10 reasons we love... Mazda

There are plenty of reasons Mazda stands out. From its unique beginnings to its current model line-up, Mazda is a brand like no other thanks to its passion for driver-centric design and pursuit of unusual technologies. Here are our top 10 reasons we love the brand.

It's hard to imagine how a company making cork products would transform into a car manufacturer, but the truth is stranger than fiction. The origin of Mazda goes back to 1920 when it was known as Toyo Cork Kogyo and produced cork components for ships built in its home town of Hiroshima. It later started making three-wheeler ‘trucks’ before it eventually went on to build cars and became the brand we know today. Proud of its heritage, Mazda has incorporated cork details into the interior of the MX-30 to remind us of its story.

Without getting too bogged down with the details, a rotary engine has a triangle rotor which spins rather than pistons which move up and down. The idea originated from German engineer Felix Wankel who worked for a manufacturer called NSU which later merged with other companies to form Audi. Rotary engines (AKA Wankel engines) are smoother, lighter and can produce more power relative to their size than traditional ones but are technically challenging to manufacture. While many brands were interested in the design initially, Mazda ended up being the only manufacturer to persevere with rotary engines in mainstream production cars. For a short period, Mazda even put its rotary engine in buses and pickup trucks too. Now it is using a rotary engine as a power generator in its plug-in hybrid MX-30 R-EV.

All Mazda’s have sleek, flowing designs on the outside, and they are just as lovely inside too. Unlike many other brands, Mazda hasn’t gone in for large touch-screens, but instead it has kept physical buttons and a rotary dial to control the infotainment on the move. We applaud this simple, ergonomic approach and we also appreciate the use of contrasting materials to create texture throughout the interiors.

The MX-5 is the world's most popular two-seat sports car. Need we go on? We love an MX-5 here at Auto Trader and three quarters of our editorial team are current or previous owners! Inspired by 1960s British sports cars with added Japanese engineering, the MX-5 is open-top motoring at its best. Now in its fourth generation, it is celebrating 35 years of its winning formula. Nothing provides as many smiles per mile at this price point.

Mazda put a lot of effort into getting Soul Red Crystal just the right shade and the colour has become a stand-out feature of the brand. The paint is designed with a depth of colour which makes it look different depending on the light, highlighting the shape of the car to give a sense of movement. This deep red makes such a welcome change from the seemingly infinite number of greys available, and it is definitely worth adding to your options list.

Mazda is very proud to be Japanese and its design, engineering and manufacturing methods all have a specific Japanese ethos behind them. With this, Mazda has built a solid reputation for reliability and while it may fall behind rivals such as Suzuki and Toyota in the league tables, it’s generally still a solid bet.

Usually, the doors are the least interesting part of a car's design – unless perhaps said car is a DeLorean. However, Mazda has a bit of a thing for adding rear-hinged, ‘freestyle’ doors at the back of its cars. The RX-8 and MX-30 both have this feature which really makes them stand out. The doors are much smaller than conventional ones and this does make getting in and out a little awkward, but they certainly add character.

Japanese philosophy plays a big role in the design and engineering of Mazda's models. Jinba ittai is the notion of a horse and rider as one and Mazda aims to create the same feeling of connection between car and driver. This is most apparent in the MX-5, with its fabulous gearbox, precise steering, and low seating position, making you feel part of the machine. Yet, there’s a bit of jinba ittai in every Mazda, helping to create an engaging driving experience.

This is an idea borrowed from Colin Chapman and the phrase “Simplify, then add lightness” often attributed to him as the core of his engineering work at Lotus. The Gram Strategy is all about saving weight wherever possible to make cars lighter, more efficient, and better to drive. This was key in the development of the current generation MX-5. No component was too small to be ignored and even the size of the bolts was reduced to keep the bulk at bay, resulting in a lighter car than the previous model.

We love how Mazda refuses to follow the crowd. When other manufacturers gave up on rotary engines, Mazda continued development. When no one made small two-seat sports cars, Mazda gave us the MX-5. Even in the move to electric cars, Mazda if forging its own path by putting a relatively small battery in its MX-30. It hasn’t retired rotary engines either and has used one as a range extender in the plug-in hybrid MX-30 R-EV to add extra flexibility. Mazda takes its inspiration from the resilience of its home city of Hiroshima and is resolutely determined to push ahead with its own ideas. Whether you think it is brilliant or bonkers, Mazda is undoubtedly unique, which is exactly why we love it.