Mazda has been around for over 100 years now, and over the years, the brand has produced everything from luxury sedans to iconic JDm sports cars. It's also synonymous with perfecting the rotary engine and outstanding build quality. Mazda is also responsible for producing the most popular roadster of all time (the Miata) as well as winning Le Mans with the 787B. It's safe to say the brand goes hand in hand with speed.
While Mazda may not be making cars that go 0-60 mph in sub 3.0 seconds or making cars that are overloaded with horsepower, the brand has made some very fast cars that are widely loved by enthusiasts. As such, we've compiled this list to show the fastest Mazda cars in existence, featuring icons like the RX-7 and Miata. Seeing the fastest car launched by Mazda reflects just how well Mazda has evolved and how it is an outstanding brand still.
10 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II (0-60 Mph In 6.6 Seconds)
The Mazda RX-7 Turbo II was released as a part of the second generation Mazda RX-7. The car comes with a turbocharged engine with a twin-scroll design and the engine was designed to help reduce turbo lag and squeeze out more power. In terms of power, the Turbo II produced 182 hp which wasn't bad at all considering its size.
In terms of speed, the car is capable of going 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is very impressive despite being the slowest car on this list. It beats all other second-generation RX-7s and for many, it's the best version of the second-generation car. Its performance is nice and the car is overall a great Mazda model from the '80s, but it isn't as fast as other models in the brand's lineup.
9 Mazda RX-8 Spirit R (0-60 Mph In 6.5 Seconds)
The top model in the RX-8 lineup is the Mazda RX-8 Spirit R. It was limited edition, making it that little bit more exciting for enthusiasts and it is a fan favorite too. Built to celebrate the end of the RX-8 production run, it was a very exclusive vehicle with only 1000 ever made, all for the Japanese market. Indeed, it was the most expensive RX-8 model produced. It was so popular that Mazda actually made another 1000 models of it to meet demand.
In terms of performance, the official stat is 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. However, with optional extras and various improvements made, the car could manage 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The standard model is pretty fast too, and enthusiasts love it still to this day. Alongside all of this, the styling of the RX-8 Spirit R was very well received and is the best of the RX-8 lineup.
8 Mazda MX-6 (0-60 Mph In 6.2 Seconds)
While the Mazda MX-6 isn't the most known vehicle to come out of Mazda, it is one of the brand's fastest vehicles to date. The car was launched in 1987 and the first generation came with a choice of engines and country-specific 'Spec' models. The 1991 'J-Spec' launched for Japan had the option of coming with a KL-ZE 2.5-liter DOHC V6 engine that produced 200 hp and this engine was the one that provided the car with its 6.2 second 0-60 time.
Going 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds is very impressive and the J-Spec model here was faster than many other sports cars. While this car isn't the easiest vehicle to find nowadays, it is a good modern classic. The engine can also be tuned easily for higher performance.
7 Mazda Miata Mazdaspeed Mark 2 (0-60 Mph In 6.1 Seconds)
The Mazda Miata Mazdaspeed Mark 2 was launched in 2005 and it came with a 1.8-liter engine that produced a diminutive 197 hp. However, considering the lightweight construction and small size of the Miata Mazdaspeed, it's not surprising to learn the vehicle was capable of going 0-60 mph in just 6.1 seconds.
This was all down to the inclusion of a turbocharger that totally transformed how the Miata drove. the six-speed gearbox was also upgraded, while Bilstein shock absorbers and special alloy wheels were fitted to make it handle better too. Only 5,428 were ever produced as production was cut short due to a factory fire.
6 Mazda Miata (2021) (0-60 Mph In 5.7 Seconds)
Continuing on a long line of outstanding cars, the 2021 model of the Mazda Miata is another great vehicle that is fantastic to drive. The Miata comes with a four-cylinder engine that works great with the car's chassis and helps to create a balanced drive. Indeed, the handling on the Miata is outstanding, not that any less is expected. The ease of driving in the Miata is part of what makes it so great, and the newest models continue this nicely.
