Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
For those of you either too young or not in the U.S., Eight is Enough was a popular television show (based on the autobiographical book by columnist Thomas Braden) about a couple with eight children that ran from 1977 to 1981. I use that reference in the opening paragraph to demonstrate that the 626 was about as old as the Accord and several years older than the Camry. Like the Toyota Corona it competed against, the 626 was rear-wheel drive, but went front-wheel drive the same year the Camry replaced the Corona (1983). While in my opinion the 626 was much better looking than the Accord or Camry – my parents even considered buying one – sales lagged the two stalwarts, and it’s been that way ever since. No matter how good the 626/Mazda6, it doesn’t seem to matter.
Although I mention it was during the final season of the show, a little research showed it was actually the season 4 premier episode. This makes more sense because, airing in September, 1979, it was the height of the second gas crisis and Tom was trading in his gas-guzzling circa-1977 Cougar sedan for something more efficient. By the way, at the end of that same episode, Tom also traded in the family Town & Country for a Pinto Squire. Man I’m old.
The following review was originally posted on December 28, 1998.
The Mazda 626 has been around a long time. Consider this: Tom Bradford bought one during the last season of Eight is Enough. Yet, it’s only a minor player in the mid-size wars. Pity, as it’s as good as the two benchmarks: Camry and Accord.
Part of the blame can be placed on Mazda itself. The 626 was redesigned for 1998. Despite being longer and roomier than the model it replaces, it’s also nearly indistinguishable. The best way to tell you’re looking at a new 626 is from the rear, where narrower tail lamps and a small trunk lip make it appear more muscular. Around front, the headlamps are taller and angled slightly. As before, the 626 is available in base DX, luxury LX, and sporty ES configurations.
The interior is generic Japanese, which also means that you can get inside and drive it without reading the manual. The gauges are clear, and all of the controls are arranged logically (with trick swinging middle vents). The climate control and stereo should be commended for their simplicity. The front seats are comfortable, and although you sit lower in the 626 than in other sedans, the optional six-way power seat can easily remedy that. Thanks to a 2.4 inch longer wheelbase, rear passengers have more legroom. Cargo volume is up 0.4 cubic feet to a respectable 14.2.
More excitement can be found under the hood. Our LX had the optional 170 horsepower, 2.5 liter V6 connected to a five-speed manual transmission, a combination not available on the Accord and some Camry models. The V6 is wonderfully smooth and a nice change from the bucking and constant shifting that is characteristic of five speed/four cylinder combinations. With the fat 60-series tires and optional traction control, you can play sports sedan even if you don’t look the part. For the less enthusiastic, a four-speed automatic is optional.
The 626 isn’t any cheaper than the Camry and Accord, nor is it any better. But it is just as good, and as Toyota and Honda each sell more than four of theirs to one 626, you won’t see yourself coming and going.
For more information contact 1-800-639-1000
SPECIFICATIONS
Type:Four-door Sedan
Engine:170-horsepower, 2.5 liter V6
Transmission:Five-speed Manual
EPA Mileage:21 city/27 highway
Tested Price:$22,310
Having had a Mazda 626 coupe as my first car and then liking the second, more angular generation and really liking the “organic” third generation especially with the V6, it all kind of fell apart with this one, turning into a big bowl of bland and Mazda sort of lost their way a bit. Then it all came back with the first Mazda6 including a wagon (!) but then got weird again for a generation with those big front fenders and now is back again as one of the prettier and better driving offerings.
Not that it wasn’t competent, the 6(26) always was a fine choice compared to the class leaders, but there wasn’t anything memorable about it either (for me). The color on this one pretty much sums it up, it’s shiny and all, but…
FWIW, this fifth generation was certainly better than the really bland bowl of bland fourth generation. This one actually wasn’t all that bad looking, in comparison. It was heading in the right direction again.
But these 4th and 5th gen. 626s sure have disappeared from the streets. I saw a gen4 the other day, and it surprised me.
While I agree with you on the fourth (’93-’97) generation sedan, the MX-6 coupe was stunning and still looks good today. My sister bought a green ’93 V6/5-speed with beige leather interior in 2001 and held onto it for another 10 years until it was just too expensive to fix. The current Mazda6 is quite the looker as well, especially in comparison with the origami-kamikaze mess that is the Camry.
North America
1st Gen: 1970-1977 (616)
2nd Gen: 1978-1982
3rd Gen: 1982-1987
4th Gen: 1987-1992
5th Gen: 1992-1997
6th Gen: 1997-2002
Thanks for the clarification. I mean 5th Gen.
