When it comes to the automotive industry, there are the mainstream automakers that you hear about daily such as the Detroit big three, and then there are the smaller automakers who have been making inroads into different markets for decades. Mazda is one such automaker that has always been around selling sporty alternatives to the average models that we are used to seeing and driving, and the company has managed to do quite well for itself in the past decade with some models that managed to spruce up sales. It also helps to know that Mazda is owned partly by Ford Motor Company, which gives the automaker access to a wide portfolio of vehicles to choose from for its own personal use.

Mazda has given the world some of the most memorable cars in the past few decades, such as the Miata which took the world by storm as a fun to drive little convertible that offered a peppy little engine and a one of a kind roadster design. Mazda has also created the RX-7, which is one of the most legendary sports cars on the road today. Let us not forget that the company pioneered the rotary engine, which is one of the most revolutionary engines to be seen in a car in modern times. Yes, these are just some of the accomplishments that the company has managed to give the automotive industry and the company shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, thus we are going to take a look at some great Mazdas that no one really cared about.

25 Mazdaspeed MX5

via MOMENTcar

The Mazdaspeed MX5 was a package that took the little Miata to a whole new level of performance, and many consumers don’t even know that this package was ever available. The Mazdaspeed MX5 had a unique paint job which made the car look quite unique, and factored in the lightweight design and the turbocharged engine this was one fun to drive little convertible that is hardly matched in terms of drivability and performance. The Mazdaspeed MX5 is also notable for reintroducing the Mazdaspeed line on the Miata, which was one of the most appealing models. (Motor Trend)

24 Mazda MX3

Via: Bing

A unique little hatchback that was released during the nineties, the Mazda MX3 was a notable exception to the boring hatchbacks that were currently being sold on the open market. While the Mazda MX3 never really took on with consumers, it is notable for being one of the most unique models to hit the showroom during this time period when most other cars on the market still had a somewhat boxy design. The Mazda MX3 will go down is one of the best forgotten Mazda models of this time period. (Motor Trend)

23 Mazda MX6

Via: Bing

Known for being a beautiful two-door coupe, the Mazda MX6 took the world by storm when the second generation model was released. The car was downright beautiful with a long sloping two-door design, and there were very few coupes on the market that could even come close to how this model looked in terms of design. The Mazda MX6 was sadly a forgotten model that was far ahead of its time in terms of design and driving characteristics, just going to show another stellar Mazda model that was overlooked. (Motor Trend)

22 Mazda RX-8

Via: Bing

Although the Mazda RX-8 has exploded in popularity as a used car as of late, there was a time when the car was brand new and no one really wanted it. The Mazda RX-8 was designed to be a follow up to the legendary RX-7 model which ended production in 1995, and for the most part, the RX-8 was a great car. But, with a unique design that even incorporated a third door for passengers, many consumers just never caught onto this unique sports car and Mazda pulled the plug on it. (Motor Trend)

21 Mazda RX-7 Final Generation

Via: Bing

Perhaps one of the most popular used sports cars on the market right now, back in 1995 no one wanted the Mazda RX-7 Final Generation and thus Mazda threw in the towel on the sports car. The Mazda RX-7 Final Generation was notable for having a design that is beautiful even by today's modern vehicle standards, and these cars were vastly overlooked during the nineties in favor of the SUV craze that caught the market by storm. The Mazda RX-7 Final Generation is a car that is definitely worth purchasing, especially as values continue to climb. (Motor Trend)

20 Mazda B-Series / Ford Courier

Via: Bing

The original Mazda Truck was a rebadged Ford Courier, and this little truck even back then offered a few special Mazda touches over its Ford counterpart. We feel that the Mazda B-Series / Ford Courier didn’t get the attention that it deserved at a time when the country was in a fuel crisis. The Mazda B-Series / Ford Courier a relatively rare truck to find nowadays but if you do manage to find one in good shape these are durable little farm trucks that can last through just about anything, except rust. (Hot Rod)

19 First Generation RX-7

Via: Bing

The First Generation RX-7 was a revolutionary little sports car that utilized the rotary engine that was developed by the Mazda company. The First Generation RX-7 had a one of a kind design that was hard to miss, to say the least, and once you drove the little sports car you instantly fell in love with how it drove. The First Generation RX-7 was often forgotten and overshadowed in reference to other sports cars of the time, but we think that this little sports car deserved more of a chance then it was given. (Motor Trend)

18 Mazda Miata First Generation

Via: Bing

There is no doubt that the Mazda Miata First Generation was a groundbreaking little car, that managed to take the world by storm and become one of the most beloved convertibles on the market. The Mazda Miata First Generation with its lightweight design is one of the most fun to drive little cars that there is, and this is from a simple formula of a lightweight design and a spunky little engine that gave the car a good deal of performance on those long twisty mountain roads that people love to take roadsters through. (Motor Trend)

17 Mazdaspeed 3

Via: Bing

Released as a special edition vehicle, the Mazdaspeed3 took the little Mazda 3 hatchback and added some serious speed to the mix. Also available with a signature red paint job and matching interior the Mazdaspeed 3 was more than just an appearance package, and although more consumers didn’t take notice of this little hot hatch you can’t go wrong with the peppy little engine and snappy handling. The Mazdaspeed3 is quite rare, to say the least, and if you are lucky enough to find one you will be in for one extraordinary car. (Motor Trend)

