MAZDA RX8

The 2011 Mazda RX-8 ranks 6 out of 8 Affordable Sports Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 94 published reviews and test drives of the Mazda RX-8, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2011 Mazda RX-8 has impressive handling dynamics and a roomy backseat, but loses points for its lack of low-end torque and fuel-thirsty, high-maintenance rotary engine.


In a class overrun by tiny roadsters and not-so-sporty sports cars, the Mazda RX-8 is a breath of fresh air. Distinguishing itself with a one-of-a-kind suicide door design, roomy backseat and impressive handling, the 2011 RX-8 has a lot going for it -- but only if you’re ok with doing a bit of routine maintenance work.


Test drivers report that the RX-8's performance faults spoil the fun. Not only does it run short on low-end torque, but its EPA -estimated fuel rating of 16/23 mpg is subpar among Affordable Sports Cars. Though the RX-8 is powered by a rotary engine that weighs less than a traditional internal-combustion engine and generates a high rate of horsepower with little displacement, it requires constant maintenance. Because the RX-8’s engine burns a lot of oil, Mazda recommends that drivers check its level every other time they visit the pump -- which will be frequent considering its poor fuel economy.

MAZDA RX7

The Tors Hotel sits high above Lynmouth Bay, and today it’s a spectacular view. Yesterday morning you couldn’t separate the cloud from the fog, the fog from the sea. Thick cloud still wraps the vista, but Justin Brittain’s searing yellow RX-7 acts like a ray of sunshine, breaking-up the oppressive grey scene. It wouldn’t be my pick of colour, but here and now it’s enough to lift my mood and raise the temperature a degree or two.


It’s in need of petrol (all you RX-7 owners will be familiar with this), and the nearest super-unleaded is in Minehead, 15 miles or so back across rolling moorland. I nab the keys and warm the twin-turbocharged twin-rotor engine as gently as I can. Rebuilt around 1000 miles ago (the rotary engine usually goes pop at around 60,000 miles) and fitted with a huge single exhaust, the engine feels fit and is very vocal. It’s maybe a bit loud for some, but the aftermarket pipe allows the engine to breathe better and at least injects some character into a usually anodyne engine note. When warm, each upshift is accompanied by a terrifying explosion.

MAZDA CX7

When we think of mid-size crossovers, words like "comfort," "convenience" and "roominess" are the first things to spring to mind. For some CUVs, those are accurate descriptions, but the Mazda CX-7 also has to fulfill a Zoom-Zoom promise. For the past 11 years, Mazda's mantra has meant that driving excitement must be injected into every vehicle it builds, whether it's a roadster like the MX-5 Miata or a minivan like the Mazda5.


Athletic handling is a no-brainer for sports cars like the RX-8, but crossover owners typically expect creature comforts, utility and a smooth ride. We've been won over by the CX-7's sporty genes before, but the crossover field is far thicker and more talented than it was back in 2007 when the CX-7 first hit the scene. Does this Mazda softroader still strike the right balance? We spent a week getting reacquainted with 2011 CX-7 Grand Touring to find out.

MAZDA MX5

Like paint and Dettol, the aroma of a hot clutch is one of those smells that seems to loiter in your nostrils. As the heavily laden Peugeot estate in front labours up the 30 per cent incline, it hangs thick in the afternoon air wafting over the top of the windscreen into the MX-5’s cockpit. Meanwhile the mk1 that’s following behind chirrups its way round another hairpin, inside wheel calling out its lack of a limited slip diff.


A French estate filled with the paraphernalia of a doomed Easter camping trip (including children) is not the ideal means to tackle the Wrynose and Hardknott passes. In fact not many cars are truly suited to this wondrous piece of road. Many are capable (including, eventually, the overladen 407) but few are actually enjoyable. The road is narrower than an Alaskan Senator’s world view, so anything that struggles in a normal parking space (ie most modern hatchbacks) feels slightly too big. A Lambo simply wouldn’t fit. The Lakeland tarmac is bumpy too. Bumpy enough that speed has to be tempered considerably for the sake of splitters and sumps. Try to reach the national speed limit and in most stretches all you’ll achieve is the sound of graunching metal or plastic, the road grazing your car as wincingly as it did your knee when you were a child.

MAZDA 6

The 2012 Mazda Mazda6 ranks 4 out of 19 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 30 published reviews and test drives of the Mazda Mazda6, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.


Test drivers think the 2012 Mazda6 is one of the best-handling and most fun-to-drive affordable midsize cars. 


The 2012 Mazda6 is ideal for midsize car shoppers who want some excitement in their daily commute. The automotive press says the Mazda6 offers lively handling, precise steering and good brakes. They also love that it has a six-speed manual transmission on the base model, which is uncommon among midsize sedans.

MAZDA 5

Way back in 1983, Chrysler shocked the world with the introduction of the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. The upstart family haulers took the auto industry by storm, driving a stake through the heart of station wagon sales while setting the table for Chrysler to own the minivan segment for decades to come. But that segment has evolved in the last several years, leading to a redefinition of family transportation.

MAZDA 3

Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the refreshed 2012 Mazda 3 is Mazda’s first application of SKYACTIV technologies in North America, receiving an all-new SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine as well as the all-new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission and all-new SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission. It also features improved sporty driving dynamics, responsive handling and a comfortable cabin space. The exterior design also has been refined to express a bolder stance, alongside new interior appointments creating additional functionality without sacrificing the touch-and-feel quality. Additional safety features complete the package.

MAZDA 2

Bigger used to mean better, but in the modern era, that old chestnut no longer applies. Mobile phones aren't the size of a brick, we can fit 2,000 songs in our pocket and this review was written on a computer that fits neatly on an airplane's tray table. Sometimes smaller is better, and here's a vehicle that proves it.

While the 2011 Mazda2 might not be out to redefine the subcompact segment, it does offer something largely lacking from the rest of the pack: fun. But are Mazda's Zoom-Zoom driving dynamics enough to overlook its shortcomings in power, packaging and amenities? Find out after the jump.

Like all of Mazda's recent designs, the 2 looks like a dog more inclined to lick your face than bite it. With that maniacal smile for a bumper, the front end projects more silliness than aggression, which can and will annoy both brand loyalists and some subcompact shoppers. On the flip side, it might just attract new customers who appreciate a car that doesn't take itself too seriously. And compared to other Mazdas festooned with the massive black-toothed grin, the cartoonish 2 actually pulls it off thanks to its small size.