Mazda 626

Mazda 626
Production period:	1979-2002
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , hatchback , station wagon , coupe
Previous model:	Mazda 616/618
Successor:	Mazda6

The Mazda 626 was a passenger car model from the Japanese manufacturer Mazda . It was based on the manufacturer's model offered in Japan under the name Mazda Capella .

The 626 represented the mid- range model in the group's product line . It was manufactured from the beginning of 1979 and replaced by the Mazda6 in the summer of 2002 .

The Mazda 626 was sold in Asia , Australia and South Africa with a revised body also under the name Ford Telstar , which was based on the economic participation of the Ford Motor Company in the Japanese manufacturer Mazda.

626 / Capella (CB2, 1979–1982)

1st generation
Mazda 626 notchback (1979–1982)
Production period:	1979-1982
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (55–66 kW)
Length:	4304 mm
Width:	1660 mm
Height:	1345-1370 mm
Wheelbase :	2510 mm
Empty weight :	995-1165 kg

In October 1978 Mazda presented the Capella or 626, which was introduced in early 1979 with rear-wheel drive in most markets. He came to Germany from February 1979.

Mazda 626 Coupé (1979–1982)

The first generation of the Mazda 626 was produced as a sedan and a coupe , each with a notchback . It was optionally available with a 1.6-liter engine with 55 kW (75 hp) and a 2.0-liter engine with an output of 66 kW (90 hp), in Japan also with a 1.8-liter -Four cylinder. German prices started at DM 12,690 for the 1.6-liter sedan; the two-liter cost 1000 DM, the coupe 300 DM more each.

One innovation was the split, foldable rear bench seat. In the USA , Mazda sales doubled after the introduction of the Mazda 626. The 626 was also a great sales success in Europe. This first generation was produced until 1982.

In November 1980 the 626 received a smoother front section with flush headlights and detailed improvements to technology and equipment; the five-speed gearbox was now also standard on the 1600.

The 626 was offered in Germany with the following engine variants:

model	Displacement	Valves	power	Max. Torque
1.6	1568 cc	8th	55 kW (75 PS)	120 Nm at 3800 rpm
2.0	1970 cc	8th	66 kW (90 PS)	159 Nm at 2500 rpm

626 / Capella (GC, 1982-1987)

2nd generation
Mazda 626 notchback (1982–1987)
Production period:	1982-1987
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (60–88 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (47 kW)
Length:	4430-4516 mm
Width:	1690 mm
Height:	1350-1395 mm
Wheelbase :	2510 mm
Empty weight :	990-1160 kg

At the end of 1982 Mazda launched the front-wheel drive 626 . The car magazines Motor Trend and Wheels magazine voted the 626 the "Import Car of the Year 1983". The new 626 was equipped in the LX version with a 1.6-liter engine with 60 kW (82 hp) and in the GLX version with a 2.0-liter engine with 75 kW (102 hp) (Germany ). In Switzerland only the 2.0 liter engine was available, which due to different environmental regulations only developed 70 kW (95 hp). The car was available as a four-door notchback, five-door hatchback and two-door coupe, each in the LX and GLX variants.

In some other European countries, for example in France, the LX version with the large engine and the GLX version with the small engine were also available. The GLX was very well equipped for European standards at the time. It had extras as standard, such as four power windows (electrically operated rear vent windows on the Coupé), velor upholstery and central locking. These options were then even luxury cars mostly extra charge. In 1983, when the 626 was first sold, only metallic paint and power steering in conjunction with the 2.0-liter engine were optional.

Externally, the 2.0-liter version differed - regardless of the equipment variant - through larger rims (14 inches instead of 13 inches) with fully decorative wheel covers, wider tires (185/70 HR 14 instead of 165 SR 13) and a glued-on side Decorative stripes from the 1.6 liter model. From 1984 a diesel model was also offered with a 2.0-liter engine and 47 kW (64 hp).

