The 10 Most Successful Mazda Models Ever Built

It's no secret that Mazda has been shifting their attention towards becoming a premium brand by introducing models like the CX-50 and the CX-90. However, the majority of us still see Mazda as the Japanese carmaker that builds affordable cars for the masses, whether it be the evergreen Mazda MX-5 Miata or the best-selling and extremely reliable CX-5.

The company was founded more than 100 years ago in 1920, but it produced cork. Back then, the company was still called Toyo Kogyo Co, and it moved into producing a small tricycle truck in 1931 called the Mazda-go, which is where the name comes from. Like most automakers, it was sidetracked by WWII, but really hit its stride in the aftermath and started manufacturing small cars for war-torn Japan. It started designing the Wankel engine in the 1960s to set itself apart from other automakers, and the rest is history. Here's a list of the most successful Mazdas ever produced.

The production figures for each model was sourced directly from Mazda.

11 Mazda RX-8

Over 158,000 Units

The Mazda RX-8 was revealed back in 2003 as the successor to the beloved RX-7. While the RX-8 shares the same platform as the third-generation NC MX-5, it was powered by the Renesis rotary engine. The RX-8 should have been more successful if you think about it. It was a beautifully-designed sports car with suicide doors and four seats. Sadly, its biggest flaw was the naturally aspirated engine, which turned out to be quite thirsty for gas and oil, and fairly unreliable.

10 Mazda K360

Over 260,000 Units

Before Mazda became strongly associated with rotary engines, and its push to be a premium brand, the three-wheeled K360 was a significant model for the Hiroshima automaker. While its air-cooled V-twin engine produced just a measly 11 horsepower, the K-360 helped rebuild the Japanese economy, as well as kickstarting the Japanese automotive industry that we know and appreciate today.

9 Mazda CX-30

Over 692,000 Units

Mazda's formula of making exciting crossovers has proven to work wonders, especially when it launched the CX-30 back in 2019, which became another big-seller alongside its bigger brother, the equally-popular CX-5. And it's more than just a rugged version of the Mazda3, as Mazda has managed to create the CX-30, which has been a more stylish and more fun-to-drive alternative than its closest rivals, such as Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Kona. To provide an even more engaging driving experience, the sweet spot would be the range-topping version with a turbocharger, while indulging it with its premium and sophisticated interior, which is still spacious and functional.

8 Mazda RX-7

Over 812,000 Units

While Mazda had already pioneered the rotary engine with the debut of the Cosmo Sport back in 1967, the RX-7 was undoubtedly the model that cemented Mazda's legendary status for its rotary-powered sports cars. That's because it features a nimble and lightweight chassis, and its rotary engine provides a healthy amount of power from a tiny engine. The Wankel engine was so good that its specific power output is still better than a few modern supercars.

7 Mazda CX-3

Over 820,000 Units

The Mazda CX-3 continues to sell like hot cakes in the rest of the world, despite withdrawing from the US market around 3 years ago. The design has only changed slightly since its first release 9 years ago. It still makes up for it with decent power from its naturally-aspirated engine, along with great handling thanks to its compact size and responsive steering. While the CX-3 has a cramped interior and basic infotainment system, you still get upscale interior quality and excellent safety ratings.

6 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Over 1.2 Million Units

The most surprising thing about the Miata is that Mazda didn't really want to do it. But after some bosses campaigned hard for a two-seat roadster, the car made its debut in 1989. The Miata is renowned for sticking closely to the roadster recipe it established with the launch of the NA in 1989. Every generation has been small, nimble, lightweight, and affordable.

The Miata has now been part of the range for 35 years and has sold well over 1 million units. There isn't another two-seat sports car that even comes close. US sales have dipped this year, but Mazda is working on a new Spirit Racing model, which will inject some much-needed juice into the range.

5 Mazda2

Over 1.7 Million Units

While Mazda has been on the roll with its premium crossovers, especially in North America, it's still raking in cash with the Mazda 2 in other parts of the world. This tiny hatch has been praised for its handling, stylish design, and wide variety of engine choices. These factors are what led the Mazda2 to be popular in Europe, Australia, and other parts of Asia.

The third-gen hatch was briefly on sale in the USA, but it didn't really get any traction. Mazda gave it a facelift, trunk, and a new name, but the Scion iA also didn't work. The Mazda2 tried one last time as the Toyota Yaris Sedan. It also didn't take.

4 Mazda CX-5

Over 3.8 Million Units

Speaking of Mazda making the waves with their premium crossovers earlier, it started with the CX-5, which has undoubtedly been Mazda's bread and butter since it was introduced back in 2010. This was the very first Mazda with a Skyactiv engine and Kodo design, both of which are prominent on all the models currently on sale. The CX-5 has been such a success that Mazda has no intention of stopping production. A series of facelifts has kept it fresh, and while there may be some overlap with the CX-50, the two cars will be sold side-by-side.

3 Mazda Capella

Over 4.3 million Units

This is an interesting entry on the list, as the Mazda Capella was mainly sold in Japan. However, it was also known as the 626 elsewhere, including the United States, and was a direct competitor to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The first-gen model was initially offered with a rotary engine as an option, which was sold as the RX-2 outside of Japan. From the third generation, the Capella was spawned as the Ford Telsar for export markets, such as Australia, and Africa, which resulted in joint sales of over 4.3 million units. The Capella name was retired and was replaced by the Mazda6.

2 Mazda3

Over 6 Million Units

The Mazda3 has been a great hatchback since its debut in 2003. It was based on the Ford Focus, known for its fun handling. Mazda took it a step further with the MazdaSpeed3, but hasn't dabbled in hot hatches since. Okay, so that's not entirely true. The current model is available with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-pot that produces between 227 and 250 hp depending on which fuel you use. It's a sort of sleeper hot hatch, but the focus is more on comfort and luxury than on speed.

1 Mazda Familia

Over 10 Million Units

Currently holding the crown for being the most successful Mazda ever built is Mazda3's predecessor, the Mazda Familia, which is also known as the 323 in other parts of the world. Throughout its timeline, there were cool models that never came to American shores, such as the Turbo Sport Europe, and the GT-R. What we did get, however, was the turbocharged Mazdaspeed Protegé with 170 horsepower. The Familia is also the second-oldest nameplate in Mazda's history after the Carol (which is now a rebadged Suzuki Alto in Japan), which spanned 40 years between 1963 and 2003 with over 10 million units sold. And it is still a remarkable thing to realize this despite disappearing from the market over two decades ago, apart from the Familia Van currently on sale, which is essentially a badge-engineered Toyota ProBox.