good quality, good & responsive handling, roomy, pleasant looking, comes standard with all the nifty stuffs.

ABS & side-impact airbag is not standard, pricy if without the discounts, 4 cyl.

I was looking for a new to 1-yr-old mid-size & down. The order of importance for me is comfort (driving & interior room), price, mpg, and power. All else being equal, I would sacrifice comfort a bit for something doesn't look like one of those zillions of Taurus & Accord on the road. Test-drove 626 LX4, Camry 4cyl, Taurus, Accord DX4, Civic, Focus SE. Bought the 626.

The 626 is the only stick & I find it fun to drive. Everything feels right and the steering is precise. 4 cyl is lacking in power during stop-and-go suburb driving but a stick allows me to ramp up the RPM at low gear when I feel like it. Highway driving is smooth and quiet - the main noise is the low hum from the engine, which is fine for me but others may want something quieter. The factory tires are Brigestone Turanza and have quite a bit of grip.

The exterior looks great, has a somewhat up-scale look but also a down-to-earth, natural feel in it. The car stands out among the countless Taurus/Accord but it is not deliberately flashy. The interior is roomy and comfortable - I specifically pay attention to the size of the interior when choosing a car because, while I am 5'5, my brother is a 6-feet-tall basketball player. Some reportedly have problem backing because of the low-front-end design but I found no problem and can see blind spots clearly and easily as well. Some other nitty-gritty stuffs that are great: standard AM/FM/CD, oscillating vents, 60/40 fold down rare seat with fold down armrest, big trunk.

If they were the same price, I would have chosen the Camry, which accelerates faster and is quieter. At the time, though, the price tag for the 626 I test-drove was way below invoice even after consumer rebate. Looks like the dealer have got a huge factory rebate/incentive not listed in the consumers report, maybe because not many people in the suburb would consider a stick. The car has only 7 miles on it when I test-drove it (added 30 doing that).

Overall, it's a great car, fun to drive (especially if you get the V6), comfortable, roomy, doesn't look like "one of those" on the road, and doesn't look deliberately flashy either.

Similar Products Used:

Handling: Good-Camry 4, 626 LX4; Fair-Accord DX4, Taurus, Focus SE, Civic
Driving comfort: Camry 4, Taurus, 626 LX4, Accord DX4, Civic, Focus SE
Noise: Quiet-Camry 4, Taurus; Fair-626 LX4, Accord DX4; Noisy-Civic, Focus SE
Interior room: Taurus, Camry 4, 626 LX4, Accord DX4, Focus SE, Civic
Exterior look: Focus SE, 626 LX4, Camry 4, Taurus, Accord DX4, Civic

The best qualities I would have to say is the smooth V6 engine -- very sporty handling, I love the body design and rear-spoiler, it adds a nice touch. I also like the overdrive option -- you can turn it off in heavy traffic, it comes in very handy. I also like the power-assisted steering -- you really notice it when you are driving on the highway, it gives you a good feel for the road, it adapts to city/highway driving. This car is also very easy to parallel park, with power-assisted steering. I also like the osciallation A/C vents (in the center dash), that is a nice touch that Mazda thought of. This car is just very fun to drive! I would definately buy another 626 in the future.

I would have to say the ABS, which this car does not have. It was available as an option in 1996 -- I don't know whether it is a standard option on 2001 models. However, the disk brakes are just fine. I feel very comfortable when I have to brake suddenly. The only other weakness I could say is I wish it had fog-lights -- very minor, cosmetic changes. Overall, I love the look of the car and don't have much complaints about it.

I have nothing but rave reviews on this car. Since I have owned it (1998) it has been a thrill to drive. I love the way it handles, it's comfortable to drive, has a lot of zoom-zoom when you need to get up and go. It is very responsive. The ride is smooth. Ground noise is average, I don't have a problem. The controls are simple and easy to read -- what I liked about this car is that it is not "Gagety", like a lot of other japanese cars are. I like the sporty-look of the 626. This car is sporty inside and out. I have been very pleased with the 626, overall.

Similar Products Used:

I would compare the 626 to the Accord, Camry, Galant class. I think the 626 gives you more of a performance sport sedan. I like the fact that the Mazda 626 is a non-conformist, it is in a class all it's own. And that is what makes this car so attractive. Mazda makes very well-made, sold, and well-engineered automobiles.

reliability is the upmost,looks and performance and of course safety.
A very easy car to drive, the five speed manual gearbox is easy and smooth to use.

the indicator arm is located on the wrong side.
The lights control on columb should be reversed..
Also the 1.8 model does not come with A/C or a sunroof.
It would be a better car if it did.

what a lot of car for the money £900 is not much money for the well equiped mazda, it loks nice handles well, and it pulls away very well.The 1.8 fuel injected 16 valve engine in American terms in under powered, but in the uk it is up there with the big boys.
All in all it is a very,very nice car, with all the usual creature comforts.