From the beginning of 1986, Mazda also offered a GT version with a 2.0-liter engine and manifold injection after a revision of the model series . This had an output of 88 kW (120 hp) and, as additional equipment, a cruise control (tempomat). A catalytic converter variant (2.0i Kat) with 66 kW (90 PS) was also introduced. A 2.0-liter engine with 47 kW (64 PS) was still available as a diesel drive. A sedan with a notchback and four doors, a sedan with a hatchback and five doors and a coupé with two doors were still available as body variants . The 2.0 l engine with 88 kW could be combined with any body variant. With the revision, the 1.6-liter engine for the coupé was no longer required.

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  Mazda 626 hatchback (1982-1987)

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  Mazda 626 Coupé (1982-1987)

The 626 was now offered with the following engine variants:

model	Displacement	Cylinders / valves	power	Max. Torque
1.6 LX	1576 cc	4/8	60 kW (82 hp) at 5500 rpm	122 Nm at 3800 rpm
2.0i GLX ( catalytic converter )	1984 cc	4/8	66 kW (90 PS) at 5000 rpm	153 Nm at 2500 rpm
2.0 GLX	1984 cc	4/8	75 kW (102 PS) 1 at 5600 rpm	159 Nm at 3700 rpm
2.0i GT	1984 cc	4/8	88 kW (120 PS) at 5400 rpm	171 Nm at 4000 rpm
diesel
2.0 LX diesel	1998 cc	4/8	47 kW (64 PS) at 4650 rpm	120 Nm at 2750 rpm

¹ for Switzerland 70 kW (95 PS), 158 Nm

Kia Concord / Capital

From 1987 Kia Motors took over the production facilities and built the model under license as the Kia Concord with Mazda petrol engines (from two liters displacement) and the 2.0-liter diesel engine. In 1989 the Kia Capital was added, which was equipped with the 1.5-liter petrol engine and was supposed to be a cheaper alternative.

In 1991 it received a facelift and now had the 1.8-liter engine, which was no longer offered in the Concord.

1995 Kia ended the production of the Concord, whose position the Kia Credos took as its successor. The Capital expired in 1996. The segment was henceforth occupied by the Kia Sephia .

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  Kia Concord (1987-1995)

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  Kia Capital (1989-1996)

626 / Capella (GD / GV, 1987–1992)

3rd generation
Mazda 626 hatchback (1987-1992)
Production period:	1987–1992 (station wagon: 1988–1997)
Body versions :	Sedan , hatchback , station wagon , coupe
Engines:	Otto engines : 2.0–2.2 liters (66–103 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (44 kW)
Length:	4554 mm
Width:	1689 mm
Height:	1410 mm
Wheelbase :	2515-2575 mm
Empty weight :	1125-1360 kg

In August 1987 the new 626 model was presented in the world press. The new Mazda 626 came on the German market in October 1987. This was available as a step and hatchback sedan , as a coupé and from summer 1988 in Germany also as a station wagon , which was continued to be built in parallel with the successor until summer 1997 after the sedan was replaced in spring 1992.

The familiar 2.0-liter gasoline engines were used again. In the LX as a 2.0 liter with carburettor and 66 kW (90 PS) with an unregulated catalytic converter, in the GLX as a 2.0i with a regulated 3-way catalytic converter and also 66 kW (90 PS). For the 1990 model year, the LX also became the 2.0i with a regulated 3-way catalytic converter, so that from now on there were only differences in the equipment. There was also the vehicle with the 2.2i-12V with 85 kW (116 PS) in the GLX variant and as the 2.0i-16V with 103 kW (140 PS) as the GT variant. In Germany, the 2.0L-12V with 79 kW (107 PS) was only on the market for a short time because it had no catalytic converter and was more expensive to maintain due to the vehicle taxation at the time. The GT variant was also only available as a 4-door notchback for a very short time (up to model year 1989). There was also a 2.0-liter diesel with 44 kW (60 hp).

