Mazda 323

Mazda started as a machine tools manufacturer before it shifted to producing vehicles in the early 1930s. The Mazda 323 belonged to the series of the earliest vehicles they have ever produced. It was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (and later FWD and AWD) subcompact (later compact) car that spanned four decades from 1963 through 2003. 

Mazda's goal to take advantage of Japan’s growing economy in the 1960s led them to develop a prototype of a four-wheel vehicle for private use which during this time was still a luxury for most Japanese. The result was a production car introduced during the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo and was called the Familia.

The Familia marque was used in their subsequent offerings with names such as the Familia 1000, Familia Wagon and Familia Presto. In 1977, Mazda introduced the Familia AP, now marketed as the 323 worldwide except for North America where they call it GLC (Great Little Car).

Mazda 323 (FA4), 1977-1980    

Mazda based 323’s chassis and mechanicals on the second generation of the Familia series known as the Grand Familia 808. Initially released worldwide as a three-door or five-door hatchback, the wagon versions came out the following year. The available body styles were the five-door hatchback, three-door hatchback, five-door station wagon, and three-door station wagon, all fitted with four seats. Also, finally, a three-door two-seat van with an extended roof, meant to replace the ageing Familia commercial versions, became available.

The Mazda 323 became widely favored in Australia as an option to the big sedans with big engines that were currently in the market. During this time, it still had a rear-wheel-drive layout which made the interior cramped. 

On its original release in 1977, the only available model in Australia was the hatchback in three or five doors with a 1.3L TC 4-cylinder petrol engine powering it (44 kW of power and 90 N⋅m of torque) through either a 4-speed manual gearbox or a 3-speed automatic. The following year, the wagons followed its sibling to Oz. The hatchbacks now came in four trim levels, namely, the base, CS, Deluxe, and Special. The same 1.3L engine powered the base models, while a 1.4L UC petrol engine (48 kW and 106 N⋅m) generated power for the CS, Deluxe and Special hatchbacks and the Deluxe wagons. By 1979, all the variants used the 1.4L.

In other parts of the world, the petrol engine options were the 1.0L PC (33 kW), 1.3L TC (44 kW), 1.4L UC (61 kW) and the 1.5L E5 (51 kW). In South Africa, a Mitsubishi-powered version was sold using the 7.6L 4G32 engine.

Mazda 323 (BD), 1980-1986

The BD series was the first Mazda 323 to have a front-engine front-drive configuration. With Ford becoming a stakeholder in Mazda, it also produced the Mazda 323 as the Ford Laser and Ford Meteor. The Mazda 323 was now all powered by the Mazda E series engines.

In Australia, the commercial model was now the base model and had a 1.3L E3 (50 kW, 111 N⋅m) sending power to the drive wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox. The hatchback variant was available in Special with the 1.3L E3 and 4-speed manual gearbox. The Deluxe came with a 1.5L E5 engine (58 kW / 119 N⋅m) coupled to a 3-speed automatic. The SS and Super Deluxe both had the 1.5L E5 engine but driven by a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The sedan variant was available in two trims, using the same 1.5L E5. The Deluxe came with 3-speed automatic transmission, and the Super Deluxe had a 5-speed manual gearbox. The wagon previously had the old 1.4L UC but shifted to the 1.5L E5 in 1982 with the transmission options being the 3-speed automatic and the 4-speed (5-speed from 1982) manual.

The engine options in other countries were the 1.1L E1 (40 kW / 79 N⋅m), 1.3L E3 (50 kW / 95 N⋅m), 1.5L E5 (55 kW / 115 N⋅m) and the 1.5L E5S (65 kW / 120 N⋅m).

The Mazda 323 BD series was the first car by Mazda that won the Japanese Car of the Year Award in its introduction in 1980.

