The Mazda 323: a short history of a great little car

by Margaret Adams

Being designed as a subcompact car that was produced by Mazda of Japan, the Mazda 323 is also called the Familia in its home country. It was manufactured from 1976 up until 2003. In the United States, it was originally known as the GLC, then the 323, and come 1990, it was then known as the Protégé. In another part of the globe, South Africa knows this vehicle as the Etude. These vehicles were built in Japan, and also they are assembled in other countries that include Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Colombia and New Zealand.

It has become a perennial favorite among US car magazines mainly because the model is well regarded for its spirited handling. Also, it had made a place in the automotive industry by being the first small Japanese car to cross over to the EPA "compact" class in 1990, the same time that it started to be recognized and known as the Mazda Protégé. It also became the basis of other vehicles by manufacturers that included the Ford Laser and Meteor in Asia, Australia, and other markets (this is known as the Mercury Tracer in the United States), and the Ford Escort.

In 1976, the first Mazda 323 rolled off the streets as a rear wheel drive model and was known in the United States as the Mazda GLC which actually stood for "Great Little Car". This was a version of the fourth-generation Japan-market Mazda Familia. The vehicle was made available then in different bodies: a five-door four-seat hatch, a three-door four-seat hatch, a five-door four-seat station wagon, a three-door four-seat station wagon, and a three-door two-seat van with an extended roof profile. It carried with it square sealed beam units on all models except the van, together with a general styling and mechanical upgrade.

The Mazda 323 is exquisitely designed and enjoys excellent reliability. It also has a dynamically styled 5-door hatchback. It is well-made, spacious and very reliable. Easy to drive and offers design features that are very detailed, the Mazda 323 has the best reliability in the automotive and automobile business. It has driving strength which is quite the usual and the norm running through the Mazda range. It also offers an excellent driving position. 

What makes the Mazda 323 have a smooth and light work to drive are its controls that are easily manipulated. Space is something that this vehicle can afford and there is quite more than enough space in the front and rear. It also features a forward folding backrest of the front passenger seat which could actually double as a picnic table that allows long loads to be carried in it.

Mazda Parts and Mazda Auto Parts manufactures and sell aftermarket performance products and accessories for Mazda vehicles. Mazda Parts and Mazda Auto Parts strives to be the ultimate source for performance products and accessories for most Mazda vehicles. Its product line up for the Mazda 323/Protégé includes accessories, brakes, climate control, fuel system parts, suspension parts, cooling systems parts and more. Its extensive array of maximum quality Mazda parts are available at. Mazda Parts and Mazda Auto Parts.

Replacing the Mazda 323 in its line up is the Mazda 3. This time, this vehicle shares a platform with the current generation Volvo S40 and the new generation Ford Focus.