← Carsroadster coupe · japan · RWD · coupe

Mazda RX-8 SE3P

Only gen (Renesis)2003–2012

Four doors, four rotors of fuel. Rotary's last stand.

21 reviewers · 44 videos

// 00 the verdict

Reviewers strongly agree on its handling and fun to drive, but split on performance and daily drivability.

across 21 reviewers

// scorecard at a glance
// where reviewers split
Performance
7 say · liveable

"it is a really you know rev happppy engine it revs all the way to 9,000 with no hesitation"

Zygrene · ▶ 8:23
4 say · critical

"the Mazda comes up short as the rotary engine is light on power and torque and thirsty for fuel, too."

Car and Driver · ▶ 2:32
Daily drivability
7 say · liveable

"the big surprise here is just how luxurious this car is. In addition to it being as good to drive and sporty as it is, I have great visibility. These seats are super comfortable."

TheTopher · ▶ 24:00
6 say · critical

"You cannot take this car and drive it somewhere where the engine didn't get fully warmed up and then shut it off. That is destined to kill your engine."

EverydayDriver · ▶ 25:33
Value
12 say · liveable

"you're talking about pretty much one tenth of the price for an rx8"

RAD Potential · ▶ 11:20
2 say · critical

"you have to be willing to deal with the more intensive maintenance that you get with a rotary"

Zygrene · ▶ 12:46
// the categories
// 01

Performance

3.0/521 of 21 reviewerssplit

“it is a really you know rev happppy engine it revs all the way to 9,000 with no hesitation”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 8:23

“The engine, funny enough, you sit so high in the RPM, you still find yourself wanting more, which is I thought was impossible in a rotary”

positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 6:39

“it's pretty quick but it's not like fast fast”

positive · TheStraightPipes · ▶ 1:48
// 02

Handling

4.5/520 of 21 reviewersstrong consensus

“Oh, the chassis is amazing. It just feels like a bigger Miata with slightly better steering.”

positive · TheTopher · ▶ 20:29

“It just dances through these corners.”

positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 27:13

“the rx-8 out of the box even is one of the best handling cars in the market”

positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 17:25
// 03

Fun to drive

4.5/521 of 21 reviewersstrong consensus

“It's a really enjoyable power level, too. I mean, you can rev this thing out to 9 grand all day long”

positive · TheTopher · ▶ 32:16

“Oh, this car is so delightful to drive.”

positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 27:36

“This is just it's a hoot and a half. It's really really fun track experience.”

positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 13:26
// 04

Daily drivability

3.0/520 of 21 reviewerssplit

“the big surprise here is just how luxurious this car is. In addition to it being as good to drive and sporty as it is, I have great visibility. These seats are super comfortable.”

positive · TheTopher · ▶ 24:00

“You cannot take this car and drive it somewhere where the engine didn't get fully warmed up and then shut it off. That is destined to kill your engine.”

critical · EverydayDriver · ▶ 25:33

“you're getting a lot of practicality you're getting four seats”

positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 18:54
// 05

Value

3.5/520 of 21 reviewerssplit

“you're talking about pretty much one tenth of the price for an rx8”

positive · RAD Potential · ▶ 11:20

“They're dirt cheap because nobody wants to run a car like this that won't pass emissions.”

positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 29:07

“The prices of them in the classifides are tempting. And you've been looking at them for ages thinking, 'Yeah, yeah, I know why. You won't fool me. I'm not getting an RX8, but hear me out. You should.'”

positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 13:32

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

Roads Untraveled
Posted Jun 13, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
TheTopher
Posted Jul 27, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
ShootingCars
Posted Jul 8, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
More Mazda RX-8 reviews
▶ play all (25)
The Mazda RX-8: The Best Car You'll Never BuyJayEmm on Cars
Is a used Mazda RX-8 still iconic? Or just a ticking time-bomb...ReDriven
OLD CARS ARE THE BEST! 2011 Mazda RX-8TheStraightPipes
The Mazda RX-8 Is a Fun Car You Probably Shouldn't BuyDoug DeMuro
Mazda's Biggest Mistake? The Fatally Flawed RX-8 Driven and Reviewed (JDM Legends Tour Pt. 35)JayEmm on Cars
2004 Mazda Rx-8 ReviewShootingCars
Mazda RX-8 Review - The Most Hated Rotary Car?ThatDudeinBlue
2009 Mazda RX-8 R3 - POV test driveZygrene
Regular Car Reviews: 2006 Mazda RX-8Regular Car Reviews
MotorWeek Road Test: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3MotorWeek
Honda Civic Type R FN2 - Steering Feel ReviewMick Drives Cars
1994 Mazda RX-7 FD | I’d Buy One, Except…Jubbal & Cars
Simple Math: Driver + NC = Fun , In-depth review 2012 MX-5 Miata, the most carefree sports car ever!DriveItOut
2004 Mazda RX-8 Review - The Legacy Of The Rotary Engine!ShootingCars
Why is the Mazda RX-8 So Hated?ThatDudeinBlue
The Mazda RX7 is the Loudest Slow Car Ever.ThatDudeinBlue
2004 Mazda RX-8 6MT Review, Walkaround, Exhaust & Test DriveRedline Reviews
Mazda RX-8, A Rotary-Engined Car That's The Last of Its Kind! | In The HeadlightMotorist Singapore
2007 Mazda Rx8 ReviewShootingCars
2006 Nissan 350z Review - A 33k Mile V6 Sports Car!ShootingCars
2007 Nissan 350z Roadster Review - My Most Controversial HOT TAKE Yet!ShootingCars
TJ Hunt's FIRE BREATHING Mazda RX-7 Review!ThatDudeinBlue
2007 Nissan 350z NISMO ReviewShootingCars
Review: 2004 Mazda RX-8Matt Maran Motoring
2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review, Walkaround, Start Up & RevRedline Reviews
Head to head
▶ play all (16)
From the press · 0 articles

No primary articles scraped yet for this nameplate. Check back as the pipeline crawls more publications.

Mazda RX-8 SE3P Review: What 21 Reviewers Agree On