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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  Wonderful Car for the Money!! - 2004 Mazda Mazda3
  By soapboxhothead - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned the 3s 5-Dr 4AT for about 4 mos now and LOVE IT! Heavily researched competitive & more expensive models & dont regret buying the 3s. Wanted the 6s & when I test drove the 3 I fell in love! I get "what kind of car is that?" and "nice car dude!" all the time! Handles wonderfully, goes where you point it though a little loose at the limits. Bought the 4AT for LA traffic and I sometimes wish it had another gear, but the AT is slick and sure. Gas mileage is avg. at best (21 around town) As a former industrial designer I can say the interior is spot-on though I would like to see more adjustments in the seats. This car is much nicer than its sticker price! Buy one!

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  Nice car, but.... - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By rekow - September 27 - 9:16 pm

  Got this car loaded - everything except the leather. After a year and 26,000 miles, I still enjoy it, but its not without faults. Its a good blend of utility, looks, comfort and sportiness. It does lots of things well, but nothing really great. Its quick enough, but doesnt inspire me to race (could use 30 more hp). Its fuel efficient enough, but no Civic. The handling is good, but only in dry weather (bad tire choice - I cant wait to replace them). It looks great (especially in black) and I still find myself staring at it. Definitely stands out in the crowd. The interior is well laid out. Seats are firm and comfortable, but the fabric pills up like a cheap sweater.

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  Inexpensive and sporty - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By romans - September 27 - 7:03 pm

  Bought this car new to replace my 99 Altima. Much better looking, great handling and brakes, very comfortable and good MPG Engine not very responsive and not much torque, need to keep RPM high to get any power. Had to take it to dealer a couple of times, now its knocking in front end, so build quality does not match Nissan. High engine RPM at highway speed, needs 6th gear, that would improve mileage as well; I get about 30 MPG in mixed driving and a bit over that on highway. But otherwise reliable and fun to drive

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  Best values/Reliability is your luck - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Wayne - September 26 - 10:50 am

  After only 600 miles, the transmission is locked up. Dealers replaced it with a rebuilt transmission within two weeks. It should be replaced with a brand new transmission. The car now has 7000 miles on the odometer and it is running fine now. Actually, I am kind of lucky to have the transmission completely lockup. Otherwise, I will only get 8-10 miles a gallon but it will never get fixed.

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  My Mazda experience. - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By My Mazda6 - September 25 - 5:00 pm

  Fun to drive, love the way it looks. But.... all of the rotors were warped at 11,000 miles. Dealer turned them but now it squeals when the brakes are applied. (No, I dont beat on it!) Not happy with the auto climate control in the summer. You have to put it on 78 or else the fan runs on high speed all of the time! The automatic transmission sometimes seems to clunk into gear. Not always, so it wont be easy to find out why, as Im sure it wouldnt do it when its in for service. Transmission also has a gear whine. Great dealer experience.

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  Its Okay........I guess - 2003 Mazda Tribute
  By Lt - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I think it is over priced for the value.Ive had it for about a year now and the ride has seemed to gotten worse.

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  2013 Mazda 3 Hatchback 6-speed Review - 2013 Mazda Mazda3
  By androux13 - September 24 - 1:53 pm

  This has been my first Mazda. I was going to go with a 2011 VW golf 6-speed, but the mazda had better MPG and better accessories already included for the price. Plus the mazda has much more room in it. Im 65 and I fit wonderfully in the front seats.This has been my first manual ever driven and its been great! I bought it at 240 mi and within a month it now how 1,250 mi and the only problems that I had run into is a key fob problem, which is replaced under warranty, the boot wont close if you close it too hard, and that the back seats are WAY too small.

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  perfect reliability - 2000 Mazda Protege
  By mark - September 24 - 12:23 am

  Bought car new. Have never had any problem in 5 years. Everything has always worked perfectly. Has excellent steering feel and corners well. I like the stiff springs. It can carry 4 people without noticing the extra weight. Gas mileage with stick shift is about 30 for the worst city conditions and 40 for the best highway conditions with very careful driving using 5th gear often. I use 92 octane gas, because 87 octane will knock slightly when accelerating up hill. Engine will last longer with 92 octane. Road noise is high on coarse surfaces.

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  Great except for two defects... - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By brammer - September 19 - 8:03 pm

  The vehicle is fun to drive and has versatile seating / storage configurations. Mileage is reasonable. Two big drawbacks though, the rear suspension and the rear bushings. At 50000 km of mostly single passenger commuting, we are already on our third set of rear shocks. The bushings (at least thats what I think they are) creak very loudly in warm weather. It sounds like a horse drawn wagon lumbering down a dirt road.

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  Great, but not a Road Car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By DGF - September 16 - 5:00 pm

  I have a base model manual with no options. IÂ’ve had it for 2 weeks & 2675 mostly road trip miles. Great value, but one major negative: unsupportive driverÂ’s seat caused back pain after a few hours, despite adjustable lumbar support. Never had the problem in my recent road cars (Civics & a VW Golf).