2002 Mazda 626 Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
IIHS Crash Test
Source   IIHS.org
MPG (up to)
20 City / 26 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
165
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Olga G
The upkeep is very affordable
It is very reliable and good on gas. I have not had any major problems with my vehicle over the years. I would purchase this brand again in a flash.
accountCircle Cristian T
My vehicle is light grey with blacked out rims, and has a lot of space
My car is really nice, for the year it is it runs well, has good mileage and also is very roomy and comfortable. I would recommend it
accountCircle Samuel K
Very dependable vehicle always will work for you.
Dependable vehicle. Generally a good vehicle no noises or issues. Not a gas guzzler. Very dependable vehicles. Can take a lot of beating. When in crashes you will be safe and the car with take a beating without you yourself being affected in the car. Love the model car
accountCircle Chris p
Make sure she gets gas treatment every couple of fillups...she needs her vitamins!
It gets good gas mileage.I like the size-just perfect! The trunk is huge! It's a great little car.
accountCircle RHonda L
My 626 runs better than expected couldn't be more pleased
I bought it used low miles and ive had it 4 years I love it it has never given me any major mechanical problems
accountCircle Lisa B
My Great Older Mazda is still getting me where I need to be with over 300k miles!
I bought my Mazda in 2008, used with about 75000 miles on her. This has been my best car I have ever had. I had to replace the timing belt about 2 years ago but other than that, have made no other major repairs. My Mazda is still my main vehicle with 320000 miles on her! I truly believe that they don't make cars to last like this now days and that is a shame!
accountCircle Kristina C
2002 Mazda 626 with a manual transmission, best car ever!!
First of all I really love my car. There are a few things that could definitely be better. Number one problem. Transmission issues. My transmission has gone out twice. After the 2nd time I converted it to a manual transmission. So if you have one with a stick the car is wonderful. Great on gas. Very comfortable. Good sound system.
accountCircle Kimberly S
This car handles like a dream!
I love my vehicle because it drives like an extension of me -- as if my body is in tune with the handling of the car. It's always been a thing of mine, red cars, and this one is the most cherry red one yet. Even though it's a smaller car, it is big on personality.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Marie Krok
Bad transmission
The worst brand new car I ever had. Transmission went out under 10,000 miles. The dealer wouldnt fix it under warranty, then there was a recall for the same defect after I spent $5,000 out of pocket to fix it Poor power goi g up hills i upstate New York.. Ill never buy a Mazda again.
accountCircle Brooke R
Gold sedan, tan cloth interior
Cosmetically it is awful - everything falls apart from normal use. It is somewhat cheaper to fix compared to other cars which is great. The resale value is never worth what you are getting, so I would suggest buying only if I loved Mazda's overall.
accountCircle Jenna M
It is reliable and gets the job done.
The car seems to struggle with the engine it has due to the size of the car. I like the swing air vents.
accountCircle Brandy F
My car is a compact car and it runs. It is also good on gas.
Well there is so much that I could say about my car. Lately, it is been giving me the blues. My car is 16 years old and it is starting to show Its age to. The power windows work great, but the doors no longer lock or unlock correctly when you touch the button. It does get me from point A to point B, but very slowly. And, the sound that it makes when Its trying to pick up speed is just hilarious. I am always so surprised whenever I put the key in the ignition turn it and it starts. I have started calling it the miracle putter because when it miraculously starts it putts on down the road.
accountCircle ra T
Good first quality car for new drivers
Runs well, radio is iffy with picking up signals. Have had problems with belts and pulley system. Had problems with antifreeze reservoir and car running hot. Overall good first car. Good on gas and highway mileage. Pretty roomy with leg space and trunk space for sedan type car
accountCircle Jerry S
There are no interesting details as of yet.
There are no problems with the car and the car is running smoothly. Only headlight problem but it was fixed already. It was bought in Canada and continues to run till now. Automatic and clean. Doesn't need a lot of maintenance and fixing at this moment.
accountCircle Stacy S
We call her Lucy, she is part of the family.
It has been reliable and low maintenance, even with high miles. We are thinking of buying a newer one so we can give this one to our daughter for work car. We still have the same tires on it, since we bought it. I only wish it had a sunroof. O would highly recommend this car for anyone.
accountCircle Tiffany M
It's spacious and comfortable. It is a good car for small family.
My car is roomy, which I love. I had a lot of trunk space for groceries and kids' stuff. I also like the comfortable seats. I dislike the "swing" feature of the air conditioning vent.

Mazda 626 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
165 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
car
ES
165 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2002 Mazda 626 Owner Reviews

3.77
30 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 30%
4 stars 30%
3 stars 30%
2 stars 7%
1 star 3%
accountCircle Marie Krok on May 16, 2021
Bad transmission
The worst brand new car I ever had. Transmission went out under 10,000 miles. The dealer wouldnt fix it under warranty, then there was a recall for the same defect after I spent $5,000 out of pocket to fix it Poor power goi g up hills i upstate New York.. Ill never buy a Mazda again.
accountCircle Bob M on March 15, 2021
It has a BOSE sound system, so the sound is great, and I usually crank up the radio a bit as I'm driving.
Nice vehicle... Lots of miles on it. Just recently bought it used. Have had to replace many parts. This car is very hard to work on, but once you get it going, it rides nice.
View All Reviews (30) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #18 Small Cars by Owners

The 2002 Mazda 626 has an average owner rating of 3.81 out of 5 which ranks it #18 of 24 other Small Cars.

1
car
2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
5
2
car
2002 Volkswagen GTI
4.8
18
car
2002 Mazda 626
3.77

Ranks #13 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2002 Mazda 626 has a combined MPG of 32 which ranks it #13 of 24 other Small Cars.

1
car
2002 Toyota Echo
41 MPG
2
car
2002 Honda Civic
40 MPG
13
car
2002 Mazda 626
26 MPG

Is The 2002 Mazda 626 A Good Car?

It runs smoothly if taken care of well over the years. It is a good vehicle for someone looking for a cheap but effective car
Shannon F.
Yes! It’s paid for with a new transmission and runs like a new car. Great on gas as well it only takes about $16 to fill up.
Annie Y.

How Reliable Is The 2002 Mazda 626?

It is a reliable car given that is was taken care of well over the years. I do not find any problems in my experience
Elisa S.
Extremely reliable if you take care of it. Oil change it regularly and get tires turned often. I'm on the highway with it a lot going from Greensboro to Winston with no problem.
Adrian A.

Is The 2002 Mazda 626 A Good Value?

It is not very expensive, it is a good value. Especially for someone looking for a reliable car at a cheap price
Caitlin L.
It was $1,600 BC it was rebuilt. I just needed a paid off car fast BC I had got hit in my last car. This car is a very good value for your money!
Gabrielle L.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the mazda 626 oil type?

Answer: The Mazda626 uses SAE 5W-30 oil in the engine whenever You need to change it. Mazda recommends that You use synthetic oil every time that You change it as well. Synthetic oil is a newer type of oil that is...

What's the mazda 626 engine oil type?

Answer: The Mazda626 engine oil type iS5w-30. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with the engine. Having high...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety