MAZDA626 (Mk.4) Hatchback 1991 - 1998

　　Mazda introduced the fifth generation of its mid-size contender 626 in 1991 in just two shapes, sedan, and hatchback, and axed the station wagon version of its previous generation.

　　In 1991, the Japanese carmaker was already under Ford's umbrella and tried to have a distinct image from the blue-oval branded vehicles. In those times, the American carmaker sold the Sierra lineup in Europe, and that was based on an old design with a rear-wheel drive architecture platform. The 626, on the other hand, was fresh from top to bottom and sported the newly introduced biodesign trend. Ford followed in 1993 with the Mondeo's first generation.

　　Thanks to its curved panels, small headlights, and minimalist-looking grille, the 626 seemed to be smaller than it actually was. Up to the rear doors, it shared its panels with the sedan version, but the rear end was different. A third side window and a raked-forward D-pillar made room for a sloped tailgate. At the back, the taillights were connected via a red strip, which made the car look even better from behind than its sedan sibling. But there was no way to hide that short wheelbase when compared to the car's overall length.

　　Inside, the 626 hatchback was different than its sedan sibling due to its rear seats. Thanks to the reshaped roof, the rear passengers were spoiled with more room. Moreover, due to the rear split-folding bench, the user could have expanded the trunk in part or as a whole.

　　Under the hood, Mazda placed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines with either four or six cylinders. They were mated to a five-speed manual while a 4-speed automatic was on the options list.