MAZDA 626 1.8 GLXi 16 VALVES

Similar Products Used:

cavalier, renault. both nice cars, but the mazda is more equiped.

dependable, two time in two years this car has not started. One was a dead battery. The other was a rather cool morning...at 22 below zero.

There is a wind leak on the drivers side window, it's always been there and is a hassle. I watched the dealer change the window seal twice and had to accept that it was never going away.

WONDERFUL-change the oil and keep moving. I purchased this car with less than 50 miles on it, I just turned 101,259 on it (same engine) and there are people who want to buy the car from me. I may have lucked out with this vehicle and my wife & I are not hard on cars. I believe if you take the time to take care of most cars, they'll take care of you. That's very hard some people to do, but if you spend a little time and keep up with the normal maintenance you can got years without a new car payment...I've
gone better than 6 years and that's very cool.

Similar Products Used:

It's a half-step behind the Honda Accord & Toyota Camry in my opinion. But the cost of the vehicle makes up for any flaws the 626 might have.

nice features, could be a great car

oil leaked
transmission, transmission, transmission is a piece
antifreeze leaked
brakes are costly to replace
eats gas (v6)

well this was my first "real" car..im only 16 and i saved for two years to get it.. i fell in love with the looks, test drove it, and bought it...since then the engine oil pump died, seizing the engine, and the tranny failed...and all four brakes/rotors had to be replaced, as well as two cv joints, and other goodies...im getting out now..no more..its going bye bye...i would never and will never buy a mazda again in my life..thank you

Similar Products Used:

1990 subaru, much much much more reliable, i want it back

Reliable
Good Gas Mileage
5 Speed manual was Smooth

Cost of Parts ( Bought pads and rotors and put in myself )
whistling noise from windshield at highway speeds.
Cup holder positioning, and size was a joke for manual trans.

Good small family, or collge student car. For the practical minded. Paid $5999 w/Probe trade in 1996. Had 92,000 at that time.
In 1999 the idle had to be readjusted ($25) The clutch was acting up earlier this year 2000 for the first time with 160,000 miles on it. But had 3-4 months before it HAD to be changed.
Good gas mileage.
No other problems with engine., or transmission. Exhaust rusted a little to quickly....(cheap parts)
Rather easy to do own brake work. Rotors were expensive though (had to be ordered)
At 165,000 miles was rear ended on the highway... Lost 2 ft of my trunk and was still able to drive the 120 miles left to go home. Since the brake lights were on the trunk they still worked.
Best car we ever had, might have made 200k plus if other drivers stayed awake on the road.

Similar Products Used:

91 Dodge Dynasty --- what ever---
89 Ford Probe

ENOUGH ROOM FOR FAMILY SIZE CAR. GREAT LEG ROOM.

PERFORMANCE POOR/OVERDRIVE LIGHTS SEEMS TO COME ON MOST MAZADA 626 LX CARS
NEEDS TRANSMISSION REPLACE/CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED/OIL LIGHT PROBLEMS
OCCURED AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED.

15,000.00 IF THEY FIX THE OVERDRIVE PROBLEM/OIL LIGHTS PROBLEMS.

Similar Products Used:

NISSIAN PERFORMANCE IS BETTER AND SEEMS TO HAVE MORE POWER. NOT AS MANY PROBLEMS.

Enough Interior space

Poor engine quality.

The car drove good for the first two and half years then the engine light
started to light up once in a while. We took the car several times to the dealer and the
dealer could not find anything wrong. Then when we have it for five years,
the car died on high way. We towed it to a car dealer and they change
distributor (very expensive). It turned out that one of the valve was not
tight and it has been leaking oil all these years and they said it would
cost another $2500 to fix the whole thing.

Not to buy it.

Similar Products Used:

Honda Accord

Nice interior

Transmission problems, engine light problems

Transmission has gone out 3 time in last 2 years. First time was under 60,000 miles and mazda would not take responsability. Trans has to be completely rebuilt each time. Repair work was done by Aamco, and was quality work, the tranmission is just a bad one. Blinking Hold light is constantly coming on, repair shop can't find anything wrong. Sometimes it turns it's self off, sometimes transmission fails.

Engine light comes on every 6 months. Dealer wanted $300+ to replace O2 sensor, we said no, took it home, took out O2 sensor and wiped the dirt off and put it back in. Fixed the problem. Have to do it every six months or the engine light comes back on. Never had a problem with the engine.

Would strongly NOT recommend. IF you have one, be sure to buy the warranty WHEN (not if) your transmission goes out.

Similar Products Used:

IT doesn't compair

Fuel economy, seat ergonomy, acceleration, engine durability, handling, reliability

automatic transmission (broken after 60,000 miles), parts are very expansive

Wow! I just love my 626... even after 12 years of riding it has powerful acceleration and it's unbreakable. Good handling, great fuel economy, and loaded with options...

The seats are comfortable like lazy-boys, and the suspension is perfectly balance (race/smooth). No other models of its class offers the same for the year.

Similar Products Used:

Better than all american cars I owned.