Mazda 323 (BF), 1985-1989

Available only as a hatchback in its introduction, the station wagon version rolled out late in the year with a new cabriolet version following in the subsequent year. Although still very similar to its predecessor, the redesigned front fascia and rounded body panels made this car look a bit more modern and lent it an appearance that was more European than Japanese. In its home market, Mazda released a hatchback coupe version in 1987 called the Mazda Étude.

The 1.5L E5 engine still powered the Australian 323 commercial base model. The hatchback's special trim retained the 1.3L E3. All other body configurations and trims sported the 1.5L E5 except for the hatchback and sedan Limited Edition which now came with a 1.6L naturally-aspirated Mazda B6 (54 kW / 110 N⋅m). 

Mazda produced the FWD-specific B-series engines, which updated all the Australian-market models with the 1.6L B6 petrol engine that came with either a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual gearbox depending on the trim and body style. The hatchback trim levels available included the Deluxe, Limited, SS and Super Deluxe. Four-door sedan versions came as Deluxe, Limited or Super Deluxe, while the station wagons were in either Deluxe or Super Deluxe trim. A 4-speed automatic replaced the 3-speed in the Super Deluxe hatchback and sedan in 1987.

Engines available for other parts of the world included:

• 1.1L E1, (40 kW / 80 N⋅m), 
• 1.3L E3 68 PS (50 kW / 96 N⋅m) 
• 1.3L (49 kW / 100 N⋅m) 
• 1.5L E5 (63 kW / 121 N·m)
• 1.5L E5T turbo  (85 kW / 162 N·m) Japan
• 1.5L B5 (54 kW/110 N⋅m ) 
• 1.6L B6 (63 kW / 122 N⋅m)
• 1.6 L B6T turbo (103 kW / 187 N⋅m) 
• 1.6 L B6D (81 kW / 133 N⋅m) Japan
• 1.7L PN, Diesel (42 kW / 145 N⋅m) Japan
• 2.0 L FE-SOHC, EFi (87 kW; 178 N⋅m) South Africa
• 2.0 L FE-DOHC, EFi (107 kW; 184 N⋅m) South Africa 

Mazda 323 (BG), 1989-1994

Mazda took a completely new approach for the BG series 323 by producing a three or five-door hatchback, a five-door fastback and a four-door sedan which did not have body panels common between them. The Mazda Étude became the basis for the five-door fastback offered in this new generation in Australia and other markets, giving birth to the Astina or Mazda 323 F in 1989. 

Under Astina’s hood is a Mazda 1.8L BP fuel-injected petrol engine (76 kW / 150 N⋅m), which also became an option for the sedan base versions. The Mazda B6 naturally-aspirated engine still powered all other variants except the turbo versions (SS Turbo and Turbo 4WD), which received the B6T. 

Mazda offered the Astina as the Astina Base and Astina SP. The hatchback trims were the Deluxe, Shades, SS Turbo, Super Deluxe and Turbo 4WD, while the sedan trim versions had the same except the turbo trims. By 1990, only the Astina and sedan versions were available, all powered by the 1.8L engine with the 1.6L being only available in the base sedan version with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Although sales of the BG series ended internationally by 1994, the Australian and some international markets kept selling this series until 1996 as an affordable option to the more expensive next-generation models.

Numerous engine options were available elsewhere in the world in their different trim packages, based on the Mazda B-series petrol engines and the PN-series for the diesel-powered vehicles. Over its production life, Mazda incorporated some changes in the taillights, third brake lights, and bumpers.

Mazda 323 (BH), 1994-1998

The BH series was a complete redesign and was available as a four-door sedan, three-door coupe hatchback later replaced by a three-door hatchback and four-door wagon. The sedan wore the Protégé nameplate in North America and Australia and Artis in South America.

