REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Operating in the red

Do you know how frustrating it is to realize that your bank account is empty? Well that’s exactly the impression I got from the 626 in its latest guise. Forced for financial reasons to use just about anything at hand, in 1998 Mazda presented a logical extension of its 626. The result: a good car, but one lacking any strong inspiration.Yes, the 626’s passenger compartment will give you a strong feeling of dйjа vu. At a time when car-builders cut into budgets with chainsaws and let suppliers feel the pinch, this passenger compartment’s design seems to go against the trend set in recent years. The upholstery on seats - which happen to be very comfortable, by the way - looks elegant and plastic materials are sturdy. The slightly revamped instrument panel boasts a new-look air conditioning panel with rotary controls. Central vents swing back and forth for maximum passenger comfort. A bit lower, which means the driver’s eyes leave the road, are the controls for the radio and built-in CD player; options include a cassette player.Neutral, stable and predictable, the 626 fights off the understeering that used to appear quicker on previous versions. It also absorbs road defects with more smoothness and less effort and completely noiselessly. The variable-assistance steering system is still imprecise at centre, an old defect. The 626 loses some points when it comes to handling due to a considerably longer turning radius. The LX-V6 and ES-V6 have quieter mechanical systems capable of higher performance levels, but don’t be fooled into thinking that three extra pound-feet of torque have made it less slack in the lower rpm range, a flaw that is somewhat less obvious when the engine is coupled with a manual transmission, with impeccable shifting.

While most 626s show a loss of stability during emergency braking, models powered by the four-cylinder are deprived of a four-disc brake system and show a loss of stopping power. The only choice is the disc-drum duo, which gets its job done efficiently. What to think of the 626? It’s a reliable and well-finished automobile, but decidedly less talented than most of its rivals.

PROS
Reliability
Comfortable ride
Good handling

CONS
Pick-up at lower engine speeds (V6)
Lack of braking stability
Lack of originality

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * *

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