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Mazda 323

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Mazda 323: The compact behind the rally-bred 323 GT-R and GTX turbo all-wheel-drive hatches.
Photo: TKOIII / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

The compact behind the rally-bred 323 GT-R and GTX turbo all-wheel-drive hatches.

The Mazda 323 is a long-running compact car (the Familia in Japan), most notable to enthusiasts for the turbocharged all-wheel-drive 323 GTX and 323 GT-R homologation specials of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Built for Group A rallying, these hot 323s combined turbocharged power with all-wheel-drive traction in a small hatchback. The 323 GTX and GT-R are sought-after rally homologation cars, while standard 323s were practical economy compacts. The nameplate eventually evolved into the Protege and then the Mazda3. On WhipJury, 323 submissions favor the rally-bred GTX and GT-R turbo hatches.

323 highlights

323 GTX / GT-R. Turbocharged all-wheel-drive rally homologation hatches.

Standard 323. Practical economy compact, the Familia in Japan.

323 on WhipJury

The rally-bred GTX and GT-R are the enthusiast picks.

Frequently asked questions about Mazda 323

What is the Mazda 323 GTX?
A turbocharged all-wheel-drive homologation version of the 323 built for Group A rallying, a sought-after enthusiast car with the later GT-R being even more focused.
Is the 323 the same as the Familia?
Yes, the 323 is the export name for the Mazda Familia, a long-running compact that later evolved into the Protege and Mazda3.
Can you import a 323 GTX to the US?
The GTX was sold in the US in limited numbers in the late 1980s. The rarer JDM GT-R is now eligible under the 25-year import rule.
What replaced the 323?
The Protege, and then the Mazda3, continued the compact line.
Are standard 323s collectible?
Standard 323s are humble economy cars; the collectible interest is concentrated in the turbocharged all-wheel-drive GTX and GT-R rally homologation models.

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