16 Mazda 5

Via: Bing

Was it a minivan or a wagon? The Mazda 5 was a unique car that really offered a revolutionary design but it was offered at the wrong time. Released right in the midst of the economic downturn, the Mazda 5 just didn’t appeal to enough consumers to make it a viable choice. The smaller MPV style minivans are just not as popular in the domestic markets, which is what lead to the demise of the Kia Rondo as well. The Mazda 5 offered 7-Passenger seating in a small package which at the time hadn’t been seen in a car this small. (Motor Trend)

15 Mazda 2

Via: Bing

Released at a time when the compact cars were making a comeback, the Mazda 2 is a blend of stylish design and a compact gas saving idea. The Mazda 2 is a great looking little compact car that looked to build on the sales of the redesigned Mazda 3, unfortunately, the buying public didn’t really take to the Mazda 2 and the car was discontinued. It's a shame that more consumers didn’t give the little Mazda 2 a chance, because it is one of the more stylish and affordable compact cars to hit the market. (Motor Trend)

14 Mazda 323 Hatchback

Via: Bing

During the nineties, Mazda was a company that was in transition, as they had a large product portfolio but nothing that really stood out from the crowd. The Mazda 323 Hatchback was an interesting little hatchback to combined a more sporty exterior than the other hatchbacks that were available at the time, not to mention a more roomy interior. The Mazda 323 Hatchback was a car that more consumers should have considered, as it offered a lot more than the run of the mill hatchbacks that were being sold at the time. (Motor Trend)

13 Mazda 323 Sedan

Via: Bing

Another notable Mazda that was being sold during the nineties was the Mazda 323 Sedan, which was a full-featured sedan that offered a good blend of style and comfort for the price. Although a bit boxy, the Mazda 323 Sedan was actually relatively fun to drive sedan at a time when the sedans of the era were generally boring and generic. The Mazda 323 Sedan never really caught on with consumers and was replaced later on, although the car was a one-of-a-kind gem in the past Mazda lineup. (Motor Trend)

12 Mazda 626 Sedan

Via: Bing

A logical step up from the Mazda 323 Sedan, the Mazda 626 Sedan offered a larger selection of features and luxury appointments that let drivers know they were in for a treat. The Mazda 626 Sedan sold a little better than the smaller 323, but many drivers still never paid attention to the Mazda 626 Sedan in what is a missed opportunity for a great car. There are still plenty of Mazda 626 Sedans on the road today, which is a testament to the cars reliability and functionality. The Mazda 626 Sedan makes a great used car as well. (Motor Trend)

11 Mazda CX-7

Via: Bing

Released at a time when the company was attempting to re-brand itself, the Mazda CX7 was a logical step ahead for the company that had only offered the small Tribute SUV for the last decade. The Mazda CX7 took all of the aspects of the other automaker's crossover SUVs and added a Mazda flare to it that made the CX-7 something very unique. Even taking a look at the Mazda CX-7 you know that you are in for something special, and with a CVT transmission and a stylish exterior, this is a timeless crossover. (Motor Trend)

10 Mazda MPV Minivan

Via: Bing

When Chrysler Corporation exploded the minivan market during the nineties they caught most of the other automakers off guard. The Japan-based automakers released some pretty odd looking minivans during this time, and Mazda released the Mazda MPV Minivan. Known for having four fully functional doors, the MPV was more like an SUV and less like an actual minivan at first. The second generation became a more traditional minivan, and for the rest of the life cycle, the MPV was a fun to drive alternative to the traditional minivans on the market. (Motor Trend)

9  Mazda Navajo

Via: Bing

Released for a few years in the early nineties, the Mazda Navajo was a two-door SUV that was based on the Ford Explorer. Similar to how the B-Series truck shared its general design with the Ford Ranger, the Mazda Navajo was born out of a need for a compact SUV to compete with the likes of the Jeep Cherokee. The Mazda Navajo, although forgotten, was the first official Mazda SUV and it offered some unique features over its Ford cousin, and even though this model never sold well if you can find one used, this is quite a unique SUV. (Motor Trend)

8 Mazda B-Series Truck

Via: Bing

Produced for years quietly under the nose of the compact pickup truck market, the B-Series has always been a great alternative to other compact trucks on the market. Offering the style and uniqueness that has made Mazda products quite special, the Mazda B-Series Truck is a winning combination of style and individuality that has given the truck a cult-like following over all of these years. The final years of production for the B-Series are some of the most notable for the small pickup truck, as there were a lot of new modern features. (Motor Trend)

7  Mazda 3 Sedan

Via: Bing

When the Mazda 3 Sedan hit the market it really showed consumers that the brand was serious about making inroads into the compact car market, with a viable product that was fun to drive and far better looking than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic at the time. The Mazda 3 Sedan has a lot of great attributes which have made the car far more than just another run of the mill compact car, and unfortunately, many consumers have overlooked this little and fun to drive sedan in favor of the Civic and Corolla. (Motor Trend)

6 Mazda Protege

Via: Bing

The Mazda Protege went through a lot of changes during its lifecycle, and the compact car was always a viable choice over the Corolla and Civic. The last years for the car were the best as the vehicle was redesigned with a modern interior and a more sporty driving experience that made the Mazda Protege one of the best compact cars of 2001. Many consumers never gave the Mazda Protege a chance, and that is sad because this is one of the best values in the compact car arena offering sports car-like driving for half the price. (Motor Trend)