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- Savannah, GA
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- autoshopper.com
1996 mazda 626 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Plainly one of the most potent in its class. introductionevery time we drive a v6-powered mazda 626 we emerge pleased and bewildered. The pleasure comes from the driving. The bewilderment concerns this car's relatively modest performance on the sales charts. though it's neither the roomiest nor the most distinctive member of the vast midsize class, the 626 is one of the most gratifying to drive. it has the reflexes of a gunfighter, and mazda's 160-hp 2. 5-liter v6 engine--the same engine used in the ford probe gt sport coupe--lends real zeal to forward progress, especially when it's allied with the precise 5-speed manual transmission. but as hot as it is on the street, the 626's showroom performance qualifies as lukewarm. The front end treatment now bears a close family resemblance to the more expensive mazda millenia--no bad thing--while the rear has been given a couple of small detail changes. The overall design is tidy, smooth and nicely proportioned, but it still shades toward the anonymous, and the shape has the additional drawback of familiarity. It's been with us since the 1993 model year. on the other hand, a no-chances exterior design doesn't seem to hurt the toyota camry, a mainstream middie that's more expensive and not as entertaining to drive. there's also an ongoing perception that the 626 is a little pricey, something that was true when it was launched. But mazda has addressed this problem by holding back on annual price hikes. And anyway, the combination of the v6 and 5-speed transmission is a natural in a car with this kind of sporting spirit. It's also a combination that's simply not available in camry and accord v6 models. power talk: mazda's 2. 5-liter dual overhead cam 24-valve v6 is one of the absolute best in the business, overshadowed only slightly by ford's new 2. 5-liter duratec v6. at 160 horsepower, it doesn't have quite as much absolute output as the bigger camry and accord v6 engines, but it doesn't have as much mass to drag around, either. a v6-powered 626 weighs in at 2899 lbs., compared to 3241 lbs. For the camry and 3219 for the accord. less is invariably better when it comes to vehicle curb weights. But in the case of the 626, the car doesn't really show to good advantage without the v6. the standard 114-hp 2. 0-liter 4-cyl. Engine is strictly ho-hum compared to the basic 4-cyl. Although it's functional and elegantly simple, the 626 interior--like the exterior--is a little low on pizzazz. The audio and climate controls, for example, are set a trifle low in the center of the dashboard and the various pushbuttons involved in both could be a little bigger. adjustment controls for the power-operated side mirrors are combined in a single switch that's set low in the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. The function of the switch is fine, but it's eclipsed by the wheel and it's not easy to use when the car is moving. although the major instruments--speedo, tach, fuel and temp gauges--are easy to see through the wheel, they could be a tad larger. Call it average for a car in the smaller end of the midsize class. the seats, however, are very good, particularly up front. These are nicely bolstered, well-padded buckets designed to keep the driver and front seat passenger firmly anchored during hard cornering. driving impressionhard cornering is something this car does very well--better, in fact, than most in its class. the 626 chassis is shared by mazda's mx-6 sport coupe as well as the ford probe and it's got the kind of rigidity that makes it easy for the suspension engineers to create the 'right' kind of ride and handling traits. for the 626 sedan, this translates as slightly softer than the coupes, but still firm and responsive. But $2500 is a pretty good-sized jump. summaryat its price, the 626 lx v6 stacks up as a lively sport sedan that's very tough to beat. Alloy wheels--not exactly rolling hedonism, but all the basic amenities. missing, however, was an antilock brake system. The quality of its assembly and finish, handled right here in the usa, measure up well against benchmark cars like the accord and camry. and if it's not exactly a head-turner in the looks department, a test drive will reveal something that's already endeared a good many owners. It's a joy to drive. Alloy wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes. model testedlx v6. Power Windows✔ Power Mirrors✔ Power Locks✔ AM/FM✔ Air Conditioning✔ Cruise Control✔ Alloy Wheels
Savannah, GASavannah, GA at autoshopper.com