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:

• 

  One of the best car we have ever owned - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By rjoe1 - February 13 - 3:36 am

  Our 2003 MPV has 60 miles on it and is one of the best buys we ever made. Its been a great "school bus" for the grandkids, a versatile hauler for big purchases or trips to the dump. Its been very reliable, with only one set of tires and normal oil change maintenance needed.

• 

  STAY AWAY FAR AWAY - 1998 Mazda 626
  By lsas - February 13 - 2:00 am

  THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES SINCE HAVING IT FIXED (THE FIRST TIME IN DECEMBER 2001). IT IS NOW JANUARY 2003 AND GUESS WHAT MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWO WEEKS GOING ON THREE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FOR THE FIFTH TIME.

• 

  Wow! What a car! - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By travelboy - February 13 - 2:00 am

  I got a Protege5 at a Waco, TX dealership (after being frustrated with Austin dealerships). Black Mica; Moonroof w/ deflector; 6CD changer; wheel-locks; Sport automatic; polished alloys. Final price was $17,536. The car is a dream. It operates with the fluidity of a pen; it goes EXACTLY where you want. Amazing streering puts a smile on your face when rounding sharp curves. The space comfortable and the power and acceleration much better than my V6 Xterra. The Black Mica color adds an element of euro-class to the very athletic looking design. I was sold by the test drive. It is THE most fun-to-drive car I have ever owned.

• 

  THE budget sedan for sports car lovers - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By Mike in St Louis - February 13 - 2:00 am

  My wife wanted a "small" car to replace her 97 Civic EX. With that in mind, we found this to be the best car available. I love the way the Protege handles. Its not as fun as my Miata, but much more fun than any of the above mentioned cars. More power would be welcome, but Im willing to trade off some power for the excellent handling. While I would prefer to have the 170HP Mazdaspeed model, it was going to cost close to $6000 more (dealer markups) & we couldnt have got the 0% interest loan. Bottom line....if you prefer sports cars but need a sedan, and if your budget is under $20,000, get this car. You wont regret it.

• 

  Goodbye Mazda - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By nms68 - February 11 - 1:20 pm

  I leased a Tribute for 4yrs and loved it, I was thrilled to get into the next lease, but 6 was the car to push at that time. I wanted a Tribute, but dealership no longer carried and convinced me this car was great. One month after driving off the lot, I began having battery problems. Something was draining it but no one knew what. They said it was my 3rd party installed REMOTE STARTER (had that disconnected), THEN they said it was a ROOM FUSE(?). Now I am being told it is a CONTROL MODULE. Brake light comes on on its own. This car has been at dealership over two months total with no resolution. When this lease is up, Mazda will never see me again

• 

  18 Months of Driving - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By bronxy192 - February 10 - 8:18 pm

  Ive had this car for 18 months now with over 8,000 miles. Its a skyactiv 6 speed manual. The only complaints I have thus far is the acceleration and the middle console. I find myself needing to downshift to pick up any speed. Its a bit sluggish, but once at cruising speed on the highway, the 3 drives great. The suspension is good. I have hit several pot small holes after a wild winter here in New Jersey, and the 3 has handled them with no problems. The middle console is little to be desired. I wish the arm rest would slide out to accommodate my arm, but its very short and placed in an odd position. It has storage and I find I need to shift and turn my body around to open it.

• 

  Best of the Best - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By floridaspincast - February 10 - 7:33 am

  After driving and test driving SUVs for three months, we selected the Tribute to be the best overall. Price, style, comfort, fuel economy and ride. The Infinity FX35 and the GMC Envoy were close seconds. The leather package is very nice, the interior setup is very good. We took it on a 500 mile trip and it handled great! Fuel was great.

• 

  Nice for the Price - 2009 Mazda CX-9
  By Acroduster - February 9 - 10:13 am

  When compared with its rivals and their sticker prices, the CX-9 is in tough company. However, when you look at what youll actually pay for them, the CX-9 looks much better. It appears to be the value leader - very nicely appointed, sports-car zoom-zoom handling (which you wont find in the competitors), and feature laden. Even my skinny 7 year old can slide the center seats to access the rear (she couldnt do that in the Tahoe we had). Speaking of the Tahoe, when we compared them side-by-side, the CX-9 has more depth behind the rear seats, and has more depth when the rear seats are folded. I wouldnt have believed that if I hadnt seen it myself...

• 

  HOT HOT HOT - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By sarakay54022 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had my MP5 for a few days now and I love it. The exterior, the interior are awesome. The handling is superb and I love how quiet the engine is. The seats are so comfortable and I love the dash setup. Would definately recommend. A+

• 

  Very good, but not without its faults - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By FatherOfTwo - February 8 - 10:00 am

  After much research, the wife and I decided to go with the LX MPV, with most of the trimmings: Power doors, DVD, 4 seasons package, etc... We were able to get everything we wanted on the LX, saving ourselves about $7K over the Odyssey (31K w/ DVD). Weve had it for about a month now and are happy with our choice except for a few things. See below. 1. There is a fan on the DVD player that goes ALL the time, regardless if the unit is on or not. No help from dealer: "its supposed to be like that". Continued below (Im over 700 characters)