For the 1990 model year, the 626 2.2i 12V was also sold as a 4WD all-wheel drive vehicle and ABS could be ordered at an additional cost. In Japan the model was sold as a Capella and was produced until 1996. There was a version with a 5-speed manual transmission and a version with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The third generation was the most successful in Germany. No import model in the middle class sold better. In addition, the car was the best-selling import car in 1988 and 1989. No other Japanese vehicle has ever achieved this.

This 626 is the first Japanese vehicle to win a comparison test in Auto, Motor und Sport magazine . In the test (issue 21/1987) the vehicle was compared with the competitors Audi 80 , Peugeot 405 , Renault 21 and Ford Sierra in May 1987 .

For this series, the system called 4WS was available for the first time from Mazda in the GT equipment variant. It provided improved cornering stability by steering the rear wheels towards the front wheels depending on the speed.

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  Rear view

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  Mazda 626 notchback (1987-1992)

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  Mazda 626 Coupé (1987-1992)

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  Mazda 626 station wagon (1988–1997)

Technical specifications

	2.0	2.0i	2.0-12V	2.0i-16V	2.2i-12V	2.2i-12V turbo	2.0 diesel	2.0 Diesel Comprex
Construction period	10.1987-01.1990	10.1987-07.1997	10.1987-12.1988	10.1987-07.1991			10.1987-07.1991
Engine characteristics
Engine type	R4 petrol engine						R4 diesel engine
Number of valves per cylinder	2		3	4th	3		2
Valve control	OHC , timing belt			DOHC, timing belt	OHC, timing belt
Mixture preparation	Carburetor	Manifold injection	Carburetor	Manifold injection			Swirl chamber injection
Engine charging	-					turbocharger	-	Comprex loader
cooling	Water cooling
Bore × stroke	86.0 mm × 86.0 mm				86.0 mm × 94.0 mm		86.0 mm × 86.0 mm
Displacement	1998 cc				2184 cc		1998 cc
Compression ratio	8.6: 1		10.0: 1	9.5: 1	8.6: 1		22.7: 1
Max. Power at 1 / min	66 kW (90 PS) / 5200	66 kW (90 PS) / 5000	79 kW (107 PS) / 5300	103 kW (140 PS) / 6000	85 kW (115 PS) / 5000	108 kW (147 PS) / 4300	44 kW (60 PS) / 4000	60 kW (82 PS) / 4000
Max. Torque at 1 / min	150 Nm / 3400	153 Nm / 2500	162 Nm / 3300	173 Nm / 4000	180 Nm / 3900	258 Nm / 3500	119 Nm / 2750	181 Nm / 2000
Power transmission
Drive, as standard	Front wheel drive
Drive, optional	-				all wheel drive		-
Gearbox, as standard	5-speed manual transmission
Gearbox, optional	-	4- speed automatic transmission	-
Readings
Top speed	176 km / h	175 km / h	186 km / h	204 km / h	189 km / h	225 km / h	152 km / h	-
Fuel consumption over 100 km (combined)	8.8 l N	8.5 l N	8.1 l p	8.8 l S	8.5 l N	8.5 l S	6.4 l D	6.2 l D

• The availability of the engines depended on the model, equipment and market.

626 / Capella / Cronos (Efini MS6 GE, 1992–1997)

4th generation
Mazda 626 hatchback (1992-1997)
Production period:	1992-1997
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.5 liters (66–121 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (55 kW)
Length:	4695 mm
Width:	1750 mm
Height:	1390 mm
Wheelbase :	2610 mm
Empty weight :	1175 kg

Unusual: the rear spoiler integrated into the tailgate on the 626 hatchback

Mazda 626 notchback (1992–1997)

The Mazda 626, presented in early 1992 as a hatchback and notchback sedan, has been heavily revised. At the same time, the third-generation station wagon variant was still available, while the coupé was discontinued. Instead, Mazda presented the Mazda MX-6 , which was built on the floor pan of the Mazda 626 and whose technology was also installed in the Ford Probe . The sedan was offered in Japan under the name Mazda Cronos . With a little more luxurious equipment, the model was also available in Japan as a Ẽfini .

