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:

• 

  very nice car - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By gozilla - January 10 - 10:00 am

  its just so much vaule.

• 

  Family sedan that doesnt drive like one. - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By buckster - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Shopping around for a long time trying to find just the right blend of car that would accomodate my small family and not feel like something my father would drive. Considered a small SUV initially but the M6 is much more practical as an everyday city car with similar interior room. Better value and nicer looking than the Accord or Camry.

• 

  My Mazda 6 - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By jbclay - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I went from a Camry to a Mazda 6 - what a fun car to own and drive. I almost bought another Camry. Im glad I made the switch. Everyone says the engine dont have enough power. I have the 4 cyl. Power is excellent, and gas mileage is great - much better than my 96 Camry.

• 

  Best sedan for the money - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By ATL Mazda 6i - January 10 - 5:56 am

  I got my 2003 6i with 33K on it fresh off a 3 year lease. I have had only 1 problem in the last 35K miles and that was a noisy drive belt idler. I replaced that and have not had any other issues. The car is easy to work on and easy to own. The only heartburn I have with the car is the turning radius, its awful. Other than that I love it. 30MPG combined hwy and city.

• 

  Second time around - 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By mike9691 - January 9 - 6:32 pm

  We bought our first Miata new in 2002. Cant add anymore than everyone else has about how fun and reliable it was. Had to get another car soon after because it was impractical for our needs at the time. Ten years later, I found this 1999 with 140kmiles for a very good price and practicality be d****d. It still runs like a new one and is just as much fun. Id like to disagree with everyone that says its not a good choice for a 6 foot person. Im 61" and have plenty of room with the top down, which is the main reason for owning one. It is a little tight for headroom with the top up, but that shouldnt keep a taller person from checking one out.

• 

  Vehicle is over 7yrs old, with 166600 - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By M. Kontny - January 9 - 5:10 pm

  I bought my Mazda MPV Mini Van in 2005 and now it has 166,000 miles on it. I have had no major problems with my van, the only draw back is that the vehicle is starting to show rust in certain areas. I live in Wisconsin and we had a pretty harsh winter last year so there was plenty of salt to do the damage it has done to my vehicle. Otherwise, it still runs like a charm, do regular maintenance on it, replace tires once now they need to be replaced again. Air conditioner isnt working, need to have that checked. Rear heat isnt functioning due to the fact that the piping that runs within the rear wheel well has rotted out. Will have to fix this also. But overall, I really like the Mini Van.

• 

  Lots of Great Used Miatas on the Road - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By funpig - January 7 - 7:53 pm

  When I was younger, I owned a Triumph and was recently considering buying a restored one for kicks. In the end, common sense won and I bought a six year old 02 Miata with about 45,000 km. Best decision, I ever made. Truly a fun, fun car to drive. Reminds me of the old British sports cars, but with updated power, engineering and reliability. You really do feel like part of the car when you drive. The engine is not big, but it has great torque. The power is in the right places when you shift and you get a great sense of acceleration and speed throughout every gear. You control the Miata; the car does not control you.

• 

  Nice car to drive! - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Miguel - January 6 - 11:40 am

  I had to trade in my 06 Civic SI to lower my monthly payments, so I bought the Mazda 3 2007 and I like it a lot. Of course there is no comparison between those two, but the Mazda3 is nice and comfortable, trunk space is good, has great stability and good power.

• 

  Exactly what I needed - 2010 Mazda CX-9
  By skipfedorac - January 6 - 9:40 am

  I spent the better part of 5 months researching and test driving every 6 cylinder cross over SUV with a third row. I narrowed my search to CX-9, Acadia, Pilot and MDX. Having owned a 2003 Tahoe I really wanted a car-like driving experience without sacrificing too much size. Im 64" so I need the room. The verdict: The Acadia drove like my Tahoe, large and lumbering. It definitely has the size but the driving experience wasnt there. The Pilot drove nicely but its exterior styling and small 3rd row werent what I was looking for. The MDX was very nice both to drive and in features but the price for equal features was in BMW/Audi territory. The CX9 hit the mark both inside and out.

• 

  Civic Alternative - 2002 Mazda Protege
  By Brian Burchanowski - January 5 - 3:30 pm

  Bought this car used in Jan 06 with 26,000 miles. This car is a bargain compared to the Civic--you get the same quality and reliability without paying for the name! Plus, the Protege has a 2.0L instead of a Civics 1.8. My car has the five speed and acceleration is excellent for an economy car. The engine is peppy and revs freely, with a satisfying exhaust note. The car is fun to drive and is easy throw around back roads. Steering feedback and braking are also excellent (it might be worth splurging on the ES to get rear disks though). As for reliability, between the previous owner and myself the car has only ever needed oil changes and one set of rotors and pads.