When looking back at Mazda’s past, the 626 midsize family car (a.k.a. the Capella in Japan) is far from the first model that comes to mind.
Through six generations from 1970 to 2002, the midsize sedan did family car stuff largely unnoticed, much like its rivals which included the Honda Accord, Toyota Corona, Nissan Bluebird, and other similarly forgettable vehicles.
None of the six 626 generations managed to become an automotive icon, but the sedan was known to be generally reliable. When things went wrong, though, owners found spare parts to be on the expensive side.
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If you want to know the fifth-generation 626 better (or are secretly infatuated with it), Regular Car Reviews’ latest video features a 1997 626 V6 that Mr. Regular calls “the official generic 1990s sedan”. Is he right? Probably, especially if you look at the design which was “so devoid of company identification it could be in Grand Theft Auto III.” At the time, it wasn’t easy to identify Mazda vehicles on the road and the most difficult one to label was probably the 626.
Available globally, including North America, the fifth-generation 626 (GE) was offered with a range-topping 2.5-liter V6 that made 164 HP and 160 lb-ft (217 Nm). That’s pretty much what a base 2020 Mazda6 offers nowadays. However, the 1997 626 V6 feels faster than the specs would have you believe, despite coming with a four-speed auto transmission. There’s a problem, though: it only runs on premium gas (93-octane or higher), which is dumbfounding considering that the 626 was a no-frills family sedan in its day.
You may ask yourself why Regular Car Reviews chose to make a video with the fifth-gen 626 – besides the fact that it’s as boring generic as a car gets. Well, it’s because it comes jam-packed with 1990s nostalgia – plus, you can buy a low-mileage example like this one for $500.