On its introduction in 1994, the 4-door sedan Protege was available alongside the new Astina in either a 5-door hatchback or 4-door sedan which entered Mazda's domestic market as the Lantis and 323F elsewhere. The Astina hatchback came with the 1.8L engine and an option for a 2.0L, while the new Astina sedan had a 2.0L Mazda KF V6 petrol engine (104 kW / 183 N⋅m). The Base and Protégé variants were available with either the 1.6L B6D or 1.8L BP engines. Hatchback trims included the Astina and Astina Shades, while the sedan trim packages were available as the Astina, Astina Shades, Protégé and Protégé shades.

Depending on the region, different variants and engine combinations were available, and engine choices ranged from 1.3L to 2.0L displacement for the petrol engines and a 2.0L for the diesel.

• 1.3L B3 (55 kW / 104 N⋅m) 
• 1.5L Z5 (66 kW / 132 N⋅m) 
• 1.6L B6D (79 kW / 137 N⋅m) 
• 1.8L B8 (85 kW / 156 N⋅m) 
• 1.8L BP (98 kW / 118 N⋅m) 
• 2.0L KF V6 (107 kW / 179 N⋅m) 
• 2.0L RF Diesel (53 kW / 127 N⋅m) 

Mazda introduced a version called the Mazda Speed in Japan and the Philippines initially. This package incorporated numerous upgrades, including the following:

• Mazda Speed wraparound body kit
• Mazda Speed rear spoiler
• Momo steering wheel
• Mazda Speed strut tower bar 
• Eibach springs
• Gas-charged shock absorbers
• Sway bars
• Mazda Speed Yumex exhaust
• 15-inch Rota wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE01 tyres

Mazda 323 (BJ), 1998-2003

The final series of the Mazda 323, before this class became known simply as the Mazda 3, was a completely new design called the BJ series. Body styles offered internationally were a four-door sedan and a five-door wagon. With the new conventional design and pricing, the Mazda 323 now competed directly with the Nissan Almeras and Honda Civics but still managed to do well. Ford badged the BJ series as the Ford Activa. 

The Astina five-door wagon (hatchback) was available in either the 1.6L ZM-DE (78 kW / 145 N⋅m) or the 1.8L FP-DE (92 kW / 163 N⋅m). The Astina Shades came with either the 1.8L FP-DE or the 2.0L KF V6. The Astina, Astina Shades, Protégé and Protégé Shades sedan were also available with either the 1.8L or the 2.0L engines.

For the international market, several engine variants were available from 1.3L to 2.0L in petrol and a 2.0L diesel.

• 1.3L B3-ME (54 kW / 110 N⋅m)
• 1.5L ZL-DE (65 kW / 132 N⋅m)
• 1.5L ZL-VE (96 kW / 144 N⋅m)
• 1.6L ZM-DE (75 kW / 145 N⋅m)
• 1.8L FP-DE (92 kW / 163 N⋅m)
• 2.0L FS-DE (97 kW / 183 N⋅m)
• 2.0L FS-ZE (125 kW / 177 N⋅m)
• 2.0L RF Diesel (53 kW / 127 N⋅m)

A facelift of the entire range occurred in 2001 with new body styling and revised suspension. In the Australian market, the engine options were now the 1.6L ZM-DE, 1.8L FP-DE, and the 2.0L FS-DE. Mazda reintroduced the Speed versions as the Mazda Speed Protégé, selling them worldwide with different upgrades depending on the region. 

After the end of sales of the Mazda 323 series internationally and replacement by the Mazda 3, its production continued in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines but rebadged as the Ford Lynx. The Chinese FAW Haima Automobile Company also produced a restyled version and marketed this as the Haima Family and Haima Happin.

Mazda 323 in the used car market

The Mazda 323 series is still very much around, loved and used daily or stored by their owners. To keep your priceless 323 in tiptop shape, you may visit Carpart.com.au for original used car parts or even entire cars in some cases. The earlier models are a bit hard to come by these days, but if you are restoring one, have plans to acquire one of these as a project car, or have one that you want to part with, contact us at hello@carpart.com.au, and we would be delighted to help you.

-Jarad