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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  Practical Sports Car - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By srm858 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with almost all aspects of the car. I have 1300 miles on it and it has loosened up nicely. The seats are excellent and it is quiet and rides very well. A little better visibility in the rear would be helpful and a 6 disc changer should have come with the Bose system. I was quoted $900 for one, outrageous. My mileage has improved to just over 20 in mixed driving. I hope it continues to improve, but Wankels are not know for great mileage. I would highly recommend this car for anyone who wants a sports car they can live with year round.

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  Zooooooooommmmmmmmm! - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By davec - January 27 - 10:00 am

  One of the best car out there for the money! Have the Onyx Black. Very beautiful color. The 5-speed shifter is nice and smooth. Love the styling of both the interior and exterior. Even had an infiniti g35 sedan on order, but choose this because it had almost everything I wanted for $10000 less! Also considered Accord and Altima but this won me over. Extremely fun to drive.

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  Fun Car To Drive - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By UiucBum - January 27 - 10:00 am

  So far I have 4000+ miles driven on this car. I have an automatic. Very fun car to drive. The handling is great. A little slow off the line, but it really moves on the highway. Great passing power. Very sharp looking car. Has very nice brakes. Best in its class. Nice bang for the bucks! If you dont want a Honda or a Toyota, this will be a nice alternative.

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  Nice vehicle, few issues - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By Rich - January 26 - 2:40 pm

  This vehicle has nice sporty performance, SUV or not. Good acceleration despite "turbo lag," which can be obnoxious. Quality interior, though somewhat bland appearance. Bose sound system very nice. Decent gas mileage, but premium fuel requirement is expensive - should have used V-6 which probably would have given same MPG with no premium fuel requirement. Braking is excellent. Ride is quite stiff. I needed to replace all four tires at just 18,000 miles. No other maintenance issues. Overall I am happy with this vehicle, but it could use a few modifications/upgrades.

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  A total surprise! - 2008 Mazda CX-9
  By Aaron - January 25 - 11:40 am

  I have been looking for the perfect large SUV to replace our 04 Chevy Venture that was totaled about three weeks ago, and found it in the CX-9. At first look it is sexy but seemingly too small for my family of 6. But I took one for a test drive to my wife, and we fell in love. It was a base sport model and I was still impressed. The interior design is a 10+, handling is great. I pushed the engine out to about 5000 or 6000 rpm before shifting in manual mode and the tranny was still silky smooth. I had to check the readout to be sure that I even shifted gears. All of my kids fit surprisingly well with two boosters and one car seat.

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  great car - 2001 Mazda Millenia
  By tonys958 - January 24 - 11:23 pm

  have owned cadillacs,lincoln, bmw, acura and many others. leased this car for 3 yrs, was tired of high priced cars that did not live up to thier expectations. loved it so much i purchased it after lease. great price and lots of bang for your buck. Never been to the dealer, only oil changes and new tires, and brakes after 40k miles.

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  Great car for the money! - 2012 Mazda Mazda3
  By jokero - January 24 - 7:44 pm

  I dont know what the shutter noise is yet cause Im too busy blasting music all the time. I picked this car after reviewing a lot of cars in this class and so far its great. Im nearing 10K miles and it has met my expectations. My previous car was a corolla so this is an upgrade for me. The car looks and feels better and I get the same fuel efficiency or better(540 mile range on a full tank) I also love the other fun features like blutooth that I didnt have before. No complaints here so I recommend it.

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  Tribute on tough road - 2009 Mazda Tribute
  By nehemiah1 - January 24 - 4:15 pm

  I bought my Tribute in June 2009 at Puerto Rico where drive conditions are rude and rush. So far my Tribute have 47000 miles and I just had to change the CV shaft, both of them. I drive an average of 50 miles daily and fuel usage is good, a fuel tank last almost 6 days. Music system is great and interiors are really cool. Safety systems on the Tribute are reliable.

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  Best Sports Sedan for the Buck! - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By JohnnyZ - January 24 - 11:03 am

  My wife had a 2001 Acura Integra and needed a bigger car. After careful research, we decided on the Mazda 6S in Sepang Green and cant be more happier. The car is loaded with everything but leather and navigation. The styling is very sporty for a 4 door sedan. Performance and handling are excellent. The engine and transmission are smooth throughout acceleration and quite quiet. The interior is very roomy. The car has ample storage space. I like the spring-loaded rear seats that fold when you pull the levers in the trunk. I also like the fact that it is easy for me to change the oil. I dont think there is a car on the market with this many features for the money!

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  Fun Car...Needs V6 - 2007 Mazda CX-7
  By dougieritch - January 24 - 9:06 am

  Ive had this car for about a month, a typical Mazda automobile, fun to drive, excellent handling, breaking, and interior design. I would recommend this car to anyone, however its major drawback is the fact its a Turbo instead of a V6...for some reason Mazda is obsessed with them and it requires PREMIUM GAS!