Pre-Owned: 1998-2002 Mazda 626

The Secret Weapon

This time around, I have evaluated a used used car. The 626 you see in these pictures actually belongs to one our sales representatives. What

(Photo: Olivier Delorme)

does a sales rep do with his or her car; they drive it into the ground, that's what. To many of them, a car is but a tool to travel from one client to another. I thought it would be interesting to take it for a spin.

The 626 was for a long time, Mazda's midsize-do-everything-sedan. They first appeared in 1979 and underwent important changes in 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1998. Most notably, the 1983 626 was driven by the front wheels compared to the RWD 1979-1982 car. In 1986, a turbocharged model was introduced and in 1993, it was replaced by a 2.5L V6. From the onset, the 626 was very popular. Up until the 4th generation (1993-1997), the 626 regularly found itself on best pick lists. Even so, as the years went by, sales began to drop. The fierce competition from the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord proved to be an enormous obstacle that the Mazda 626 could not overcome. In 2003, an all-new 2004 Mazda6 relieved the 626 of its active duty.

A bargain then, a bargain now
Costing many thousands less than a Camry or an Accord when new, the 626 still found buyers that were ready to overlook the fact that they were

(Photo: Olivier Delorme)

not purchasing one of the pillars but that were well aware that they were in fact getting something almost as good. The fact that the 626 sold in much smaller numbers than the other two make it a rare find. Usually, this means that resale values will be very high. In the case of the Mazda, it still sparks much less interest than the usual suspects and therefore, commands a much lower purchase price. Although the asking price of a V6 model will compare to that of a 4-cylinder Accord, one thing needs to be mentioned: on average, Mazda replacement parts are more expensive than Toyota of Honda parts. The difference is not so great as to warrant paying the supplement for a Toyota, consider this a friendly notice.

Least expensive Japanese V6
Base 626s were powered by a 135 hp 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. Although it

(Photo: Olivier Delorme)

was eager to please, it was certainly not the powerplant of choice, especially when attached to the 4-speed automatic transmission. The 165 hp 2.5L V6 was much more interesting and not that much costlier. It could be mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed slushbox. With 170 lb/ft of torque on tap, the 626 actually feels as though it is moving faster than what the speedometer indicated. Power delivery is progressive and very smooth. The manual gearbox of my tester showed no signs of being tired or being ready to pack it in. On the other hand, the clutch pedal squeaked like mad.

A well tailored interior

(Photo: Olivier Delorme)

The cabin of the 626 is airy and comfortable. Both front and rear seats supply ample support. Leg and headroom is better than average for a car of its day. The trunk is also quite spacious. The dashboard is well assemble and extremely simple. A pair of rotary knobs handles the HVAC controls and, a personal favourite of mine; it has the "swinging" center-mounted vents. All materials are fair for the original asking price. The same can be said about the interior fit and finish.