The subtle look Mazda sought to bring out in the family sedan ended up creating a vehicle that was blander than many of the company's sporty offerings, though the four-door model proved popular in the United States and Japan.

The Evolving Mazda 626

The Mazda 626 grew out of the earlier Mazda 6 line as the company tried to reach a broader market than just the small, economy cars it built in earlier years. The 626 moniker spanned three generations of the vehicle beginning in 1988.

The final generation of the 626 was meant to be the roomier family car that still provided good gas mileage. But critics contended it was for the family that desserts on vanilla ice cream and passes evenings sitting on the front porch.

Autoevolution

says the small grille topped by a chromed slat and wide but short headlights could not catch attention as the car approached. Even finding the car in the parking lot was challenging as the front and rear windows carried nearly identical angles. A highlight for the era was a remote-opening trunk... go figure.

The roomy interior featured velour seats in the lower trims, but that could be substituted with leather in the upper trims. Though the back seat also was accommodating, it contained a high center tunnel, a result of the frame being designed for a four-wheel-drive version created only for the Japanese market.

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How Did the Mazda 626 Drive?

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Though critics were quick to mock the looks of the Mazda 626, they couldn't criticize the speed and handling of the car. The 626 was offered with 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines along with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. The company also provided a diesel engine that boosted mileage.

The engines seemed to provide the quick pickup of its sportier cousins, while independent suspension to all four corners improved handling for a family sedan.

Reviewers on

Kelley Blue Book

were split on the car's reliability, with complaints about the automatic transmission giving out just on the north side of 100K. But reviewers who described performing all the recommended maintenance claimed their cars ran well for more than 200,000 miles.

Prices: Then and Now

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The Mazda 626 was base-priced $18,785 for the LX four-cylinder, $19,985 for the LX V6, and $21,885 for the ES V6 during its final year of production in the 2002 model year, with additional costs depending upon trims and finishes.

If you are feeling nostalgia for the early 2000s and looking around for a Mazda 626, used prices for a 2002 model generally are running from $5,000 to $8,000 these days, though like most used cars they have jumped in prices due to the Coronavirus. Earlier price listings were between $4,000 and $7,000. Models from 2000 run about $1,000 lower.

Be Sure to Insure Your Mazda

As you are shopping around for your dream Mazda 626, you'll also want to check out insurance prices. After all, you might only get one chance to own a 626, so you don't want to lose your car to faulty insurance coverage.

The experienced and friendly staff at

Jerry

will help you find the best price for the proper coverage for your location by comparing rates and plans from top-rated insurance companies.

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