Mazda RX-8 road tests and consumer car reviews

Mazda RX-8 Evolve 2010

A fantastic and fun car to drive, I’m very pleased with mine having owned for one year now. The running cost are a little on the high side, however, the power and speed and handling more than outweigh those draw backs. It uses oil but it is designed to, about a  litre every 6 weeks. Fuel consumption depends very much on your driving style. If you drive with care at best you will get 24 mpg, being honest my average is about 20 at the very best. The one piece of good advice I would give is maintain the original tyres as after marked the cheap ones do not help the cars handling; I know tried to get away with cheaper ones and have to go back to Bridgestones, grr £200 a pop. I love the car and will be keeping it for a good few years yet. The engine is perfect, I love to hear it rev high and then let it fly. Buy one, own one, before petol gets far to hight to justify the experience. Happy motoring!

Mazda RX-8 192 ps 2005

Great looking car, handles like a racing car, but drinks the fuel like a Range Rover, and warning don’t put your foot on the accelerator when starting as it will flood the engine, if engine floods new set of spark plugs required at £239. When the engine floods may cause catalitic converter failure £1500. Does’t like short stop start driving as engine runs rich on fuel until fully warmed up.

Mazda RX-8 231 2007

Amazing to drive. Extremely quick for what is. As for previous comments about traction control... It’s a rear wheel drive coupe! Don’t "boot it coming out of roundabouts", in the rain!! Idiot! Slower than a type r?? The engine is set up completely different, drive above 4000 revs for good power output and no type r will take you! Yes it likes fuel... Alot! But no chance as low as 11mpg. All round this car is practical space wise comfortably seating two adults in the back and golf clubs in the boot then when you’re on your own on a country lane (sticking to the speed limit of course) you won’t believe the handling! Get one!!

Mazda RX-8 2004

Purchased a 2004 RX8, drove it for 2 weeks and the clutch went on it. 300 km and the dealer stated that it was in need of a new clutch. Now they are saying 800 canadian dollars to replace the clutch. It has now been 3 weeks and I am trying to get the dealer to acknowledge the fact they advertised the clutch as new.

Mazda RX-8 2006

A great sporty car you can fit the family in. Fantastic handling and a pleasure to drive. Comes with all creature comforts. Boot space good although access is very small.

Mazda RX-8 192 2004

On paper you can’t really buy a better car for the money. For around £8000 you can buy a good looking coupe which seats four and drives extremely well, and with all the extras. However, the fuel consumption is a joke, thrash it and you will be lucky to get 13mpg. Also the heated seats, brakes and the traction control are pretty poor. I put my foot down recently on a wet day coming of a roundabout and the traction control kicked in after I had lost control and skidded onto the next lane - about three seconds too late. Luckily the roads were clear. Overall a nice car but in life you get what you pay for.

Responses to this review

Patel note, Anyone who ’boots it’ out of a roundabout on a wet day needs some serious driving lessons. What on earth are you doing? Get yourself on a ’driving day’ at Brands Hatch; they will show you how to drive quickly and safely. It is the weather so respect the road surface conditions. Sounds like you drive around town. Wrong car for that - The RoadRunner from England

Mazda RX-8 230 2004

Great car if you want a personal account with your local petrol station... not that fast either. Anyone who claims 24+ MPG should either buy a Fiesta or get real, hammering it saw it drop to 11 MPG, with about 18 being average. Handled & looked great though, shame I got beat by Civic Type R’s... and mine was a 230 model.

Responses to this review

Dear John note, Sounds like you don’t know how to drive this car. When driving hard, 18mpg minimum for me. Goodness knows how you got 11mpg. Take it out of first gear! Ave 22mpg. As for type R’s, get your line and braking right then you will do so much better - The RoadRunner from England

Mazda RX-8 2003

Looking for something different in a sports coupe then this is it great to drive - handles brilliantly, looks fabulous - fitted big boot spoiler and looks even better. Likes to use the juice but if u like it as much as iI do well just have to get on with it. Now the bad bit... alloy wheels are crap quality, this is now my third set, .so far under warranty but not the point - this set is the chrome ones nice but probably worse than standard. 3 months on and started to corrode from inside out and now disgusting to look at. Mazda say they will offer me 50% off new ones - this should not be my problem but theirs. Could go on lots more about wheels but do love the car!!!!

Mazda RX-8 189 bhp 2006

Not so long ago there was very little choice for anyone who wanted a fast, sports coupe that would seat four adults in comfort, with plenty of room and that was a little bit different from the rest. So Mazda decided to introduce the RX-8 and with an instant appeal turned the coupe market on its head. The shape is a very awkward kindergarten kind of magic, where a competition was held and the eight children with the best suggestions were incorporated into the final drawings, (that’s the pictures, not the kids)! As far as driving this beauty goes, well it does just that...it really really goes. The devil in you wants to keep the revs flying at well above 8000, but then some sensible road angel persuades you to ease off and take this little piece of driving pleasure in and enjoy it. Downside to owning one is possibly the poor fuel consumption, (24-26 mpg) and the amounts of cash you have to spend when servicing time comes around. But if you can absorb this little financial issue and really want a decent sports coupe at a sensible price, then buy one, and enjoy it before you get too old...

Mazda RX-8 Coupe 189 bhp 4dr

FANTASTIC CAR!! You have to try out this car if you’re looking for something to put a huge smile on your face. Just so much fun to drive and it handles beautifully. It really is one of the best coupe cars out there and I defy you not to fall in love with once you get behind the wheel!