Mazda has built up its brand on being different, yet reliable. From the first-generation Cosmo Sport 110S to the third-generation RX-7, the automaker has a long history of thinking outside the box.

The duds in Mazda’s lineup have been few and far between and are greatly overshadowed by the manufacturer’s successful innovation. You can see this in its commitment to the twin-rotary engines that everyone else abandoned and its design team’s forward-thinking vision—which often set the trends for sports cars everywhere.

We have a thorough guide to the 10 best older Mazda models. If you’d like to get your hands on a rotary-powered M7, or you just want to learn a little more about Mazda’s quirky and cool history, keep reading.

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What makes an old car great?

Power, performance, handling, design, and efficiency are great starting points to judge an older car. When it comes to Mazda, most of these—excluding efficiency with the twin-rotary gas-guzzlers—are the base standards. Due to their reputation, inspirational innovation also plays a role in determining what makes an old Mazda great.

Some of these cars were trendsetters, and others were outliers in their time. But even a lot of the oddballs in Mazda’s lineup were great cars. Here’s our rundown of the very best of them.

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10. First Generation Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S (1967-1972): More like flying than driving

The first Mazda sports car to boast the twin-rotary engine, the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S made its debut in 1967 and stunned reviewers who said it was more like flying than driving. This introductory twin-rotary sports car set the stage for the next several generations of Mazda’s performance vehicles.

The twin rotary didn’t come easily. Compared to the piston engine, the lighter twin-rotary engine offers a better power-to-weight ratio and runs more smoothly and quietly, but it uses much more fuel. Mazda’s commitment to this engine (which is making a comeback soon as a hybrid range extender) goes back to the roots of the company’s car-fanatic culture.

The 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S made this dream of a lighter, more powerful engine come to fruition. The little two-door, two-seater beast got around 110 horsepower in 1967—not bad for a 2,072-pound vehicle. The following year, these performance specs were improved with the upgrade from a 4-speed manual transmission to a 5-speed.

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9. Mazda MX-5 Miata NB (1998-2005): MX-5’s second generation

The

Mazda MX-5 Miata NB

is the second generation of the Mazda MX-5. The first, the MX-5 NA, was produced from 1989 to 1997 and combined a 115-horsepower engine with an extremely lightweight design for a fun, fast two-seater with tight steering.

The MX-5 NB improved on the NA’s design by incorporating a more powerful engine and the first-ever application of Mazda’s Variable Intake Control System. This made the car strong, faster, and smoother at both high and low RPMs. Mazda updated the car with larger wheels, better brakes, and notable changes to the car’s exterior. The iconic retractable headlights were replaced with stationary headlights on a smoother, more rounded body.

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8. Mazda RX-2 (1970-1978): A driver’s dream cabin

The rotary engine already set Mazda apart from other makers, but the RX-2 took it to another level when it paired the rotary with automatic transmission for the first time in automotive history.

The RX-2 offered hope for better performance combined with lower

car maintenance

costs thanks to its rotary engine design, but these dreams were dashed with the fuel crisis in the 1970s. While rotary engines may cause less wear and tear, they use a lot of gasoline.

Rising fuel prices combined with changing emissions and safety regulations cut the RX-2’s lifespan short. But, while it lasted, it was known for being a sporty alternative with a lauded, intuitively ergonomic cabin that bolstered the driver’s experience.

7. BL Series Mazda3 MPS (2010-2013): Mazdaspeed

The

Mazda3

Mazda Performance Series (MPS), also known as the Mazdaspeed3, was introduced in 2007 when the automaker paired its 5-door compact hatchback with a 263-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission.

The result was a performance powerhouse. It was during this series’s second generation of production starting in 2010, that Mazda perfected the car’s gear ratio and electronic control unit. This fine-tuning boosted the Mazda 3 MPS to 267 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It reached 0-60 in 5.8 seconds.

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6. Mazda R360 Coupe (1960-1966): Big things in small packages

It was never produced for the American market, but the Mazda R360 coupe made big waves in Japan. With a 69.3-inch wheelbase, the R360 stood as tall as it was wide—50.8 inches by 50.8 inches. It was only 117.3 inches long and weighed 838 pounds.

