1990-1992 Mazda RX-7: Road Test

Eclipsed in the early '90s by the new Miata, the RX-7 is just as sporty as that 2-seater and markedly more luxurious. Though unique and appealing on the basis of engineering, the RX-7's rotary engine suffers from dull low-end response when teamed with an automatic transmission. Accelerating to 60 mph took a leisurely 10.4 seconds. Manual shift makes much better use of the engine's high-revving character. Hooked to the 5-speed, it delivers abundant acceleration. In Turbo form, performance is downright thrilling. Fuel economy is disappointing with either transmission. When these cars were new, we averaged only 15.4 mpg in an equal mix of city and highway driving. Like most high-performance sports cars, the RX-7 yields a rather harsh ride, thanks to its firm suspension and stiff, performance-oriented tires. You can expect a jiggly experience even on smooth pavement, and serious roughness on pockmarked surfaces. Sharp, responsively agile handling, on the other hand, more than makes up for that drawback and ranks as one of the RX-7's top virtues. Interiors are well laid out with convenient controls and readable gauges. Leg room in the small cockpit is ample, but people over 5-foot-10 or so might find their head clearance tight. They'll have to recline their backrest to avoid the ceiling.

Value for the Money
Sales began to sag for the RX-7 by the end of the 1980s, when Mazda's Miata 2-seater, with a conventional powertrain, went on sale as an early '90 model. Despite still-high prices, though, an RX-7 stacks up well against the competition of its time.