Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: No data available
Technically interesting; practical four-door body style; fun to drive; good value for money.
High emissions, high tax; heavy fuel consumption.
An utterly unique proposition - and likely to remain that way.
Rotary engines once had a terrible reputation for reliability - the notorious Ro80 was the car that bankrupted German firm NSU - but Mazda has ironed out most issues. Remember, it's the only Japanese company to have won the Le Mans 24 Hours, and it did it with a rotary: the 787B, victorious in 1991.
By now, Mazda has made almost 2 million rotary engines, including those in the RX-7 - one of the most popular coupes of the '70s and '80s - and it has made the concept work. With fewer moving parts than a piston engine, once Mazda cracked the problems of oil sealing, excess oil consumption and poor starting, it's not actually over-complex. This R3-series model benefits from a new oil pump drive, enlarged oil capacity and a larger air intake for the oil cooler, plus improved 'knocking' sensors and a rev-limiter which limits engine speeds from a cold start, addressing some of the RX-8's early problems.
There have been a few glitches, and one does get the sense that the RX-8 is a slightly fragile creature, but there are many clocking up high mileages in everyday usage without issues. The build quality is good and the structure robust, though some owners have reported premature wear to suspension and clutches.