The R360’s small size shouldn’t deceive you. This micro-car packed a rear-mounted, air-cooled V-Twin 4-stroke engine—the first of its size to do so. It was extremely efficient thanks to lightweight building materials, and it gave reachable access to a growing generation of new car owners in Japan. These unconventional features, plus the fact that it’s just absolutely adorable, have earned the Mazda R360 Coupe a spot on our list.

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5. Mazda RX-7 SA/FB (1978-1985): Chasing after Porsche

The Mazda RX-7 SA/FB wasn’t exactly subtle in mimicking the

Porsche

924 design features, and perhaps that was the intention. The Mazda RX-7 SA/FB got its 0-60 time down to 9 seconds, a half-second faster than that of the Porsche 924.

The original 12A twin-rotor engine saw 100 horsepower in the U.S. but this was upgraded to 135 horsepower with the 13B engine. Mazda pushed the limits again by turbocharging the 12A rotary engine, making the Mazda RX-7 in Japan a 160-horsepower beast that only weighed 2,300 pounds.

4. First-generation Mazda6 (2003-2007): A sedan that’s fun to drive

The first generation of the

Mazda6

marked a departure from prior Mazda traditions. It was practical with a conventional 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine, and it was a family car instead of a speed-demon two-seater.

Even with its elements of comfort and conventionality, though, Mazda still managed to build some fun into the Mazda6. An optional 3-liter V6 offered enhanced performance, and a 6-speed manual, turbocharged 272-horsepower option added even more sport to the Mazda6 MPS’s sedan status.

The model ceased production after the 2021 model year in the U.S. Each year was a success, but we like the first-generation group best because, in typical Mazda fashion, the sleek and sporty family sedan shook up the auto manufacturing market.

3. Mazda RX-8 (2004-2012): The underdog

Some might find the inclusion of the

Mazda RX-8

on this list to be somewhat controversial. The car didn’t have a very long run and unfortunately, it had a reputation for underwhelming engine performance. However, the RX-8 wasn’t meant to be compared with the sportier RX-7, and those who fail to appreciate the car because of its timid torque just haven’t stopped to smell the roses.

The RX-7 and the RX-8 both employed the Wankel rotary engine but were entirely different cars. The subcompact RX-8 managed to seat four people in a finely-tuned, responsive sports car that drove and idled exquisitely smoothly. It may not have seen major success, but it’s an absolute joy to drive.

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2. Mazda MPV (1988-2016): Hip hop’s favorite minivan

After all these high-performing, sleek, sporty vehicles (except maybe the R360), we’re giving the number-two spot on our list to the

Mazda MPV

. That’s right—a minivan. Maybe Mazda has inspired us to do things a little differently than everyone else.

The MPV earns this spot for bringing balance and innovation to a rather conformist market. Mazda advertised the MPV as a vehicle with “the body of a minivan and the soul of a sports car.” The minivan also gets a little street cred for its unexpected popularity in the early 1990s rap and hip-hop scene.

Its 2.5-liter V6 wasn’t exceptionally strong, but the MPV was smaller than most other minivans, which made it more quick and nimble. Its precise handling and eager engine were showcased at an autocross event at the Mazda Raceway during its 2002 debut—another fun Mazda quirk.

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1. Third-generation Mazda RX-7 (1992-2002): Coveted by collectors

The third generation of Mazda RX-7 sports cars—especially those for model years 1993 to 1995—is still hot among car enthusiasts, selling for around $27,000 for a model in good condition and upwards of $40,000 for a show-condition model.

The last generation of RX-7 came with an updated, sleek design that brought back Mazda’s beloved retractable headlights. It also came with a turbocharged, twin-rotary engine that made 252 horsepower in 1993 and got up to 276 horsepower by 2002. This power united with Mazda’s lightweight and well-balanced RX-7 engineering resulted in a 0-60 time of 5 seconds—a feat in 1993. By 2002, the RX-7 hit 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds.

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