Body style: Hatchback
Segment: Medium
Production years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
Mazda introduced the fourth generation of the 626 lineup in 1988, and it was one of the most comfortable cars exported from Japan. It came in three shapes, including a fastback-style hatchback.
Despite its big experience in automotive engineering, Mazda had a problem finding a visual identity. That was obvious on the wedged-shape of the 1988 626 range, a rock-solid, dependable vehicle, hidden by a questionable design, especially in the hatchback shape.
The era of squared-looking vehicles was already gone, but Mazda's designers were caught on the wrong foot. They tried to soften the edges but without too much luck. Its rectangular, slim headlights sported a slight cut on the inbound corners and the flat grille with black horizontal slats. In those times, Mazda didn't have a proper badge; it was only the name written with chromed letters. In the back, the Japanese carmaker tried to give the car a sporty look and made a sloped, fastback-style liftgate. But it wasn't in the Audi Avant style. It was between a fastback and a sedan.
Inside, the Japanese designers installed a curved dashboard with a hump above the instrument cluster. It didn't feature the usual angled cuts from most of its competitors on the market. The air-vents were integrated into the center stack and above the median line of the dash. In the back, the carmaker installed a split-folding bench, which could expand the trunk area.
The independent suspension in all corners made the car very comfortable, and the engine lineup was adequate for its customers. For specific markets, Mazda offered a choice of diesel and gasoline engines, while the carmaker sold a turbocharged gasoline version exclusively on the North-American market.
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0i 5MT FWD (90 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1984 cm3 |
Power: | 66 KW @ 5000 RPM 90 HP @ 5000 RPM 89 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 113 lb-ft @ 2500 RPM 153 Nm @ 2500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 109 mph (175 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 R14H |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 178.5 in (4534 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 54.1 in (1374 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.5/57.5 in (1,461/1,461 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 101.4 in (2576 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 23 cuFT (651 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.34 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2524.3 lbs (1145 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4056.5 lbs (1840 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 22.6 mpg US (10.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 36.2 mpg US (6.5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 202 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L 5MT FWD (90 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1984 cm3 |
Power: | 66 KW @ 5200 RPM 90 HP @ 5200 RPM 89 BHP @ 5200 RPM |
Torque: | 111 lb-ft @ 3400 RPM 150 Nm @ 3400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 111 mph (179 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 185/70 R14H |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 178.5 in (4534 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 54.1 in (1374 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.5/57.5 in (1,461/1,461 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 101.4 in (2576 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 23 cuFT (651 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.3 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2524.3 lbs (1145 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4056.5 lbs (1840 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 20.6 mpg US (11.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 34.6 mpg US (6.8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26.7 mpg US (8.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 209 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.2i 5MT FWD (115 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2169 cm3 |
Power: | 85 KW @ 5000 RPM 115 HP @ 5000 RPM 114 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 133 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM 180 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 119 mph (192 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 185/70 R14H |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 178.5 in (4534 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 54.1 in (1374 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.5/57.5 in (1,461/1,461 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 101.4 in (2576 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 23 cuFT (651 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.34 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2579.4 lbs (1170 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3615.6 lbs (1640 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 22.6 mpg US (10.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 36.2 mpg US (6.5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 202 g/km |