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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  Best car ever - 2003 Mazda Mazda6
  By lewmed - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Great car lots of power gets lots of looks and is a lot more car than a Honda or Toyota !!

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  Affordable and fun to drive - 2004 Mazda Tribute
  By Moto9 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my Mercedes ML320 after 5 years. Tribute is smaller but fun to drive and much easier on the wallet. The ES offers some nice amenities. Im hoping the reliability will be better than my ML 320

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  mazda mpv - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By dak - September 15 - 2:00 am

  A great family van that stands out from the crowd. Turns heads with its style, like an Infiniti or BMW, but its as affordable as a KIA. Have found it to be much more reliable than the Chrysler vans and the ride is smooth and agile. Truly fun to drive given the pleasure of driving around a pack of kids.

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  AWSOME CAR!!!! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By RX-8 kid - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Its fun to drive very good handleing

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  two for the road - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Bill West - September 13 - 4:16 pm

  This is the 3rd Miata weve owned & the best. Weve had all 3 body types from pop-up headlights to this current model. We traded a 03 Cobra in for this car and though I miss the full power of the Cobra, I really havent looked back. A little bigger inside for the legs & plenty of extra storage.The interior is nicely laid out, easy to reach just about anything yet gives me room to myself. Plenty of get up and go. We opted for the automatic this time with paddle shifters, this is more fun than a just about anything you could drive. Zoom-Zoom.

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  Loved for 4 months and still do! - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By coppercx7 - September 11 - 11:30 pm

  This was an awesome car. I would really recommend this car to families of 4 only. Back seat space isnt the best. But, it is a car with speed and if you are looking for a vehicle with good room, sexy design, and performance and last but not least, a MAZDA, then you will be in complete heaven!

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  Zoom Zoom Mazda 6 - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By jb26wcu - September 10 - 1:20 am

  I got a Black Mazda 6 3.7l V6 Gran Touring with Black Leather. I really believe the car is the best in its class. It has more styling than the accord, camry, malibu or altima. It is the fastest in its class too. If everyone in the market for an altima or accord test drove the mazda I believe it would out sell both. My sister has the v4 altima and the only thing that is better about her car then mine is I think the leather is of better quality in the altima. Other than that Mazda wins on every level!

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  Mazda 3 - 2008 Mazda Mazda3
  By DannySyr - September 9 - 8:20 pm

  Excellent car. Very good balance between style, performance, comfort and reliability. Sporty and fun to drive.

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  A minivan for the rest of us! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By Naturalmom - September 9 - 7:33 pm

  With our third child on the way, we were looking for the most fuel efficient option for a family using three car seats. The Mazda5 accommodated three car seats comfortably, something that our sedan did not. On our first long-distance trip, we got 31 MPG! Our average is around 25 MPG, and that beats the average of 19 MPG for a regular minivan. Though there is not much cargo space, we love how easy it is to shift the seats to accomodate an extra person or haul something bulky. The Mazda5 is the most fuel-efficient option for a family like ours, and it is fun to drive!

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  So much fun to Drive - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By niskoman - September 9 - 8:18 am

  I love everything about this car.I have 26 k on it and runs like a champ! 2,5L engine makes such a difference ! Received so many compliments about my car.Most people loves Mazdas design. Handling by far is the best feature in this car and it makes it so fun to drive. The seats could be more comfy but it is a sports car! Raced a guy with Golf GT Turbo and zoomed him out lol . Interior is very appealing and cool. Bose speakers absolutely ROCK ! The sunroof is cool for the summer. To save gas strongly recommend to use cruise control and drive around 60mhph. Im a huge fan of MAZDA and would recommend this car to everybody.