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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  Nice Car - 1999 Mazda Protege
  By Jake36 - November 30 - 10:00 am

  It is a nice car to have and i only had one small problem with the car. Mazda sent me a recall letter saying that i have a defected coil ignition.

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  Great incentives on good truck - 2002 Mazda Truck
  By hsjrev - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 92 Toyota 3.0L 4x4 on the B4000 dual sport auto. The little things like switches, turn stalk, armrests, etc. are nicer in the 10 year old Toyota, but the Ford 4.0L is much smoother and nicer than the old 3VZ-E. The Mazda smooths out the bumps much better but has more body lean in the turns and I go a little slower on the onramps. I think the Tacoma is a better truck, but with the S plan purchasing program from work, and Mazdas incentives, the price was just too good to pass up.

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  B4000 - Best in Class (in my opinion) - 2002 Mazda Truck
  By Chris M - November 30 - 10:00 am

  B4000 has lots going for it PRIMARILY the 4L 208HP, largest in class - greatest horsepower per dollar spent (w/ Ranger). Nissan “supercharged” engine is slightly larger, 210HP, but less responsive/slower & supercharged engine lacks towing/off road power. Challengers: Ranger, S10, Tacoma, Dakota & Frontier. Tacoma/Frontier only come in 4 full or 2 door models; no have ½ doors. Drives the cost up such that one may be better off looking at bigger trucks. Fun truck, lots of functionality & power, nice high ride, good visibility, shift on fly 4wld, large/cool tires w/ strong, elevated suspension, 4 doors & features (bed-liner, cover, bed extender).

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  The Most Bang for the Buck! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By diamond - November 30 - 10:00 am

  It looks cool. Its quick. Its fun. Its sporty. Its roomey. It handles awesome. What more is there to say. Oh yeah, put oil and gas in it and it will last forever.

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  whats not to like? - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By wkwood - November 30 - 10:00 am

  200 hp and ft/lbs of torque in a minivan that is 7/8 the size of its competitors. Zoom Zoom. So it fits in the garage nicely next to the sedan, and I especially like the passenger side windows that go down. If passengers want to wait in the car while I run in for somethingn they can. And its really quiet inside on the highway. What remains to be seen is reliability. Im a little concerned that its a ford duratec V6 under the hood, so well see.

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  Mazda LX 2wd - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By Danley2 - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed finally having an SUV. I found the price to be a very good value. I have only a few design peeves. 1) The gear shift is in the way of the radio controls while driving. 2) The child window lock option is great but when engaged, the driver cannot control the other windows without turning off the lock. 3) The foam molding under the windshield at the dash keeps popping back out from under the dash. 4) The side mirror control button is awkwardly placed making it hard to sit back and check mirror position while changing settings. 5) Fog lights should come on with running lights and not just with headlights on.

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  Great choice - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By montrealer2095 - November 30 - 9:52 am

  This is my second Mazda 6 and have been very happy with both. The 4 cyl engine is a bit wheezy, but I commute a long way each day and was a worthwhile tradeoff vs. the V6 to get the extra mileage, which is good but not great. My quibbles are a phantom squeak and the a/c isnt strong enough for those of us who live in the South. I was rear ended by a Camry a few weeks ago and the 6 lived up to its excellent crash ratings. Car was in decent shape and the Camry was a writeoff. No doubt this is the best value in its class.

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  fun while it lasted. - 2009 Mazda Tribute
  By black_widow - November 28 - 8:27 pm

  I bought my Tribute with 7300 miles on it and I loved it. I traded it in with 35500 miles on it because the transmission had gotten really sluggish over the last 15000 and I was having problems with the breakes. It had been in the shop 5 times within the last 6 months and they still squeaked loudly. As far as the transmission Ive read numorous reviews on the tribute/escape/mariner regarding the transmission issue and consumers needing new ones so i traded mine before it could give me problems. I loved the layout and the look of the vehicle. the 12v outlet in the back came out of its compartment and the one up front was loose. I got about 22-25 mpg city and 26-28 hwy.

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  Cream of the Crop - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By srambus - November 28 - 3:36 pm

  My 16yr old son and I spent a good month of his summer vacation test driving and researching smaller SUVs. After extensive research and many many test drives, the Tribute clearly rose to the top. Best combination of gas mileage and style and comfort. When a KILLER deal came up in the local paper I jumped on it. I love the fact that the interior gives me the feeling of driving a much larger SUV, yet the actual driving and handling are definately carlike and peppy. The steering wheel has a nice grip and texture to it. In other SUVs I felt a roll or tipping sensation going around corners, but in the Tribute its practically non- existant. All in all, Zoom Zoom for sure!

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  Great Car - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By gburns - November 27 - 7:03 pm

  I bought this car after comparing it to multiple other cars, and I could not be happier that I went with the Mazda3.