The 1996 Mazda 626 got a little facelift, but other than that saw few changes. The grille was trimmed with chrome, making it more noticeable. In addition, the 626 now met side-impact safety standards.

The 1996 Mazda 626 is available in four trims: the base DX, the midrange LX and LX V6, and the ES. The ES is the high-end version, coming well-equipped with amenities such as power seats and leather upholstery. The base engine is a 2.0-liter, 118-horsepower four cylinder. The V6 boasts 2.5 liters and 164 horsepower. Fuel economy for the base engine was 23/31, and for the V6 it was 20/26.

Owners of the 1996 Mazda 626 are pleased with the car because it handles well, is enjoyable to drive, and gets fairly good gas mileage. However, a number of people claim the automatic transmission have a tendency to burn out quickly, which can be very expensive to repair.