The car was given a sportier appearance, which was not very well received by the more conservative target group. The hatchback sedan in particular, with a rear spoiler integrated into the tailgate, took some getting used to. The car was too big and too expensive for its class for its class at the time, which meant that this generation of models was not a great sales success.

The four-wheel steering 4WS was installed for the last time in this series. It was also used in the MX-6 .

Technical specifications

	1.9i		2.0i	2.5i V6	2.0 diesel
Construction period	10.1994-04.1997	01/1992-04/1997
Engine characteristics
Engine identification	FP		FS	KL-DE	RF
Engine type	R4 petrol engine			V6 petrol engine	R4 diesel engine
Number of valves per cylinder	4th				2
Valve control	DOHC , timing belt			2 × DOHC, gears / toothed belts	OHC, timing belt
Mixture preparation	Manifold injection				Swirl chamber injection
Engine charging	-				Pressure wave supercharger
cooling	Water cooling
Bore × stroke	83.0 mm × 85.0 mm		83.0 mm × 92.0 mm	84.5 mm x 74.2 mm	86.0 mm × 86.0 mm
Displacement	1840 cc		1991 cc	2497 cc	1998 cc
Compression ratio	9.6: 1	9.0: 1		9.2: 1	21.1: 1
Max. Power at 1 / min	66 kW (90 PS) / 5500	77 kW (105 PS) / 5500	85 kW (115 PS) / 5500	121 kW (165 PS) / 5600	55 kW (75 PS) / 4000
Max. Torque at 1 / min	143 Nm / 2500	155 Nm / 4300	170 Nm / 4500	217 Nm / 4800	169 Nm / 2000
Power transmission
Drive, as standard	Front wheel drive
Drive, optional	-		all wheel drive	-
Gearbox, as standard	5-speed manual transmission
Gearbox, optional	-		4- speed automatic transmission		-
Readings
Top speed	181 km / h	191 km / h	198 km / h (185 km / h)	220 km / h (207 km / h)	161 km / h
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	12.6 s	11.9 s	10.9 s (13.4 s)	8.5 s (10.2 s)	14.7 s
Fuel consumption over 100 km (combined)	7.9 l p		7.7 l S (8.1 l S)	8.8 l S (9.4 l S)	7.0 l D

1. ↑ Values ​​in round brackets ("()") for automatic transmissions.

• The availability of the engines depended on the model, equipment and market.

626 / Capella (GF / GW, 1997-2002)

5th generation
Mazda 626 notchback (1997-1999)
Production period:	1997-2002
Body versions :	Sedan , hatchback , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.5 liters (66–147 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (74–81 kW)
Length:	4575-4660 mm
Width:	1710 mm
Height:	1430-1515 mm
Wheelbase :	2610 mm
Empty weight :	1245-1535 kg

From April 1997, the fifth generation 626 was the last model with this designation. A notchback and a hatchback sedan (GF) were again available as body variants, to which a new station wagon (GW) was added from January 1998. In contrast to the previous model, this station wagon was, like the sedans, a new development.

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  Rear view

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  Mazda 626 hatchback (1997-1999)

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  Mazda 626 Estate (1998-2000)

In December 1999 there was a facelift for the hatchback and notchback sedan, which was also carried out for the station wagon in February 2000. These versions differ from the first version primarily through a new exterior design and a further optimized interior.

The notchback and hatchback sedans as well as the station wagon versions are available in three configurations and with different engines. The three petrol engines offered are based on four-cylinder engines with multi-valve technology, with the basic engine having a displacement of 1.9 l and a maximum engine output of 66 kW (90 hp), later 74 kW (101 hp). The other two engines have 2 l with 85 kW (115 PS) or 100 kW (136 PS).

