The Mazda 626 is a midsize car built from 1981 to 2002 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 94.6% of those on record. Between 1980 and 2002 it grew 33 cm longer and gained 151 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 626 is
The Mazda 626 is a midsize car that Mazda built from 1981 to 2002 — 22 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 1998. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Mazda range: MX-6, 929, MX-30.
Where the 626 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,181 626s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1YV, 1YB, 1YZ, 1YU | 1985-2002 | |
| Japan | JM1 | 1983-1995 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 6 lines your 626 belongs to. What every character in a 626 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda 626 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
626 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the 626's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the 626 that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 442 cm | 246 cm | 1163 kg | - | - |
| 1981-1982 | 442 cm | 251 cm | 1175 kg | +0 cm | +12 kg |
| 1983-1987 | 452 cm | 251 cm | 1094 kg | +10 cm | -81 kg |
| 1988-1992 | 456 cm | 258 cm | 1218 kg | +4 cm | +124 kg |
| 1993-1997 | 469 cm | 261 cm | 1243 kg | +13 cm | +25 kg |
| 1998-2002 | 475 cm | 267 cm | 1314 kg | +6 cm | +71 kg |
Between 1980 and 2002 the 626 gained 33 cm in length (+7.5%) and 151 kg in weight (+13.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the 626 that is 151 kg against 33 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mazda 626 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 626 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda 626 have? Power & range
The Mazda 626 is offered with 2 powertrains — 2.5L 6-cyl, 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mazda 626, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 2.5L · 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The 626 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda 626. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 626 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 54 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,356 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Used value | 17 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda 626?
The 626 is a midsize car, built from 1981 to 2002 across 6 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Mazda 626 made?
Across 2,181 cars in our records the split is: the United States (94.6%), Japan (5.4%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the 626 have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1998. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the 626 grew 33 cm longer and gained 151 kg.
What is the Mazda 626 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 626 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 626?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
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