Very strong acceleration at all speeds, especially in light of the modest 2.5 liter engine size. Also very quiet. For utility and convenience, I feel interior layout is the best of any car under $30k.

I've had terrible reliability problems, despite diligent maintenance. (See review summary.)

I've had this car from mile 1 through mile 105,000. The repair history, not including scheduled maintenance, has been:
45,000 - complete transmission replacement - $2,100.
85,000 - defective cruise control caused car to suddenly go into maximum acceleration - fixed it myself.
89,000 - complete transmission replacement - $2,100.
96,000 - replace all 4 MacPherson struts & A-arm bushings - $1,250.
104,000 - replace engine main seals - $700; replace automatic radio antenna $200.
(Also, my name is now recognized by a couple of wrecker companies.) Thank God that I had the extended warranty to cover some of this! After owning all the "mid-price" vehicles listed, I've finally learned my lesson. I'm going for a primo 2-3 yr old Lexus or Mercedes.

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Very comfortable, great sound system, nice little features (oscillating a/c, for instance), fairly smooth ride, good handling

Acceleration, power, speed, transmission, cabin noise, engine noise, interior a bit small for a mid-size

I'm 17, and this 626 was my first (and current, though hopefully not for much longer) car. I'm pretty good with cars (having rebuilt a number of engines and done a good deal of mods on other cars with my friends and father), but when I was picking the car that I wanted I was in the market for something that was more comfortable than powerful and that I wouldn't really ever think about modifying. Mazdas were an obvious choice. Honestly, however, I wasn't really prepared for how underpowered this thing was going to be.

Yes, I realized that I was getting a 2.0 4-cyl auto engine, but a good small engine can pull its weight nicely in a smaller car. Unfortunetly, this wasn't the case with the 626. I checked the car out, but since I only had my permit when I got it (last year) I wasn't able to test drive. My mother (big mistake) test drove it instead, and, well... told me that it was fine. Everything was fine with it for the first few months, since I still had my permit and hadn't really gotten a chance to accelerate fast or get to high speeds...

...well, let me tell anyone who's looking for a car that has a bit of power to avoid the 626 (at least the newer models) at all costs. Even the more powerful 170hp 6 cylinder engines have very little power behind them. The transmission is extremely rough and occasionally it refuses to shift into 3rd unless you slam your foot down onto the gas. Mazda insists there's no problem with the transmission. Even worse, the actual acceleration seems to vary on a daily basis. On one day I could be going uphill on a ramp from almost a complete stop and hit 60 in about 7 seconds, and the next day it'd take the car almost 30 just to reach 55. Stopping power is pretty good, but the factory brakes are extremely noisy.

And speaking of noise, that's another huge problem that plagues this car. Cabin noise is horrendous. The engine, which sounds disappointingly weak to anyone on the outside, can sometimes drown out blasting music inside the cabin. The car is also surprisingly low to the ground, which means that rough road surfaces create a lot of noise. Finally, there seems to be a "leak" in the cabin. I'm constantly bothered a sound like air rushing in (as if a window or the sunroof had been left open a bit), but I'm unable to determine the source. I've checked the lining on the doors and windows myself and even had Mazda look into it - to no avail. Having seen someone else report a similiar problem in their review, I'm forced to believe this is an inherant problem with the vehicle.

Now, even though the majority of this review is negative I can't say that the car isn't without its strong points. The 626 I own is loaded down with features. Leather trimmed interior and seats, power everything, power sunroof, full lighting package, 4-speed auto, full instrument package, etc. I installed the CD-player and 12-disc changer myself, so I won't comment on those as they're not factory. The sound system itself (which I haven't modified) is really great, though and most people who've been in my car are convinced that it can't be factory. Now, all of those features together add up to make a car that's really luxurious and a lot of fun to be in (besides, of course, for all the cabin noise). The 626 also provides a nice, smooth ride that's about comparable to a Camry or Galant, so no complaints there. The car also handles extremely well on cold and hot roads, in rain, and even in snow. At high speeds (which are 65-70mph for this car) the car still handles great, though there's a bit of vibration.