I accidentally left out a generation, I was ok with the third gen sedan and really liked the fourth that also had the very swoopy MX-6 (i.e. the first 626 generation with the V6), I felt this was very blandified compared to that one.
I don’t care for the looks of that 626 either. I’m more of an angle guy so the 2nd Gen to my 4th Gen are what I gravitate to. The same happened to the Camry and the Accord. Just looking at this 626 makes me feel blah even though, under the skin, I know how really good it is in a manual.
I haven’t seen a 1993-1997/1997-2002 626 (5th & 6th) on the roads here in many years and rust would not be an issue. I know the 93-97 had the awful automatic from Ford which probably accounts for so few around as I’ll bet not many sticks were sold. I believe it is also true of the 1997-2002 in North America. In the junk yards there are currently 11 between 1997-2002 and only two from ’87 and ’90. In a few more years my ’91 will be the last 626 of that era driven weekly on California roads.
I have had these as a rental. They were as good as an Accord (family had them) or Camry (rentals; Hertz had them in Philadelphia). But I agree, their looks were bland. In fact, though I rented this same generation of Mazda, I did a quick, ” What is it?” on opening the site today.
Very good point about the 626 being a relatively minor player in the mid-size sedan market. That always seemed wrong to me… it was far too good of a car to be relegated to the second tier. Throughout the 1990s, I knew numerous people who were shopping for new or used sedans, and always recommended that the look at 626s first. My recommendations even led to at least two sales.
As for my own experience with this generation of 626, it’s limited to a rental (like G. Poon mentions above). My rental experience was rather memorable, though, since I rented a gold-colored sedan just like the one in your photo while on a business trip to Mississippi on September 10, 2001. I’d flown to Jackson from Baltimore, and then of course 9/11 happened, and the airlines shut down, so I had to drive the 626 1,000 miles back to Baltimore. An odd circumstance, for sure, but the car was very good to drive. My only complaint was that the 4-cyl. engine struggled a bit – the V-6 was the way to go.
I actually saw a 626 of this vintage with a V6/5 speed combo and was happy to see it having the 5 speed manual, I noticed a manual transmission of this generation of the 626 was more commonly seen than a 1990’s Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima.
My wife had one of these from the time we met (2005) until we sold it to her brother in 2014. V6, automatic, if I recall correctly this was the most bulletproof arrangement for these cars. Her dad picked it out for her, and he wanted something that would last. I believe the 5 speeds had some issues.
Fun car, pretty peppy with the V6. We made a lot of beach trips in it, and at one point it was doing 90 miles round trip 5 days a week. Car never left us stranded, and we took it to around 250k. There were little issues, of course:
The coolant overflow was pressurized and prone to failure. First time hers failed, she was in grad school around 2008. She called as I was coming into town to say it overheated while she was driving to town, and cut off as she pulled into her parking spot…… I pulled into the parking lot and found the car, hood up, steam everywhere, big puddle of liquid on the ground underneath. I was sure it was toast.
Incredibly, after it cooled down it ran fine. Replaced the overflow, only to have a repeat experience a few years later. Her brother still has the car, miraculously still on its original head gasket, to this day. I told him to watch the temp gage like a hawk and check coolant regularly.
Car was prone to terrible valve clatter on warm start, as it took a second to get oil to the valve train. Incredibly an oil filter for a C4 Corvette, I think a ZR1 of all things, added extra filter capacity and cut down the clatter. It fit the Mazda V6 with no modifications.
I replaced the alternator once in it, along with an idler bearing for the ps belt maybe. AC had to be recharged annually. New head unit, just because I upgraded speakers. Had someone replace cv axles at 200k miles. New valve cover gasket around that time, after oil light came on(!)….. Wife knew to shut it off as soon as the light flickered on, thankfully.
Water pump failed while we had it. I replaced the timing belt while I was in there, and I swore to never work on a sideways V6 again. Nevermind the V6 Venza in the driveway now, with its nifty timing chain.
I’m a Toyota man to the core, but that Mazda was/is a solid car. It took about the same work as my 90 4Runner (22re/5 speed) over the time we had both vehicles. 4runner was 10 years and 70k miles further along, to be fair, but that Mazda took a beating on the overheatings and oil starvation. I drove the wheels off it too, as it was way more fun to drive than my truck. Yet, the 4runner isvstill sitting in the driveway, getting more miles lately than my 13 Camry!