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:

• 

  2003 Mazda Tribute - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By nox - March 17 - 10:00 am

  Great smaller SUV. Unbelievably quiet and comfortable. It Could use more power but 95% of the time is more than adequate. It is equipped with an over overdrive that allows it to tow without much effort. Does have a bit of a truck ride probably because of the short wheel base (I was driving a Cadillac Seville before). Compact exterior dimensions make it fir in the garage with room to spare.

• 

  Responsive - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By ACTD - March 16 - 12:40 pm

  Steering, handling, ride, and throttle response are nearly perfect. This car reacts to control inputs without hesitation while maintaining a comfortable ride. This is a true drivers car. No other cars in the compact class can compete. The true competition is in the near luxury class. I have owned Audi, Lexus, and Acura, and I dont feel like anything is missing from the Mazda 3. The 167hp will not win a drag race, but the power delivery is smooth with quick throttle response. Plus, there always seems to be plenty of power reserve waiting for merging and passing. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my purchase.

• 

  Lots of potential - 2007 Mazda CX-9
  By Marky - March 15 - 6:40 pm

  We leased this vehicle as a replacement for our 2005 MPV. Power and styling were the big draws for us. After 4,0000 miles, its a fun vehicle to drive but its starting to show some shortcomings. Two defects had to be corrected during pickup from the dealership and a rattle has developed in the dashboard. A recent snow storm revealed, unlike most FWD vehicles, its terrible in the snow. The tires are the most likely suspect. Gas mileage is disappointing. The expert reviews and changes to the 2008 model indicate the vehicle my have been rushed into production.

• 

  Uses Oil - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By Tanya - March 15 - 12:36 am

  Our vehicle uses 1 quart of oil every 600 miles - ridiculous! The oil is only supposed to be changed every 5000 miles, but it is frequently changing itself. Mazda Corps selling practice are very deceptive. If anyone knew how much oil this car burned no one would ever buy it. And, to boot it gets 15 mpg! This is worse than my truck!

• 

  Fun car to drive - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By Mohan Nayak - March 14 - 2:56 pm

  I bought a black GT Mazda3 and it sure looks beautiful. The packages included in it like the bose and moonroof make it really worth the price. The interior with leather looks very slick. I get 27-28 mpg. Overall it is a good choice for a cost effective sedan with features. No other car will give you traction control and stability control at this price.

• 

  Its practically perfect - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By ccg - March 14 - 5:10 am

  Even though the car had good reviews, I didnt want to drive it because, well, its a minivan. So glad I saw it in person. Its so much cuter than a big ol behemoth "mini" van. Its perfect. Im hauling kids to college in 2 short years and I wanted something small enough to park and maneuver, but with room for "stuff." I knew sliders were great for little kids, but it didnt occur to me until I took my mom to church how nice that access is for an elderly person, too. My in town mileage has been around 24.5 mpg. The "auto" climate control is taking some getting used to.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Nate W. - March 14 - 4:26 am

  This car is great. There were some problem when we first got it, it had to go back to the dealer 3 times due to computer problems. It was all under warranty and rental fees were covered by the dealer. Its a great car, very sporty. Get the V6 if you can, the added power is worth it. The interior build quality is great, there arent a lot of hard plastics, it feels more expensive than it is with the leather wrapped steering wheel, and shift knob. Manumatic is a fun manual override without a clutch for the auto enthusiast; it significantly give the car more of a boost off the line, and when driving.

• 

  Excellent vehicle for the money - 2008 Mazda CX-9
  By Scott - March 13 - 4:30 pm

  Originally I was set on a CX-7, but after I sat in a CX-9 in the showroom, I fell in love. I was very impressed how much rear legroom it had and the 3-zone climate control. Then I drove it, and the first thing I noticed was how much quieter it was than the CX-7 and how smooth the enigine and transmission were. It also doesnt feel like youre driving a large SUV. My dogs fit in the back with room to spare. I went from a Celica to this, so cornering, parking and gas consumption are much different, but I knew that it would be.

• 

  Best in class - 2007 Mazda CX-9
  By jtwiss - March 13 - 2:06 pm

  I all most bought a GMC Acadia. The big difference from this crossover is the fit and finish and the bang for the buck. I noticed the attention to details like the leather padded doors to the LED backlighting on the doors. This list goes on. I also look at the Audi Q7 at $55k and for $20k less the Mazda is in the same class as the Audi. Why pay $20k grand more for the Audi? From the back and side they look very similar.

• 

  Replaced My 95 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By jv - March 13 - 12:20 pm

  After 11 years of constant fun it was time to upgrade. Ive been waiting anxiously for the 2006 and Im not disappointed. Much faster, much better ride, quieter, and just as solid. I love the new roof design, although I worry that the front panel will fade differently than the rest of the roof. But, since the roof is only up when it is raining, I doubt that it will ever show. We love the car so much, my wife is trading her Mercedes SLK 320 for another Miata (I cant bring myself to call it an MX5) as soon as she can find the color (Copper Red) that she wants.