So, is a 626 really right for anyone? Maybe. If you're not overly concerned with speed and power and are in the market for something like a Camry or Galant, I'd suggest getting the 626. It's comfortable, has nice little extras, and looks much better than most of the other mid-sizes. However, if you're looking for a car with a lot of interior space - this isn't it. The 626 is about on par with mid-sizes as far as actual space goes, but no larger. If you're looking for a car that gives you a sense of speed, power, or that just has good acceleration - avoid the 626 at all costs!

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I haven't driven any other similiar mid-size cars that I could compare it to, but having driven Hyundai Elantra and Subaru Legacy wagons I can definetly say I prefer the 626. OTher cars I've driven include a heavily modified 1990 Mustang and a an unmodified '97 Corvette. Obviously there's no comparison.

This is a car i greatly love. Away from the typical traditional '88 mazda 626 this is a special touring sedan. 2.2L 2184cc 4cyl. 5sp. FWD and turbocharged has made this car fun to drive. Sunroof, A/C, heater,sedan (roomy), cruise control, 4 wheel suspension, good trunk size just overall great car.

It has what i want from a car power and comfort. The only weakness is finding this car. RARE only a few made in the US.

I would recommend this to a friend or family because its a really enjoyable car to drive with the turbocharger acceleration is an easy.

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none

The '95 had a very well laid out interior with nice appointments and the exterior was solid. Very heavy vehicle makes for a feeling of safety. Very good highway mileage.

Weak brakes, suspect electrical system (replaced parking and interior lights several times), horrible acceleration, terribly geared transmission probably designed for great mileage has it constantly shifting too early and dragging the car. Absolutely nothing went wrong on this car until 100K (mostly highway). I would have recommended it to anyone. Not now. Since then, driver-side lock does not work at all, and the transmission has gone completely out. This car is a GREAT car until you start to hit 85K. Get out of it then--caveat emptor. Most reviews on this page are relatively recent. Anything going back several years is suspect. Can't imagine build quality has gone up, can you? Keep in mind, that when you pop the hood all you see is Ford and they NEVER have been able to make a solid transmission.

I paid the same for this vehicle in '95 that many are claiming that they are now. How can this be? Obviously, short cuts and reduced weight due to cost control have taken their toll. This vehicle is highly recommended when new if you want high mileage and a reasonable ride. Get out before it's too late, though. Don't say you haven't been warned. Your transmission is a ticking time bomb--an an expensive one at that.

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Nissan Pathfinder--no comparison.

I had to post this review which is the same as the one I did a few down below but I left out the year of my car and model for quick reference. Nice Engine, Good Looks, 5spd availability in V6, nice interior, quality feel and build quality, good power. The ES is a very luxurious ride with good power. The V6 manual has a nice little snarl to it. The 16" allows are nice.

Cupholders in a bad spot for the 5spd. When you shift, anything in the cupholders gets in the way. 5 speed although nice, revs a bit too high. 65 mph in 5th makes the rpms hit over 3000. Geared like a 4 cyl. Has lots of tire noise especially over 40mph. I only averaged about 23mpg so far which sorta sucks and it was mostly highway miles.

With its few shortcomings, this is still a very nice car. I find it to be a relative joy to drive. It's not as tossable as the Protege but much more refined and a better ride for sure. I would stay away from the 4 cylinder (especially the Automatic) unless you really just want the room.
I would recommend this car to anyone in the market for a mid-size sedan and is considering the Accord or Camry. Definitely test drive a 626 first. It's a better value in my opinion.

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Was going to get a Protege ES instead but got the 626 with 11,950 miles on it for the same price as the Protege. Protege ES might be a more fun choice but it's definitely a smaller, less torquey car.
Looked at Camry and Accord. Both more expensive and no manual available with V6 plus EVERYONE has one and 626 is better looking than both I think and more affordable.

Already written, look about 6 or so down.

