On the whole, post-1978 Mazdas are better looking than other Japanese cars of similar classes. They’re more “disciplined” and less “bitsy”. Pre-1978 and post about 1969, Mazda, like other Japanese manufacturers was into heavy ornamentation for no apparent reason – thus baroque.
The R100 and RX-2 are the least baroque of the 70s Mazdas and thus the “prettiest”. The RX-2 coupe, more so than the R100, is at least in proportion. I find the R100 to be tail-heavy. RX-2 sedans are pretty but I find the detailing distracting where the curves meet hard lines.
RX-3s and RX-4s are the “toughest” 1970s Mazdas but the physical size of the RX-3 and it’s slightly too large glasshouse always looks a little off to me. The RX-4 coupe is the best of the -3 and -4, to my eyes and then they’re all too high, anyway.
RX-5s are better because all the over-the-top details seem to work together, as if Mazda finally managed to say what they were trying to say with the RX-3 and RX-4. The Landau is perhaps going a bit too far, though.
(Yes, another C&P from something I wrote on AusRotary).
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