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MAZDA 626 Hatchback Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 3
First production year: 1988
Engines: Gasoline, Diesel
Body style: Hatchback
MAZDA 626 (Mk.5) Hatchback photo gallery

Mazda introduced the fifth generation of the 626 in 1997 and offered it in two body shapes: sedan and hatchback, both being built on top of the Mazda GE platform.

The Japanese brand tried to sell the 626 MkV in more markets, and since the European customers were pleased with the lift-back styling, Mazda was obliged to provide one. Thus, the carmaker included one on the lineup but withdrew the station wagon version.

Mazda took a different approach when it designed the 626 and tried to make it subtle, but that resulted in a bland design even for those times. True, there was a chromed stripe on the upper side of the grille and some aerodynamic enhancements on the lower bumper. Still, those were far from the bold-looking cars Mazda used to create. On the other hand, with the hatchback version, the extended greenhouse looked more like a humpback than a fastback. However, one advantage was the third side window placed behind the rear doors, which brought more light into the cabin.

Moving inside, the customers could notice a spacious cabin with a well-designed, rounded dashboard. The carmaker offered velour upholstery and basic amenities with cranked windows and no AC for the base trim levels. Yet, the power windows and locks, AC, and stereo were fitted as standard on the upper trim levels. Unlike the sedan, the Hatchback featured a split-folding rear bench, which could expand the trunk area and allow longer items to be loaded.

Under the hood, the 626 MkV Hatchback offered a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines, which became much more popular on the European market.

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MAZDA 626 (Mk.4) Hatchback photo gallery

Mazda introduced the fifth generation of its mid-size contender 626 in 1991 in just two shapes, sedan, and hatchback, and axed the station wagon version of its previous generation.

In 1991, the Japanese carmaker was already under Ford's umbrella and tried to have a distinct image from the blue-oval branded vehicles. In those times, the American carmaker sold the Sierra lineup in Europe, and that was based on an old design with a rear-wheel drive architecture platform. The 626, on the other hand, was fresh from top to bottom and sported the newly introduced biodesign trend. Ford followed in 1993 with the Mondeo's first generation.

Thanks to its curved panels, small headlights, and minimalist-looking grille, the 626 seemed to be smaller than it actually was. Up to the rear doors, it shared its panels with the sedan version, but the rear end was different. A third side window and a raked-forward D-pillar made room for a sloped tailgate. At the back, the taillights were connected via a red strip, which made the car look even better from behind than its sedan sibling. But there was no way to hide that short wheelbase when compared to the car's overall length.

Inside, the 626 hatchback was different than its sedan sibling due to its rear seats. Thanks to the reshaped roof, the rear passengers were spoiled with more room. Moreover, due to the rear split-folding bench, the user could have expanded the trunk in part or as a whole.

Under the hood, Mazda placed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines with either four or six cylinders. They were mated to a five-speed manual while a 4-speed automatic was on the options list.

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MAZDA 626 (Mk.3) Hatchback photo gallery

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.

full description and technical specifications