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2010 Mazda RX-8 Review

September 18, 2009

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Not everybody thinks it's pretty
Car and Driver

Weird in good ways and bad
Edmunds.com

Freshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 sport package
ConsumerGuide

The Mazda RX-8 received a few slight styling changes for last 2009, but it rolls into 2010 unchanged. That’s actually fine, as six years after its introduction, this racy car still manages to look fresh—possibly because it’s a relatively rare sight.

The RX-8 combines the silhouette of a classic sports car with some very unusual details—such as the rear-hinged half-doors in back. Cars.com loves the "longish hood" and "pronounced fender flares" that give it one of the most unique appearances on the road. Unique isn't always a good thing, though, and Car and Driver reports that "not everybody thinks it's pretty," but overall reviews read by TheCarConnection.com aren't overly critical of the styling. Edmunds sums it up perfectly by describing the RX-8 Mazda as "weird in good ways and bad," with the styling leaning more toward the former than the latter.

Last year, the RX-8 received a few minor styling changes inside, but the same goes here; very little change is a good thing, as it still feels contemporary. Most reviewers appreciate the look of the interior. Road & Track points out that "the instrument panel was redesigned to 'give a feeling of dynamic movement,'" while some gauge changes for the 2009 Mazda RX-8 include a "variable red-zone, which should keep drivers from using too many revs when the engine is cold." Other styling touches on the interior of the Mazda RX-8 include "numerous circle and triangle details throughout the cabin," which Edmunds says are "a visual homage to the car's rotary engine design."

Conclusion

It’s been six years since the Mazda RX-8 was first introduced, yet it looks like no other—and quite contemporary.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Not everybody thinks it's prettyCar and DriverWeird in good ways and badEdmunds.comFreshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 sport packageConsumerGuide The Mazda RX-8 received a few slight styling changes for last 2009, but it rolls into 2010 unchanged. That’s actually fine, as six years after its introduction, this racy car still manages to look fresh—possibly because it’s a relatively rare sight. The RX-8 combines the silhouette of a classic sports car with some very unusual details—such as the rear-hinged half-doors in back. Cars.com loves the "longish hood" and "pronounced fender flares" that give it one of the most unique appearances on the road. Unique isn't always a good thing, though, and Car and Driver reports that "not everybody thinks it's pretty," but overall reviews read by TheCarConnection.com aren't overly critical of the styling. Edmunds sums it up perfectly by describing the RX-8 Mazda as "weird in good ways and bad," with the styling leaning more toward the former than the latter. Last year, the RX-8 received a few minor styling changes inside, but the same goes here; very little change is a good thing, as it still feels contemporary. Most reviewers appreciate the look of the interior. Road & Track points out that "the instrument panel was redesigned to 'give a feeling of dynamic movement,'" while some gauge changes for the 2009 Mazda RX-8 include a "variable red-zone, which should keep drivers from using too many revs when the engine is cold." Other styling touches on the interior of the Mazda RX-8 include "numerous circle and triangle details throughout the cabin," which Edmunds says are "a visual homage to the car's rotary engine design." ConclusionIt’s been six years since the Mazda RX-8 was first introduced, yet it looks like no other—and quite contemporary. 2010 MAZDA RX-8 STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: "Not everybody thinks it's pretty" Edmunds.com: “Weird in good ways and bad" ConsumerGuide: "Freshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 sport package" The Mazda RX-8 received a few slight styling changes for last ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another model that provides the same combination of responsiveness, backseat space, and an affordable price. BMW’s new Z4 fills the roles of the old Z4 convertible and M Roadster together. The new Z4 is much more expensive than the RX-8, yet could draw comparisons; they’re both sports cars, but the new BMW Z4 is a much more grown-up grand-tourer. The Cayman is an amazing sports car, with excellent handling and high-speed stability, but it doesn’t quite have the sharp, connected go-kart-like feel at low speeds that the RX-8 has. But both the BMW and the Porsche have torquey, powerful six-cylinder engines that are easier to live with. Another alternative, if you only need two seats, is the Miata with the available power retractable hardtop. That model, called the PRHT, sells for about the same as a base RX-8; to TheCarConnection.com, the RX-8 is more exciting, but the Miata is a more fuel-efficient, easier-to-maintain choice.

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See the Mazda RX-8 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

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