Review and specifications
2009 Mazda RX-8
Introduced for 2004, the RX-8 is a sporty coupe successor to the RX-7 with a Wankel rotary engine. While acceleration is not explosive, it is exceptionally smooth and responsive -- provided you keep the engine at mid-revs, which becomes natural and sounds invigorating. Handling is super agile, with quick, communicative steering. This truly fun-to-drive sports car doesn't beat you up and seats four. The rear-hinged rear doors make back seat access relatively easy. Fuel economy of 18 mpg was disappointing.
- Market value
- $4,725
- Fuel
- Conventional
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Seats
- 4
At a glance
Model data
Overview
- Powertrain
- Conventional
- Body style
- coupe
- Drive type
- RWD
- Transmission
- Automatic, 6-speed
- Category
- Sports cars 4/5-seat
- Generation began
- 2004
Pricing
- Current retail median
- $4,725
- Retail value range
- $4,675 - $5,175
- Original MSRP range
- $26,435 - $31,930
- Trade-in range
- $1,615 - $2,010
Ratings
- Road test score
- 86/100
Fuel economy
- EPA city
- 18 MPG
- EPA highway
- 24 MPG
- EPA combined
- 20 MPG
- Tested city
- 14 MPG
- Tested highway
- 22 MPG
- Tested overall
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,730
- Cruising range
- 285 miles
Road tests
- 0-30 mph
- 2.2 sec
- 0-60 mph
- 6.7 sec
- 60-0 mph braking
- 117 ft
- Avoidance speed
- 56 mph
- Test status
- Test Completed
Dimensions
- Length
- 174 in
- Width
- 70 in
- Height
- 53 in
- Wheelbase
- 106 in
- Weight
- 3,085 lb
- Maximum load
- 680 lb
- Towing capacity
- 0 lb
Interior
- Seating
- 4 people
- Front head room
- 1.5 in
- Front leg room
- 40 in
- Rear head room
- 1.5 in
- Rear leg room
- 26 in
- Luggage
- 2+0+0
Brand context
About Mazda
Most Mazdas are affordable, fun to drive, and look good inside and out. Many of its crossovers, SUVs, and sedans have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendations and above-average reliability ratings. Used Mazdas are usually a good option for an affordable pre-owned car. Mazda’s two- and three-row SUVs, identified by CX in the name, are consistently near the top of our ratings. Some Mazdas are available as plug-in hybrids that are capable of useful amounts of electric-only driving range. Most Mazdas achieve solid, but not exceptional fuel economy. Though sports cars are less popular now than decades before, Mazda still sells the MX-5 Miata, one of the best of the few remaining enthusiast cars.
Vehicle ID: 7407 First published: June 20, 2020 Updated: December 4, 2025
Values may vary by trim, options, location, and market conditions.