Instead of the equipment variants ( LX , GLX , GT ) equipment lines were now offered. These equipment lines were designated as Comfort , Spirit , Exclusive and Sportive . In the Sportive equipment line , only the 2.0-liter engine with 100 kW (136 hp) was offered.

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  Mazda 626 hatchback (1999-2002)

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  Rear view

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  Mazda 626 notchback (1999-2002)

Technical specifications

	1.9		2.0	2.0 HP	2.5	2.0 DITD
Construction period	04.1997-12.1999	12.1999-08.2002	04.1997-08.2002			04.1998-10.2000	10.2000-08.2002
Engine characteristics
Engine type	R4 petrol engine				V6 petrol engine	R4 diesel engine
Number of valves per cylinder	4th
Valve control	DOHC , timing belt				DOHC, gears / timing belts	OHC, timing belt
Mixture preparation	Manifold injection					Direct injection
Engine charging	-					Turbocharger , intercooler
cooling	Water cooling
Bore × stroke	83.0 mm × 85.0 mm		83.0 mm × 92.0 mm		84.5 mm x 74.2 mm	86.0 mm × 86.0 mm
Displacement	1840 cc		1991 cc		2497 cc	1998 cc
Compression ratio	9.6: 1	9.7: 1			10.0: 1	18.8: 1
Max. Power at 1 / min	66 kW (90 PS) / 5000	74 kW (101 PS) / 5500	85 kW (115 PS) / 6000	100 kW (136 PS) / 5800	147 kW (200 PS) / 6500	74 kW (101 PS) / 4000	81 kW (110 PS) / 4000
Max. Torque at 1 / min	147 Nm / 2500	152 Nm / 4000	173 Nm / 4500	181 Nm / 4500	224 Nm / 4800	220 Nm / 1800	230 Nm / 1800
Power transmission
drive	Front wheel drive				all wheel drive	Front wheel drive
Gearbox, as standard	5-speed manual transmission				4- speed automatic transmission	5-speed manual transmission
Gearbox, optional	4-speed automatic transmission	-	4-speed automatic transmission		-
Measured values ​​(limousine)
Top speed	180 km / h	182 km / h	198 km / h (185 km / h)	208 km / h (195 km / h)	(220 km / h)	185 km / h	191 km / h
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	12.6 s	11.8 s	9.9 s (12.0 s)	9.6 s	k. A.	11.5 s	11.0 s
Measured values ​​(combi)
Top speed	178 km / h	180 km / h	192 km / h (179 km / h)	202 km / h (189 km / h)	k. A.	175 km / h	185 km / h
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	12.9 s	12.0 s	10.6 s (12.1 s)	10.5 s	k. A.	13.5 s	12.0 s

1. ↑ ^{a b} Values ​​in round brackets ("()") for automatic transmissions.

• The availability of the engines depended on the model, equipment and market.

Weak points

• According to the DAT / VDA list, the models with gasoline engines are not E10 compatible.
• The rust prevention is partially inadequate. Corrosion can often be seen on the folds of the bonnet, the rear strut domes and the rear wheel arches.

End of production

On August 30, 2002, the last Mazda 626 rolled off the assembly line. The successor model has been called Mazda6 since then .

literature

• Automobile revue . Catalog numbers 1979, 1984, 1997, 2000 and 2001.
• Car catalog 1988/89. Stuttgart, August 1, 1988.
• Joachim Kuch: Japanese automobiles . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN 3-613-01365-7 , pp. 85-90.
• HR Etzold : Mazda 626 - This is how it's done . Delius Klasing Verlag, 2004.

Web links

Commons : Mazda 626  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Kia Capital  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Kia Concord  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Former official website ( Memento of February 11, 2001 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ E10 compatibility of motor vehicles ( Memento of the original from May 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of December 1, 2011. Accessed May 11, 2014.