None

Well, to those of us who have had Tranny problems, like mine, just got it out of the sho after a $2400 repair. go to www.corksport.com and they have a brand new, better tranny there for only $1500. have someone install it for about $400-500 and you have a stronger, better, faster tranny. i would have done this, but i found out about it a bit too late. i'm going to try and be at NOPI this year after extensive mods to the body, suspension, and exhaust starting tomorrow. anyone have any questions, feel free to e-mail me and i will try to answer.

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None

I think the exterior styling is smart, not many about in my country.
Secure handling. Quite nimble in town and acceptable performance.
Smooth and fairly queit at low speed.

Poor build quality. rust spots, Expensive Parts. Hence expensive insurance.
Not as refined as rivals, especially at high speed, start to drive enthusiastically and it's like thrashing an old van. Steering too light and tramlines easily. Rear brake calipers/park brake mechanisms seize, hatchback gas struts fail prematurly making tailgate fall on head, main beam headlights should be illegal. Flimsy, lightweight interior, Noisy at higher speeds. The clutch iclamping pressure s too soft yet it is also a bit grabby. No pollen/dust filter.

I bought the car 7 months ago to replace my 13 year old BMW 525i.
I thought Jap cars would be of BMWish build quality, without the style.
I was so wrong, the interior is made from cheap plastics, everything seems made to save weight with the thinnest materials possible. Not enough switches are illuminated, the heater controls are fiddly, the seat needs lumbar adjustment. The tailgate rattles and sqeaks like a van, there is a knocking from above the headlining. The main beam lights scatter light everywhere, someone broke my door mirror glass and it was £140 ($230US) for a whole new mirror and it isn't even antidazzle antiblindspot glass. The tint on the windows is barely measurable, there is a major design flaw in pre 1996 model's rear brakes and the lacquer on the wheels has dissolved away after just 6 years. The rubber strips around the windows get caught and misaligned by the glass. If the window is open and there is water on the roof, it rains or you wash the windscreen the water is directed straight in your face. I hate cars with faults, I like everything to be perfect, I need a BMW again, their engineers did the stuff for me.

I think the people who like these cars are easily pleased and are the type who say, " I dont need a dishwasher, it only takes 10 minutes."

I also think VWs arre overrated in the same respect, they are resting on laurels earned more than 10 years ago.

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Ford Mondeo
Vauxhall/(Opel/Holden) Cavalier/(Vectra)

reliability and longevity. I now have over 220,000 miles on the car, and it continues to perform well day-in and day-out

after 200,000 miles, the suspension rack needed to be completely repalced. Air conditioning system went early on.

This has been a faithful, reliable car. And it's also commfortable and fun-to-drive. I bought it in '93 in its first year because I loved the looks, and the car still looks great. This car is like an old friend. It's a great performer.

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It is a great overall car it never breaks down I can Drive on the freeway at 80 to 90 miles an hour. It also never overheats.

I have an oil leak.

People say the automatic tranny is very bad in the Mazdas or slow I just wanted to say I can floor it from a complete stop and get to about 30 MPH in first gear. Also when i take off the struts make some noise!

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1985 Honda Accord Was very rough and small
1997 Nissan Sentra This was a big piece of S*&t

-power to spare
-mid-size hatchback (no longer avail. in US)
-loaded w/options

-harsh auto transmission
-auto adj. suspension

Bought in '99 for $450.Rebuilt AT for $1800.It took forever to repair due to difficulty in finding parts (japanese made turbo).since then I have put 30k trouble free miles on it.The turbo works great.Mazda rec. oil change every 5,000mi,I change every 3,000.I would buy a brand new 5 dr.626 hatchback in a second if they offered one here in the states.But only europe and asia have that option.I guess the corp.idiots at Ford(Mazdas greedy big brother)would prefer us purchase a gas guzzling SUV or pickup with a higher profit margin than a 626 HB. This probably explains why Mazda just posted its biggest losses in recent memory.

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'91 mazda 626 DX 5sp Even w/ Auto Trans. the turbo leaves the standard 5sp. in the dust.