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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  Love It ZOOM - ZOOM! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By lkverse - July 28 - 10:36 am

  Got the manual transmission. Love it. Handles great. I have 2 teenagers and they love the room that it gives them, not to mention the reclining back seats. Wont need the 3rd row much but will be perfect for that extra kid every now & then. Only complaint, I had the car in my possession for 10 hours and woke up to frozen door latches. 3 of 4 doors wouldnt latch shut. Mazda gave me a free loaner for the weekend and I picked it up Monday early afternoon. Steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls are a nice perk that youd pay for in most other vehicles. Has all the bells and whistles standard that I would want. Passenger front seat should have an armrest.

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  fast &fun - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By andy arch - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I purchased in April, 2002 P5,it is a blast to drive,it does great going uphill in these Colorado mountains,I still need to get used to being so close to the ground,and the higher road noise,overall a great little car for the money...24-27 mpg consistently,plenty of power if driven right,the +,-,tranny is so neat.Do all these low profile cars sound like loose boards when driving over bumpy road,or maybe I need struts?

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  Rust problems - 2008 Mazda Tribute
  By Mazda lover - July 28 - 10:00 am

  My 2008 Mazda Tribute have been working fine until recently that I found that the rear door seems and rear fender are rusting. The exterior face of the fender is peeling off and the inside is rusted. My vehicle has less than 60k miles. I usually wash my car during winter almost weekly to avoid this type of problems. The vehicle also has been in a garage all nights so I dont get why only a 2.5 yrs old car is rusting. I talked to the dealer where I bough it and they told that has a rust 5 yr warranty but covers everything that can make or made a hole in the body. They need to take pics and send it over to the regional warranty guy for approval. Im trading in for a real Japanese car.

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  Car just great - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By gfschoone - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought brand new a 2004 rx-8 and had no problems, for 5.5 years. Not bad. had 75k on it when in 10/09 discovered the oil cooler line(s) was/were rusted. Common problem (they should have been anything but rust-prone metal), and they were recalled in Canada. Anyways, the car sat for 9 months ($2500 repair approx), and was started with not much problem. I temp repaired it with a hose clamp and drove it for a month now (still leaks a good bit) , but it drives nearly as good as in march 2004. You either love this car or hate it, and i do feel for those who "have towed it 8 times to the garage in its first year", but i have had NO reliability problems; peace; out!!!

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  Best of class - 2010 Mazda CX-9
  By Billz1979 - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Coming from an Acura Owner who did a lot of research and nearly bought a MDX, the CX-9 is without a doubt the best bang for the buck. Cargo room, ride, build quality, everything is top notch.

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  So Far So Good - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By zoomtex - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Bought used with 8K miles. 6sp Manual fun to drive but could be geared taller. Very close ratios, do not use all 6 in normal driving. But if you want to thrash it, its fun. Impressed with trunk. Headed on trip in old minivan with 5 people, but it broke down. Switched all people and gear to Mazda and went on 3Kmi road trip. Immense trunk swallowed luggage with ease. Got up to 33 mpg @75 mph. Enough room in back to prevent fratricide. Came back from that trip very happy with vehicle.

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  Zoom Zoom now applies - 2014 Mazda CX-5
  By imadad2 - July 28 - 1:25 am

  Bought the Touring model of the CX-5 only because it has the bigger 2.5 liter engine. The extra 30 horsepower in the Touring and Grand Touring model really make a difference when driving. The Sport model is nice, but the engine makes the vehicle just average. Mazda has a winner here in the CUV division and I would recommend this SUV to anyone over the Forde Escape or Honda CR-V that are its main competitors. This market is competitive and Mazda has what I think is the winner when buying the bigger engine.

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  The Mazda5 = Fun to Drive! - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By eml5150 - July 27 - 2:16 pm

  Bought for a family of four replacing an 02 Ford Explorer. We leave the third row seats down 95% of the time and there is plenty of room. The 2.3 is powerful enough to zoom-zoom and acceleration is not as bad as some automotive reviews state; unless you pack it with 6 adults regularly or youre addicted to the throttle it will do just fine. Driving the automatic in sport mode provides better throttle response. Its fun to drive and its handling is impressive. The dynamic stability control and traction control are a safety feature finally available this year. Braking is very good. It stops quick. Dont spend more and settle for less. Mazda5 quality and features are a great buy for the money.

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  I thought it was the best... - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By Roger122387 #2 - July 26 - 3:10 am

  This is my second review.. i left my last one a little over a year ago.. I thought this car was great.. I have had so many problems.. the stereo has had to be replaced several times.. my passenger air bag cover keeps popping off, the sealing around the doors is coming off, and the wheels keep getting out of alignment (I mostly drive stricly highway). My Waco TX Mazda Dealership tell me that there are no problems with the CD player (it would never play any of my CDs!!), and then they said the airbag cover popping off was my problem.. after enough arguing with them they finally hesitated to fix it. But other than all of that, it has been fun to drive. Great car for out of town trips!!

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  OMG, what a ride - 2008 Mazda CX-7
  By CX-7 ROCKS - July 25 - 9:30 pm

  I never thought I would buy an SUV, until this came along. The thing handles great and the turbo motor is awesome. The 18" rims are sweet. Wish they were chrome. Seat comfort is good, but I wish they were a little more grippy to go along with the solid handling. I cant say enough about the handling. It is on rails! period. The visibility is excellent, do not need rear view camera. I have garmin nav. much better than optional system. Tons of room up front which is all I care about, feels much roomier than EDGE. Although, premium fuel is recommended instead of required, I dont mind putting 93 octane in it, I feel the power difference between regular.