Bongo Ride

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Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. But for 
driving enthusiasts, it's the company's history of building sports cars 
with lightweight rotary engines that sets it apart from the competition.
 The Mazda RX-8 was one of these, and was the only one with a four-door 
configuration.<br />

The heart of the Mazda RX-8 was its high-revving, 1.3-liter rotary 
engine. Because of the engine's compact size, engineers were able to 
mount it farther back in the RX-8's chassis, giving the car a coveted 
50/50 front/rear weight distribution. This, along with balanced 
suspension tuning, sharp steering and a svelte 3,000-pound curb weight, 
made the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 one of the best-handling cars ever made. <br />

Unfortunately, Mazda did little to keep the RX-8 competitive with 
other sport coupes as the years went on. This was particularly true in 
terms of power, fuel economy and acceleration. Sales dwindled, which 
made it less cost-effective for Mazda to upgrade the rotary engine so it
 could meet more stringent standards for air emissions. Mazda finally 
pulled the plug for 2012. As a used-car choice, though, the RX-8 still 
holds plenty of appeal.<br />
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<strong>Most Recent Mazda RX-8</strong><br />
 Produced from 2004 through 2011, the Mazda RX-8 was a four-seat sport 
coupe with a pair of rear-hinged doors that eased access to the 
surprisingly roomy rear seats. The RX-8 was powered by a 1.3-liter 
twin-rotor Wankel engine. Power output depended on the transmission 
choice. The version with a six-speed manual produced 232 horsepower at a
 stratospheric 9,000 rpm, propelling the RX-8 to 60 mph in about 7 
seconds flat. The six-speed automatic made 212 hp and had a redline of 
7,500 rpm. Either way, the RX-8's rotary delivered a paltry 152 
pound-feet of torque, which meant you had to keep the rotary on the boil
 to keep the car lively.<br />

Trim levels included Sport, Touring, Grand Touring and R3. Even the 
base car came well equipped, featuring 18-inch wheels, cruise control, a
 leather-wrapped steering wheel and a six-speaker CD stereo with an 
auxiliary audio jack. The Grand Touring got a limited-slip rear 
differential, automatic xenon headlights, a power driver seat with 
memory functions, heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate 
control, keyless ignition/entry, a Bose stereo, Bluetooth and a 
navigation system. The R3 was a high-performance variant that featured 
19-inch wheels, an aggressively tuned suspension, Recaro sport seats, 
exterior body modifications and some high-tech convenience features.<br />

Although the Mazda RX-8 looks like a race-tuned sports car, its 
demeanor on the road is considerably more docile. Its ample grip through
 corners and solid feedback through the steering wheel make it an 
absolute riot on a serpentine road, yet the car's compliant ride means 
that it won't beat you up on the daily commute. The rotary engine 
requires high engine speeds to make serious power, but the delivery is 
virtually vibration-free and noise levels are subdued. If you like a 
smooth engine in feel, sound and power delivery, the RX-8's is second to
 none.<br />

Inside the cabin, the RX-8's innovative two-person backseat and 
reverse-opening rear half-doors provide the sort of practicality no 
other sports car can match. Provided rear-seat passengers are of average
 size, those seated in the back will find supportive seating and ample 
room. Overall, the RX-8 is one of the best examples of a car that's both
 fun to drive and very livable on a day-to-day basis. Just be prepared 
to pay at the pump, as the high-revving rotary swills fuel like an SUV.<br />

Upon its debut for 2004, the Mazda RX-8 heralded the return of the 
rotary-powered sports car to the United States after a near decade-long 
hiatus. Styling was mostly unchanged throughout its run, although it 
received a slight refresh for 2008. Initially, the RX-8's automatic 
transmission had just four speeds; it was replaced by a 
better-performing six-speed unit (which featured shift paddles) for '06.
 The Shinka Package (Japanese for "evolution") was offered that year as 
well and included an aggressively tuned suspension, unique 18-inch 
wheels, leather/faux suede seating and a few other luxury niceties. To 
celebrate 40 years of Mazda's rotary engine in 2008, there was the 40th 
Anniversary Special Edition RX-8, which featured special gray paint, red
 leather seats, different 18-inch alloy wheels, a firmer suspension and 
the obligatory badges. That year also saw the navigation system 
restricted to the Grand Touring model.<br />

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The biggest changes came for 2009. The exterior was given a much 
wider grille along with some other more subtle changes. The interior 
also was updated with a revised center stack. The features list expanded
 at this time, too. The car featured 18-inch wheels at every trim level,
 and electronic convenience items like Bluetooth and an auxiliary audio 
jack were added to the options list. A much-improved touchscreen 
navigation system replaced the old pop-up unit controlled by 
console-mounted buttons. This was also the first year for the 
ultra-performance R3 variant. The following year saw the Touring model 
axed from the lineup.<br />

If you are looking for older years, visit our <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/?ps=used">used Mazda RX-8</a> page.<br />

For more on past Mazda RX-8 models, view our <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/history.html">Mazda RX-8 history</a> page.<br />

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