2009 Mazda RX-8 - Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 5 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
2009 mazda rx-8 Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...All RX-8 engines produce a rather meager 152 pound-feet of torque. Although generally quick by most measures, acceleration is hardly impressive for a sports car. In our tests, a manual-equipped RX-8 went from zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds. Fuel economy is unimpressive at 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Safety: The 2009 Mazda RX-8 comes standard with antilock brakes, front side airbags and front side curtain airbags. All but the Sport model get stability control standard. In government crash testing, the RX-8 earned a four-star rating (out of a possible five) for driver... |
| #2 |
2009 Mazda RX-8 OverviewSource: CarGurus...Bluetooth, and a 300-watt Bose audio system with Centerpoint surround sound and AudioPilot noise compensation technology.A 232-hp, 1.3-liter Renesis two-rotor rotary engine drives all RX-8 trims, including the R3. The rotary engine operates without pistons or valves, and has been a stalwart powerplant of Mazdas for decades. The engine links to a six-speed manual transmission with a short-throw shifter. Drivers can also opt for a six-speed Sport automatic transmission, which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddles so drivers can shift manually. Trims with the automatic transmission are powered... |
| #3 |
2009 Mazda RX-8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Interior The RX-8's cabin has room for up to four people. There are bucket seats in front and back, and a full-length center console runs the length of the cabin between both rows of seats. Those seats are redesigned for 2009, according to Mazda, and the sports car also gets a new steering wheel and a tachometer with a variable redline that moves based on engine temperature. With the R3 sport package, the RX-8 gains a Bose audio system, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, Recaro front bucket seats and keyless start. Under the Hood The RX-8's 1.3-liter rotary engine produces 232 horsepower when... |
| #4 |
2009 Mazda RX-8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...I liked the previous front end better. However, at night I liked the new Xenon HID headlights and fog lamps. Mazda said it also improved the car's ride by adding a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and front suspension beams filled with urethane foam. The ride, however, is still pretty loud. Another noteworthy addition to the RX-8 was the Bluetooth connectivity to the phone. There are some advantages to connecting your phone to your car instead of using one of those silly hands free ear buds. First of all, you'll never walk around in public looking like a dork wearing the... |
| #5 |
2009 Mazda RX-8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...If you want an automatic transmission, power drops to 212 horsepower. Despite mild styling updates, the profile is pretty much the same: The presence of half-sized, forward-opening rear doors -- which do indeed make it easier to get into the tiny back seat, or more likely, put groceries back there -- mandates a slightly lumpy design that is certainly handsome, but not as sporty as, say, the Nissan 370Z. From behind the wheel, though, all is fine: The interior is well-appointed and comfortable, and the instruments and controls are well placed, aside from some audio controls that take some... |
Mazda RX-8 Related News
Mazda Extends RX-8 Production Due To Strong Demand In Japan
Mazda’s RX-8 will live on for a little while longer as the automaker extends production of its iconic sports car by another 1,000 units due to strong demand from... April 27, 2012 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Mazda Working On New Rotary Engine With Skyactiv Tech?
On, off, on, off--it's not a light switch, it's Mazda's program for its next rotary engine. While speaking about commitment to the history and soul of the company out of one... October 11, 2011 by Nelson Ireson 2
Mazda Sending Out RX-8 With Special Edition Spirit R
In August we were sad to report that Mazda was ending production of its RX-8 sports car and with no successor in sight will effectively end production of the world’s... October 7, 2011 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Mazda Ends RX-8 Production, No Rotary Successor In Sight
Mazda has reportedly ceased production of its RX-8 sports car, the only rotary-powered vehicle currently on the market, and possibly the last. The reason is due to falling... August 22, 2011 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran 1
Is Mazda's Rotary Engine Program Dead?
No automaker in history has done more to further the rotary-engine design of Felix Wankel than Mazda. Originally used by Mazda in the 1967 Mazda Cosmo, the rotary engine has... August 9, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Why should I also consider these?
If you're looking for alternatives to the RX-8, you won't find any other models that provide the same combination of responsiveness, backseat space, and an affordable price.
The BMW M Coupe and Porsche Cayman are sportscars that provide very impressive performance, but neither of them quite has the sharp, connected go-kart-like handling of the RX-8; however, both the BMW and the Porsche have torquey, powerful six-cylinder engines that are easier to live with.
The edgy Honda R2000 roadster has a feel on the road that's comparable in some ways to that of the Mazda RX-8, with crisp handling and a peaky, high-revving engine, but the RX-8 has a quiet enough cabin for occasional road trips—and a backseat for occasional extra passengers.
