Japanese cars were being laughed at by a large portion of the public for decades. When they were first introduced on the US market, critics were quite harsh. The consensus was that Japanese cars would never make it in a market dominated by humongous vehicles powered by proportionally big engines. The critics ended up being completely wrong.

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Although Mazda is mostly known for its RX-7 and Miata, the carmaker has been producing respectable sports cars for over fifty years. Some of the best Japanese sports cars ever made are actually Mazdas. Though the vast majority of Mazda cars are underrated, they sure deserve to get every gearhead's attention.

10 Sick MX-6

Mazda MX-6 Tuned
via Pinterest

Mazda was not always the company it is today. First created as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., the company was originally produced cork. You read that right. Cork. The company eventually went bankrupt and was bailed out by Hiroshima Saving Bank in the late 1920s.

Mazda MX-6 Tuned
via Pinterest

Similar to the company's history, the MX-6 tends to be a mystery to the vast majority of gearheads. Produced between 1987 and 1997, the car came at best with a 2.5L V6 that produces 164 hp, which is very respectable given the size of the car. The MX-6 is the type of underrated Japanese cars petrol heads would love to take for a spin.

9 Retro RX-7

To most people, there is only one RX-7: The FD. Though it is one of the most iconic Japanese cars ever made, its predecessors are equally impressive. They did not receive as much attention as the FD simply because they were poorly received in European and North American markets as they could not measure up to their native counterparts.

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This first-generation Mazda RX-7 (SA22C) has been completely transformed. The 1.3L 13B-RE two-rotor engine is equipped with a Garrett GTX45 turbocharger among other modifications. The powerplant creates 600 hp at the crankshaft. As mad as it may sound, this classic RX-7 hits nine seconds on the quarter-mile.

8 Flyin' Miata

Mazda is mostly known among the public for producing entry-level and mid-level sedans and mini-vans. In fact, the company's sportier vehicles have not been able to rival those produced by Nissan or Toyota. That being said, one Mazda car stood out: the Miata MX-5. It is one of the most popular roadsters to ever come out of Japan.

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The Flyin' Miata supercharged ND MX-5 is not your regular Miata. Though it is quite common to stumble across 2JZ or LS swapped Miata, it is actually quite rare to see one that comes with a warranty. The company behind this nicely done swap means business. The V8-powered Miata produces 520 hp, which is a lot better than the standard 181 hp.

7 PPRE RX-4

The Mazda RX-4 was first introduced to the US market in the early '70s. The smaller, yet somewhat powerful two-door model had to rival truly iconic muscle cars, such as the Camaro SS or the Mustang Boss 302. Targeting "ballers on a budget," the RX-4 did not achieve the same level of success as domestic cars.

This is the sort of classic Japanese cars gearheads would drive over a Mustang any day. PPRE may be a mystery to most American gearheads, however, the company is basically the Kiwi version of Roush or Lingenfelter. Pulse Performance Race Engineering turned this RX-4 into a true beast. The six-rotor engine-equipped RX-4 develops a whopping 813 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. At the wheels.

6 Insane Three Rotor

The Mazda RX-2 was the very first RX model to be introduced in markets other than Japan. Produced between 1970 and 1978, the car was meant to be an economical sports car from Japan. While American motorists were still warming up to the idea of driving foreign cars, they were timidly powerful and small in size, Mazda was building the foundation for its success abroad.

Classic Mazda cars are not the name of the game in the US. In Australia, it is a completely different ballgame. It is unclear how much horsepower the Garrett turbocharged 2.0L three-rotor 20B engine produces, however, it allows this amazing-looking Mazda RX-2 to hit the quarter-mile in less than nine seconds.

5 Showstopper

Liberty Walk Mazda RX-3
Via Speedhunters

Given the fact that Japanese cars from the late '60s and early '70s were nowhere as popular as domestic cars, they did not receive the attention they deserve. However, with the increasing popularity of the restomod trend and the availability of aftermarket parts, tuners are starting to take a closer look at previously overlooked vehicles from Japan.

You must've noticed the Japanese license plates by now. Yes, it is another cool car rocking a Liberty Walk body kit. This RX-3 belongs to Kato Wataru, the creator of Liberty Walk. This insanely modified RX-3 resides in Wataru's garage along with the McLaren modified in the same fashion.

4 MazdaSpeed

In the past two decades or so, Mazda released some truly disappointing cars. The RX-8 did not live it up to the franchise reputation. The Mazda 3 MazdaSpeed was perceived as a genuine rice rocket. Though both the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 were improved in the last couple of years, their earlier versions left a lot to be desired.

The Mazda 3 MazdaSpeed is not a bad car per se. The turbocharged 2.3L inline-four engine produces 263 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Though it is not the greatest Japanese sports car out there, it can still be modified to produce 400 hp like this quite interesting underrated car.

3 Drift Machine

One of the biggest letdowns in Mazda's history must be the RX-8. The much-anticipated successor of the iconic RX-7 F3DS did not reach people's expectations. The rotary engine is well-known for going belly-up long before reaching 50,000 miles. While the car may have not satisfied its owners, it sure made mechanics very happy.

Alright. This RX-8 is somewhat of a star as it has been featured in several videos online. This drift-ready RX-8 was made to tear up a track or a closed road. Under the hood of Mad Mike's "Badbul" RX-8 sits a highly modified PPRE 20B four-rotor engine.

2 Typical RX-7

There are several truly emblematic Japanese cars. Though cars such as the Nissan Silvia S15 and the Toyota AE86 are a mystery to some petrol heads, the Toyota Supra, the Nissan Skyline, or the Mazda RX-7 F3DS are well-known and respected. Despite their origin, these sports cars are as iconic as the Ford Mustang or the Mercedes-Benz "Hammer."

It is known that the RX-7 FD is the most loved and respected of all RX-7s. As the RX-7 is one of the best Japanese cars to modify, it is not uncommon to see monsters like this one. With a total power output of about 505 hp, this RX-7 sure is similar to most successfully customized RX-7s out there.

1 Lady MX-5

The Mazda MX-5, or Miata, must be one of the most customized roadsters out there. It lived through several custom trends including the Fast And Furious treatment. In more recent years, the Miata has been customized using more subtle modifications. Though the mods are now less flashy, they are still serious neck-breaking material.

RELATED: 5 Things We Love About The Mazda MX-5 Miata (5 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

It really is a bummer whenever information about a particular vehicle is not available. It would have been nice to know what this Miata is made of. The car has a British feel to it, while the engine looks very Japanese. All in all, this Miata must be fun to drive around.

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