The car can go 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is a great level for some fun driving. It may not be the quickest sports car, but the Miata never has been but it is still great fun to take out and drive. It isn't the biggest car either, but then again, most won't be driving one for purely practical reasons.
5 Mazda Mazdaspeed 6 (0-60 Mph In 5.4 Seconds)
The Mazda Mazdaspeed 6 is a sporty sedan, being the performance version of the standard sedan that was launched in 2005. The Mazdaspeed 6 arrived in 2006 and it came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter MZR I4 engine that produces 268 hp and the North American model came with 274 hp until it was revised to 270 hp in 2007. As such, performance was already boosted over the standard model and this made the Mazdaspeed 6 a great car to drive.
Coming with an AWD set-up the Mazdaspeed 6 is great in terms of traction and its impressive handling was lauded by many. The car can go 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds which is a nice level for a sports sedan that comes with a good amount of power. It's a future classic for sure and genuinely usable everyday too which makes it even cooler.
4 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 (0-60 Mph In 5.4 Seconds)
The Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 was launched in 2007 and it is an outstanding hatchback launched by Mazda. There were many variants of the model, but the fastest comes in the 2010 car that came with a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine that produced 263 hp. Also in this model, styling updates made it look all the more sporty too with an updated grille and headlights that look all the more performance-based. The rear of the car also comes with narrower taillights and performance tires.
In terms of speed, the car can go 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. This is by far the fastest model in the Mazdaspeed 3 lineup and it is a great car to drive. It comes with the fun of a hatchback and the high-performance levels of a sports car. As such, the Mazdaspeed 3 is a fantastic vehicle and it deserves to be high up on this list.
3 Mazda RX-7 (1991) (0-60 Mph In 5.3 Seconds)
The final generation of the Mazda RX-7 was launched in 1991. The engine was the first mass-produced sequential twin-turbocharger system to be exported from the Japanese market and this eventually boosted power in the RX-7 to 238 hp by the time the car ended production. The car was entirely performance-based and this was reflected in the sporty styling in the car. Also, the vehicle was so successful that it won multiple awards and its handling was incredibly lauded among enthusiasts and reviewers.
The Mazda RX-7 is still one of the fastest Mazda vehicles in the world today, going 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds. This speed level is incredibly fast and combining this with how balanced the car is and how brilliant the car is to handle, it is definitely one of the best cars on this list overall.
2 Mazda RX-7 Type R (2001) (0-60 Mph In 5.1 Seconds)
The Mazda RX-7 came with plenty of variations, and the Type R is a fantastic model offered as a part of the lineup. The Type R was a car that came with a nice performance boost over the standard RX-7 and it was received by enthusiasts well. Coming with a tuned engine that produced around 280 hp and the engine comes with even higher revs, reaching 8000 rpm, the Type R was an outstanding performance model and it definitely has an edge over the standard model.
In terms of speed, the Mazda RX-7 Type R can go 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, just beating the RX-7 as standard. Indeed, the Mazda RX-7 Type R is a very fast car and it is at the top of the model lineup for Mazda because of this. Its performance-based additions make it all the better to drive and an all-round great vehicle.
1 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (0-60 Mph In 5.0 Seconds)
Only just beating the Mazda RX-7 Type R is another variant of the RX-7 car lineup. The Mazda RX-7 Spirit R was a special edition model that was the final model released in the RX-7 lineup, and it showed off just how brilliant Mazda can be at making performance-based vehicles. It was simply a fun vehicle made for fast driving. Even though power is claimed at 252 hp, there is much speculation that it was actually a much more powerful vehicle than was claimed and enthusiasts loved it.
Going 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds, the RX-7 Spirit R is the fastest Mazda model ever made and this isn't a bad figure at all. For a car that was only available in select numbers - 1,500 to be exact, it is a very exclusive vehicle and it is all the more exclusive because of its incredible performance and outstanding drivability.