Mazda 626
The Mazda 626 is a large family car that’s quite reliable and spacious, but not the most exciting offering from the Japanese auto company. It’s simply a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of car that is conservative, inoffensive and does its job very well. Good value overall, it’s been around for a while and newer models are definitely worth a look if you want something budget friendly and solid.
With a life that lasted 22 years, the 626 was quite a workhorse for the Mazda brand. A handful of generations can be seen in 4 door saloon, 5 door hatchback, 2 door coupe and 5 door estate models, so if anything it’s a versatile car to say the least. The main plus points were that it was well equipped, especially later versions, finished to quite a good standard and wasn’t short on space. To be honest it’s everything you’d expect a Mazda car to be, minus the cutting edge designs of the latest and greatest.
Despite a rather uninspiring exterior, the inside of the Mazda was always a welcoming environment. A large cabin space meant 4 adults could fit in with no trouble, and there was enough room in the boot for things like suitcases or shopping bags. Several trims were available on each generation and on the whole the standard was pretty good, and kit was never lacking- in fact it’s comparable to some modern mid level autos. Designed to meet the needs of families, it worked well.
Best used as a cruiser, the 626 didn’t really like to be hurried. While the engines weren’t overly powerful, some models did feature sportier V6 options which improved performance, but in general the Mazda like to plod along. It was easy to drive though and could negotiate towns, back roads, motorways and even car parks with no trouble. The high safety standard and reliability meant you’d have to do something pretty drastic to upset it to the point of breaking.
The Mazda is a bit of an old timer, and has been out of production for a number of years. But that doesn’t mean it’s disappeared altogether. If you’re looking to get hold of a cheap one, looking through the selection of used cars for sale here at Motors.co.uk will uncover a wealth of potential purchases. With low prices and good quality, you really can get a second hand Mazda 626 for a tiny amount of money.
Ultimately the main reason to buy this car is because it’s cheap, works well and doesn’t mess around. It knows what it’s good at and performs very well as a family car. Although it was quite boring to look at, the 626 was solid to drive and more than reliable. Japanese cars have a habit of sticking around for a while, and this is a good example. If you need a good all rounder and don’t have much money, buy the Mazda.