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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  Mazda Tribute LX 4X4 - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By PCFlorida - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this Suv 6 months ago. It is so much fun to drive,has pep & is stylish. But ,when you use the air conditioning it uses alot of gas. Also, the wind noise is very noticeable. The interior has a cheap feel to it. Leg room is limited, Especially when you put a childs booster seat in the rear.

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  Driving Machine that is Practical - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By RGSComp - November 21 - 10:00 am

  The 5 door is a car you can work out of and yet have so much fun driving. I put 1000 miles a week in city, rural and highway driving and never tire of the driving. 5 speed is short throw and slick. Steering is right on and makes you feel like all roads are a track. Seats in front are very comfortable and supportive. Everyone comments on the quality of the interior. I have never owned a car that gets so many comments from young guys to older men and women. Unique look. The fuel mileage, and I keep accurate records, has been 28.5 to 29 on the 2.3 liter entine. The interior swallowed two people and 5 computers and monitors, plus supplies and too

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  NO REGRETS - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By HILLBORG - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I am 57yrs young,this car takes the boredom out of driving. Tried G35 sedan,Maxima and the Acura TL @approx $15k more CDN and bought the 3GT WITH OUT THE TORQUE STEER. This car is as much fun and the insurance was a nice surprise.The doors close like a vault and the car is extremly stable at high speeds,also like the extra room in the garage.

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  Good drive - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By gmopsman - November 20 - 4:43 pm

  I love the drive so far. It is very responsive and fun to drive. The gas mileage on the first tank in the Washington DC area was 20 miles per gallon. The rear should have vents for the passengers. I would also like to see heated mirrors as an option. The navigation system is great to use. The throttle took some minor getting used to. The transmission shifting is the best I have experienced.

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  A fun and practical big car to the family - 2007 Mazda CX-9
  By neutro99 - November 19 - 6:53 am

  The best feature I like? I have two car seats installed on 2nd row and just slide the 2nd row up, I (perfect height by the astronaut standard) can get into the 3rd row effortlessly! I dont think any vehicle out there can do this, even with minivan. As soon as you have both car seats block the rear door, the 3rd row cant be accessed. Amazingly CX-9 can do it! I didnt even realize this feature when I bought it. The only thing I dont like so much is the suspension is a little too hard. It is sporty and gives you good cornering but after a long ride you wish it could be a little softer and more comfortable.

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  Great Car - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By todd - November 19 - 5:20 am

  Went from a Lexus IS 250 to a Mazda 3 GT with the tech and bose package. Couldnt be happier. For well over $12,000 less than the Lexus, I get far more features (heated seats, rain sensing wipers, seat memory, bluetooth phone AND music streaming, xenon adaptive headlights, Navigation, etc.). Much more fun to drive than the Lexus (got the 6sp manual on the 3). For the price (I got well under invoice) there is nothing that can compare.

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  M6 Good Car for Cheap Price - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By crzygosu - November 18 - 11:20 am

  I spent some time between the two and the three reasons why I went with the M6 was that (1) there were too many TSXs on the streets, (2) the M6 fully loaded was cheaper than the TSX I had in mind and finally (3) I wanted a V6 under hood instead of a wimpy I4. I know that TSX is a very good car, but the final deciding factor for me was the fact that too many of my friends already had that car. I wanted to go with something no one else had at my school, and so here I am with my M6 happier than ever.

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  Mazda 5 - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By shoolem - November 18 - 10:23 am

  Love the car. Perfect mixture of sporty small car with near-minivan capacity. Handles very nicely and is very easy to parallel park in snug spots!

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  Good Looking SUV with some quirks - 2001 Mazda Tribute
  By TheGrip - November 18 - 8:23 am

  Owned this beauty over 4 years. Love the peppy engine and inside comfort. No major expenses except for new oil pan recently installed due to the nut stripping the aluminum housing. Expected much better gas mileage. Average 16-17MPG. Also wish it had a larger gas tank. Hard to find the ignition key hole at night. Developed a annoying noise in the rear hatch. With all that at 85,000 miles still happy with it.

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  sudden unintended accelaration - 2016 Mazda CX-3
  By yeshim nemirovsky - November 17 - 8:08 am

  On January 27th 2016, I got into a very bad car accident while parking with my new Mazda CX3. That day I drove 20 minutes from home to work, and when I entered to parking lot I was may be 15 miles an hour! After I made my 90 degree turn into parking stall with a very slow speed, I pushed the brake to fully stop! Car almost stopped but suddenly something extraordinary happened and car suddenly accelerated! I could not do anything! It stopped by hitting the snow bank and another car parked in another stall! Lots of damage on both cars! Luckily I was OK physically and there was nobody in the other car. As soon as I can, I called Mazda CEC, filed a claim and made the car towed to the dealership where I purchased it. Both dealership and Mazda engineer inspected the car, they think there is anything wrong with the car however there is NO explanation regarding how this sudden acceleration happened when data from car also tells that my feet was on brake during the incident! I did lots of research, talked to lawyers who are very familiar with sudden unintended acceleration and found that there are similar cases, involving "sudden unintended acceleration" with many accidents involving bad injuries and sometimes death, but to the best I can figure out, it is difficult to prove causation by car malfunction. It leaves no trace and it is very hard to prove car has a problem. Even NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of those incidents but some manufacturers still needed to pay millions of dollars to people who had sudden acceleration with their cars for their lost! Because it happens even though we don’t know why! Mazda CEC wants me to take the car back and drive it to replicate the incidents while all facts out there tells that sudden acceleration happens with unknown reason and kills people! Does Mazda really want me to prove with my life that this car has a defect?