Mazda is a company that knows exactly what they are. In the past Mazda made a lot of vehicles that were outside of its idiom. The truth is that Mazda is all about making economical cars that are more fun to drive than their competitors.
There’s something to be said for that kind of plan. Mazda operates like a small bistro. They specialize and keep their menu small. But those vehicles they make are magnificent. It seems they know that they would get stretched too thin if they chose to make more, so they just don’t.
The current mazda product line is a beautiful lineup of affordable fun cars. Here’s hoping that Mazda keeps doing what they have been doing for many more years to come!
Mazda MX-5 Miata - $25,800+
34.0 mpg - 9.9/10.0
The Miata has been small convertible perfection forever. Somehow despite the fact that they have made a near perfect car for over 20 years, they continue to somehow make it even better. The Miata handles like a dream and is boatloads of fun to drive. Despite not having the biggest engine, the low weight frame keeps it speedy.
Mazda 3 - $18,800+
37.0 mpg - 9.7/10.0
The Mazda3 is one of the most sought after and enjoyable economy cars that has ever been produced. The suspension has sport tuning that you’d expect in a car twice the price. The steering is crisp and responsive. The Mazda3 can also be optioned out to produce a very nice vehicle full of fun options. While it can be slightly more costly than some of the competition, it makes up for it with the sheer joy you get while driving it.
Mazda 6 - $22,800+
38.0 mpg - 8.9/5.0
The Mazda6 features a lot of the same sport tuning that is also featured in the Mazda3. The difference comes through in the size of the vehicle. The extra size makes it just a little bit less nimble. The Mazda6 does put up some pretty fantastic fuel economy numbers however to make up for this. The optional automated emergency braking feature is something that’s often only on much more expensive vehicles.
Mazda CX-3 - $20,900+
32.0 mpg - 8.0/10.0
The Mazda CX-3 is a solid if unspectacular compact crossover offering. The CX-3 is pretty good, but it’s not quite as fun as a lot of other Mazda vehicles. The CX-3 produces only 146 horsepower. Combined with the additional weight over the Mazda 3, it’s just not as quick and nimble. This is not to say it’s a bad car by any means. It just doesn’t quite reach the peaks of the other Mazda’s on offer.
Mazda CX-5 - $25,000+
29.0 mpg - 9.5/10.0
Ever since the CX-5 was introduced, it’s taken the entire crossover segment up a notch. The CX-5 manages to take everything that Mazda stands for, but also provide a vehicle full of safety! The CX-5 offers adaptive cruise control and emergency braking and just feels solid while you drive it. It’s nicely tuned to make it quite enjoyable to throw around some corners.
Mazda CX-9 - $32,460+ - 27.0 mpg - 4.4/5.0
The CX-9 does something you would never expect. It takes three rows worth of family hauling and makes those trips to school an enjoyable drive. The base CX-9 is admittedly fairly lightly equipped. If options are your thing, you can step it up. The Grand Touring and Signature editions provide you with all the creature comforts you could want while driving.