Mazda Familia: photos, specifications, reviews

Mazda Familia (Mazda 323, Mazda Protege, Mazda Astina and other names) is a passenger car that for a long period of time was the main representative of the Mazda Motor concern. Also produced under the Ford brand, for example the Laser model.

In exports, earlier models were sold as 800, 1000, 1200 and 1300. In North America, the 1200 was replaced by the GLC, and newer models were renamed 323 and Protege. There is a fairly wide selection of engines installed on the Familia, ranging from 1.3-liter to 2-liter diesel. There were also modifications with a turbo engine produced in the 80s (Mazda Familia GTX). In Russia, the most popular petrol cars are Mazda Familia in S-Wagon and Sedan body styles from 1999-2003 (BJ body type).

The two main modifications of these years can be divided into pre-restyling and post-restyling versions of the body. The body was restyled in 2000. The changes affected the car's bumper, front and rear optics, and the interior trim also changed.

In 2003, the car was replaced on the assembly line by the Mazda3 model, which received the name Mazda Axela for the Japanese market (JDM). The Familia name was retained for the Mazda-branded copy of the Nissan Wingroad. Previously, the same practice was used for the commercial vehicle Familia Van (aka Nissan AD).

Second generation

1968-1973

The new Familia appeared in 1967. In some markets it was sold as the Mazda 1000 or 1200. The station wagon was available in three and five-door versions, but in some markets only the five-door version was available.

Rotary (1968)

In 1968, Mazda expanded the “Family” family with the Rotary modification. The modification was available in coupe, sedan (2 doors) and sedan (4 doors) bodies.

1973-1977 (Familia Presto)

In September 1973, Mazda updated the "Family Name". Changes: Body dimensions and design.

Mazda Familia - model description

Mazda Familia - a car widely known in Europe as the Mazda 323 was sold under this name in the Japanese domestic market.

The production of the model began back in 1963 with a small rear-wheel drive sedan with round headlights in the style of that era.

In the future, the Familia model was expected to achieve great success - participation in rallies and numerous licensed copies produced by venerable and little-known automakers on all continents.

The history of the Mazda Familia

The basis for the creation of the first Mazda Familia was a small car belonging to the “kei car” minicar segment, called the Mazda 700, presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1961.

At that time, given the development of the market, Mazda planned to produce larger cars.

For such a serious step as moving into a new segment, the company even attracted a young European designer who worked in the Italian studio Carrozzeria Bertone, named Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The car, created according to his sketches, appeared in 1963 under the name Mazda 800 Family Van. It was a semi-truck station wagon, since the company developed a whole plan for the transition from minicars to “serious cars,” which involved a phased entry into the market, first with commercial models, and then with passenger cars.

In November of the same year, a modification appeared in the sedan body, in which, according to critics, the stylistic influence of the Chevrolet Corvair was clearly discernible.

The cars were equipped with 0.8-liter four-cylinder engines with aluminum blocks and cylinder heads, which gave rise to the nickname “white engines.” In 1965, a heavily modernized version of the Familia appeared in a coupe body with a more powerful 1.0-liter engine.

In 1968, the Familia Rotary version featured a Wankel rotary engine for the first time in Mazda history.

The second generation of the model, released in 1967, is significant in that Mazda entered the European market for the first time with these cars. The Familia was exported under the name Mazda 1200 (the figure reflected the increased engine capacity).

This model was presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1968.

Of particular interest are the Familia Rotary coupe and sedan models, which for the first time in the history of Mazda used a Wankel cycle rotary engine.

In 1977, the third generation of Familia debuted. In Europe, these cars were first sold under the later notorious name Mazda 323. In the third generation, the model was first equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. As an alternative, it was possible to purchase a version with a three-speed automatic transmission.

The third generation in the BD body, produced from 1980 to 1984, became truly revolutionary, as the Familia switched to front-wheel drive.

The model, presented in hatchback and sedan body styles, was developed with the participation of specialists from the Ford concern, since in 1979 the international giant of the auto industry acquired a stake in Mazda. In this regard, in the USA and Europe, cars of the same model are found under the name Ford Laser.

For the first time in Mazda history, the third-generation XGI cars were equipped with turbocharged engines that developed 115 horsepower.

