Mazda CX-9
  By David - August 19 - 10:00 am

  We purchased our Mazda CX9 after owning a Chevy Tahoe. We have all the bells and whistles on this car, and could not believe what we have for the price. We have had a few problems though. One being the air conditioning. When turning off the car, the air would turn on. We did have that fixed to just happen again. When making turns the car seems to be making sounds, not sure what that is, and need to have that checked. GAs mileage really needs to be improved. It seems like I am filling up that car all the time! Overall I am happy, but not sure I would buy one again considering the poor gas mileage.

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  Mazda3 very Audi-like - 2006 Mazda Mazda3
  By Rex - August 15 - 3:20 pm

  Replaced a 2002 Infiniti Q45 with this little gem, which has almost as many "goodies" at about 1/3rd the price. Was looking for a disposable "commuter car" with decent mileage and some measure of driving fun. I considered Prius (boring), Civic Hybrid (cheesy), Audi A3 & A4 (great cars for people that like to drive), Acura TSX (just a fancy Accord), and BMW 3 (too, well, pretentious) before trying the Mazda, and had just about settled on the Audi A3. I had never driven a Mazda and was very pleasantly surprised. Good (not great, but considering the price, good) performance and handling, gorgeous interior, and enough electronic toys to make the morning commute almost entertaining. Two thumbs up.

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  A LITTLE WIND NOISE - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By PROTEGE OWNER - August 15 - 2:00 am

  EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE PROTEGE 3 MONTHS AGO AFTER I TOTALLED OUT A HYUNDAI 01 ELANTRA I HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT IMPRESSED.

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  In Town Mileage is over stated - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Guzler - August 15 - 2:00 am

  I have a Mazda 6s with a 6 cyl and automatic. I have to keep looking at the specs as I can not get near the miles per gallon in town as they are stating. I am barely getting 12 to 14 miles per gallon. Maybe I have a heavy foot but I try to be easy on the pedal and still the mileage in town is poor. I was pleasantly surprised then to find out that the highway miles per gallon was close to what they had estimated and so not all is lost on gas. But if you are looking for performance and not gas mileage, then this car is for you. Fun to drive and some real pep when you need it.

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  Still Happy after 60K miles - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By garv214 - August 14 - 8:03 pm

  Bought my car new back in 2001 and have enjoyed it thoroughly. A blast to drive in day to day driving (great handling). Replaced the tires at 40K with Firestone Fusions (uprated to 205mm) which fixed the poor wet weather traction of the Dunlops. A couple of common minor gripes: burned out headlight bulbs (4 so far - what is up with that?), wind noise from the roof rack is present, passenger window rolls up more slowly than drivers side, and had to replace the coil to correct an engine miss. Overall, the car has been a joy to own. I get 28-30 mpg routinely, can fit 4 adults comfortably, and haul a bunch of stuff as needed. Add good looks and great handling and you have a real winner. =)

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  Pretty hot hatch - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By junglist724 - August 14 - 4:35 pm

  I recently got the i touring hatchback version of the mazda3. The steering is very precise, unlike a lot of other cars. Skyactiv is a must. The improvement in performance and fuel economy is worth the extra cash. Stay away from the base trim for the 4 door. The car is pretty fun to drive even at low speeds.

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  Solid and Reliable - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By Juan - August 13 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this car new in June 2007. Now its Feb 2010 and 45,000 miles later I only have praise for this car. Solid and Reliable. I bough new tires at 40k and also a new battery at around 34k. Other than that, I have never taken this car to the shop. Still rides and looks like new. I would buy it again. I have owned a couple other new cars before, and they all had minor problems after 2 years (power windows broken, gas pump failure, etc). Not this one. The quality of this car is superb.