First Generation, 1979

• The first Mazda 626s, coupe and sedan, came with a 2.0-liter, single-overhead camshaft engine with four cylinders and a two-barrel carburetor. It was rated at 80 horsepower. The engine was controlled with a five-speed manual transmission or a three speed automatic.
  
  

Second Generation, 1983

• Despite an aesthetic makeover, the engines on the next generation of Mazda 626s were pretty much the same. It was a 2.0-liter, single overhead cam (SOHC) as before, with four cylinders and a two-barrel carburetor. But the engine attained 83 horsepower now, due to more advanced engineering, and it was positioned between the front strut towers. More advanced fuel injection in 1986, led to 93 horsepower.
  
  

Third Generation, 1988

• This iteration of 626 was larger than its predecessors, with a 101.4 inch wheelbase. This required a bigger engine: a 2.2-liter, SOHC, four-cylinder. This engine had three valves for each cylinder and electronic fuel injection to obtain 110 horsepower.
  
  

Fourth Generation, 1993

• Another sweeping makeover add even more wheelbase to this new 626. The engine now is a 2.0-liter, dual-overhead camshaft (DOHC) four cylinder with 16 valves, rated at 118 horsepower. An optional 2.5-liter DOHC with 24 valves and six cylinders got 164 horsepower.
  
  

Fifth Generation, 1998

• The two door varieties of 626 are gone by 1998, with the four-door model riding on a 105-inch wheelbase, the engine was the same as the fourth generation's DOHC, but due to engineering advances, it was capable of 130 horsepower now. The optional V-6 DOHC got 170 horsepower.