The fifth generation of 1985 was a more technically advanced fourth generation of cars with new engines and a number of other innovations. Notable is the coupe modification called Etude, which appeared in 1987. Unlike other modifications, Etude was the only truly new car in the presented line.

Sixth generation Mazda Familia

The next generation of the model appeared in 1989. There were three body options, and they are interesting because they differ from each other so much that not a single body panel from one version fits the other.

The most popular outside of Japan was the five-door hatchback version, which was sold in Europe and the USA under the name Mazda 323F, the so-called “blind” Mazda with headlights extending upward from the hood, in accordance with the fashion trend of the time.

In 1996, Mazda surprised the world by introducing the well-known Nissan Sunny California station wagon as one of the versions of the next generation Familia.

You could purchase a Mazda Familia with one of a fairly wide range of engines - from a modest 1.3 liter to a version with a 1.8 liter turbocharged engine.

This engine was installed in the Familia GT-X version with a turbine and all-wheel drive. The basic equipment of this modification included a limited slip differential.

By the way, on the basis of this version a sports car was built, homologated for participation in the World Rally Championship called Familia GT-R.

Seventh generation Mazda Familia

In 1996, Mazda surprised the world by presenting, as one of the versions of the next generation Familia, a station wagon modification, nothing more than the well-known Nissan Sunny California car “published” under its own label. Moreover, all other modifications, with the exception of this one, were of our own design.

In Europe, and then in Russia, the Mazda Familia modification was well remembered, sold on the export market as the Mazda 323C, in a five-door and three-door hatchback body, which had an extremely attractive design.

Structurally, it was not very different from the “blind” 323F, but in terms of design and convenience it was a true representative of the “new generation”.

Eighth generation Mazda Familia

The next, eighth generation of the model was, in fact, a restyled version of the previous Mazda Familia.

In 1999, cars were introduced in a sedan, a five-door station wagon (known in the US as the Mazda Protege) and a three-door hatchback.

The cars were equipped with a five-door manual transmission or a four-door automatic transmission, all-wheel drive could be purchased as an option. In 2004, the model was discontinued and replaced by a new model - Mazda 3.

However, eighth-generation cars continue to be produced in Latin America under the name Mazda Allegro.

Interesting facts about Mazda Familia

In the early seventies, the license to produce the second-generation Familia model was purchased by Kia, which released its own model, the Kia Brisa, in 1974. It was one of the first models released by Kia at its first plant in the South Korean city of Gwangmeyong.

The third generation Familia was sold in the United States under the GLC symbol, which stands for Great Little Car.

The Chinese automobile plant FAW Haima Automobile Co., Ltd continues to produce a copy of the eighth generation Mazda Familia in various body modifications with a 1.6-liter engine under its own name Haima Family.

Technical characteristics of Mazda Familia

Customer reviews and test drive

According to reviews from owners of the Mazda Familia sedan, it is an excellent car, which, first of all, is characterized by a smooth ride thanks to its indestructible suspension, excellent body design and excellent maneuverability. Another plus for the car is its excellent handling, roomy interior and trunk, and engine efficiency. Well, the affordability of the price cannot be ignored. The car was initially sold quite cheaply, and over the years it has fallen in price by an order of magnitude.

Among the disadvantages, many note the high cost of repairs, the harsh suspension and the fact that the Mazda Familia has fuses that are not easy to find in order to replace them - this is such a tricky feature. People also complain about seats without the usual lateral support for modern passenger vehicles - armrests, low ground clearance, right-hand drive and poor sound insulation.

Before buying a Mazda Familia car, we recommend watching the test drive video and drawing your own conclusions about the product offered.

A car FOR THE PRICE OF AN IPHONE!! Mazda Familia 1.5 liter FURY

Options and prices

At the present time, for obvious reasons, you can buy a Mazda Familia only on the secondary market, and besides, in Russia the situation has developed that the basis of the market is made up of right-hand drive Families.

When purchasing a Mazda Familia, you should focus on the condition of the body (in particular, bj5p are characterized by low corrosion resistance), pay attention to the mileage, year of production, and type of equipment. The reliable number of configurations that were supplied to markets is not known, but if we take into account the Japanese domestic market, we can assume the existence of at least 6-7 versions. An armrest, a pillow, a radio, some kind of “music” - all this will be in any version.

So, the price range is as follows - from 135,000 to 220,000 rubles. for models from 2001 to 2004, cars whose production fell in the 90s will cost a little less.