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
- $4,075
- 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
- $4,075
- Retail value range
- $4,075 - $4,600
- Original MSRP range
- $26,435 - $31,930
- Trade-in range
- $1,265 - $1,585
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
<p>Over time, Mazdas are known to be affordable, fun to drive, and good-looking inside and out. Many of its small crossovers, SUVs, and sedans have earned Consumer Reports' recommendations and above-average reliability ratings. However, its new midsized SUVs have not lived up to the brand’s reliability reputation. Used Mazdas are usually a good option for an inexpensive pre-owned car. Most Mazdas achieve solid, but not exceptional fuel economy. Though sports cars are less popular now than decades prior, Mazda still sells the MX-5 Miata, one of the best of the few remaining enthusiast cars.</p><p><br/></p>
Vehicle ID: 7407 First published: June 20, 2020 Updated: June 4, 2026
Values may vary by trim, options, location, and market conditions.