Nobody could have predicted what Mazda would become when they started selling three-wheeled motorized rickshaws in 1920s Japan.
Its transformation into one of the world’s most respected automobile companies was enabled by the Wankel rotary engine that gave old Mazdas their characteristic sound.
Nowadays, Mazda has moved on from the rotary engine that gave them their fame – but their design philosophy and commitment to carving their own way remains the same.
This Japanese manufacturer has a large following among modders and 3D artists, so custom Mazda vehicles are a dime a dozen in the GTA 5 modding scene.
Put on your seatbelts, and let’s speed off into this festival of Mazda cars.
Mazda has earned its place as one of the most popular motor brands in the world, with a wide array of sporty, affordable vehicles that give you the most bang for your buck.
Unless you’re in one of the few countries where Mazda doesn’t have a presence, you’ve seen a Mazda 3 drive past you at some point. Maybe you’ve even had one in your own garage.
The 2014 version earns its popularity with good looks, comfy handling, and reliability that doesn’t break the bank.
This reliability (and cost efficiency) makes the Mazda 3 a perfect Japanese Police Patrol.
This unusually tiny vehicle is manufactured by Mazda exclusively for the Japanese market as a “kei-class” automobile, also known as a microcar.
It’s ideal for the tight streets of Japan’s cramped cities and lets you maneuver around Los Santos’ traffic like a bike.
Say what you will about its small size, but the Autozam AZ-1 has a lot of style. The round headlights and front-facing air intake are distinctive, and the gull-wing doors are badass.
Despite being from the same year, this Mazda MX-5 Miata couldn’t be more different from the Autozam AZ-1.
Though the two are lightweight two-passenger cars, that’s where any similarities end. The Miata is a youthful and sporty roadster focused on making driving fun rather than fitting into extra-small parking spaces.
One look at the pop-up headlights identifies this as a first-generation Miata. It was the only generation with these quirky lights.
This mod includes the stock model, several stylish tuning parts like the Autokonexion Widebody kit, and a custom rear diffuser.
If you thought the 1994 MX-5 was stylish, look closely at its younger 2016 sibling.
There’s something about the delicate but confident lines of this car that’s intoxicating. I find it hard to stop looking at it.
It might not have trendy pop-up lights, but it doesn’t need them.
As if the MX-5 wasn’t hot enough by design, this mod presents a “stanced” version – meaning it has a lowered suspension, and the wheels are tilted inward ever so slightly.
Driving this, you’ll feel like the suavest individual in all of San Andreas state.
Inward-tilted wheels and low suspension has been around since the mid-20th century, as you can see in this Mazda RX-7 from 1984.
Something about well-tuned classic autos makes me go wild with anticipation. It’s a contradiction born of its vintage style and brand-new sheen.
The quirky pop-up lights also “pop up” in this model, giving it a retro-modern appeal. It takes me back to when those same lights made people think, “wow, I’m living in the future.”
The third-generation Mazda RX-7 spelled the end of the series, with Mazda beginning to shy away from the rotary engines that made it famous in the first place.
Before closing the tap on the stream of RX-7s leaving the factory, Mazda released a special edition known as the “Spirit R”.
This new model incorporated every extra feature on previous limited editions and some new ones like cross-drilled brake rotors.
Only 1500 units were produced, making the Spirit R one of the most collectible Mazda ever created.
Luckily, you don’t have to empty your bank account and burn your credit cards to enjoy this custom RX-7 Spirit R for GTA 5, complete with optional tuning parts and a motorsport livery.
Every company needs that one product that convinces people they’re masters of their craft.
The Mazda Cosmo fulfilled this function for Mazda from 1967 to 1995.
Throughout its history, the Cosmo label referred to a sports car, a mid-size car, and a grand tourer. This mod brings the original Cosmo sports car to GTA 5.
More specifically, you’re getting the Mazda Cosmo Super Sport II, also known as the L10B, featuring better performance and visual changes like a larger grille under the front bumper.
Driving this marriage between old-school elegance and sleek design will help you nail the mob boss look.
Not everyone sees the elegant and somewhat anachronistic appeal of classic cars.
Some people prefer to face the future, instead of the past.
When it comes to Mazda, that means looking at the Mazda Furai – a 2007 concept car built on the concepts of “flow” and aerodynamics. “Furai” translates to “the sound of the wind.”
Many hoped to see the Furai racing in the 24h of Le Mans. Regrettably, the prototype caught on fire during a photoshoot – so you’ll have to admire it in GTA 5.
We might not have seen the Furai in action, but its visual legacy lives on in this fan-made design for a Furai-inspired Mazda RX-7.
Talented 3D vehicle artist Zenzoit Arts created this breathtaking car by fusing the sporty RX-7 body with the uniquely creative Furai front fascia and adding a BLS BN-Sport body kit.
The result is a special-edition Mazda you can only drive in GTA 5.
Honestly, Mazda should be giving this Indonesian creator a job. Maybe then we’d see a car this bad-ass on the streets someday.
There’s nothing cooler than a body kit by Kei Miura.
Whether you call it “Pandem” or “Rocket Bunny,” the distinctive style of Miura’s TRA-Kyoto remains the same.
This widebody kit takes the elegant and sporty 2016 MX-5 and turns it into a bad-ass street racer recognizable from a mile away. However, you’ll only notice the best details – like the visible riveting – once you get up close and personal.
You can add a GT wing-type spoiler to lean into the racer look or keep it simple for a slightly more sophisticated style.
Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.
