The Mazda B-series engine - not to be confused with the Mazda B-Series truck - is a small-sized, iron-block, inline four-cylinder with belt-driven SOHC and DOHC valvetrain ranging in displacement from 1.1 to 1.8 litres. It was used from front-wheel drive economy applications to the turbocharged full-time 4WD 323 GTX and rear-wheel drive Miata as well as numerous other models. The Mazda B-series is a "non-interference" design, meaning that breakage of its timing belt does not result in damage to valves or pistons, because the opening of the valves, the depth of the combustion chamber and (in some variants) the shaping of the piston crown allow sufficient clearance for the open valves in any possible piston position.
B1
B1 - (68.0x78.4 mm) - came only as a SOHC 8-valve. It was available in the 1987-1989 Mazda 121 and later model Kia Sephia in European and Asian markets. A fuel-injected variant was used in select European market 1991-1995 Mazda 121s
BJ
The BJ engine (78.0x67.5 mm) was a DOHC 16-valve engine, used only in the Japanese market Ford Festiva GT, GT-X, and GT-A models (1986.10-1993.01, GT-A from March 1991). It generates at 7000 rpm and is equipped with Mazda's "EGi" single-point fuel injection. It is a short-stroke version of the B5/B6 engines.
B3
B3 – (71.0×83.6 mm). It was available in SOHC variants and was found in the Kia-built 1988–1993 Ford Festiva, the 1987–1989 Mazda Familia and its derivatives, as well as the Mazda 121 (also known as Autozam Revue) in versions, and the 1987–1989 Ford Laser, and 1994–1997 Ford Aspire. Later variants were used in the Mazda Demio subcompact until 2002.
Fuel Injected Engine: Horsepower: at 5000 rpm Torque: at 3000 rpm
Carbureted Engine: Horsepower:
Later versions (Mazda 323 91-98 etc.) produced at 5500 rpm, and of torque at 3700 rpm
1988–2000 Ford Festiva/Mazda 121
1985–2020 Kia Pride
Autozam Revue/Mazda 121
1986–1989 Mazda Familia/323
1995–2002 Mazda Demio
1994–1997 Ford Aspire/Kia Avella
1987–1989 Ford Laser
1991–1993 Sao Penza
2000–2005 Kia Rio
B5
8-valve SOHC
B5 - (78.0x78.4 mm) - The SOHC 8-valve B5 upped the displacement to 1.5 liters and was found in the 1987-1989 Mazda Familia and the 1987-1989 Ford Laser. It was also fitted to the Mazda Étude coupé and fifth-generation BF-series Familia Wagon, as it continued in production until 1994 along the new BG.
16-valve SOHC
There was also a 16-valve, SOHC B5-MI version of the B5, usually fitted with single-point fuel injection ("EGi"). This engine was mainly used in the Japanese domestic market. The B5-ME, equipped with electronic fuel injection, was used by Kia for several of their cars as well as in the Mazda Demio.
16-valve DOHC
B5D - (78.0x78.4 mm) - A Japanese-only variant of the B5 with fuel injection and revised head/intake system. Found in the 1989-1994 BG Familia and Ford Laser S. Power output is at 6,500 rpm and at 5,500 rpm. The Timor S515i also used a B5D, with at 5,500 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,400 rpm without variable valve timing and with a 9.2:1 compression ratio. The B5D was also found in the Autozam AZ-3, a Japanese market version of the Mazda MX-3, where it produces . The Kia Rio from 2000-2005 also has a B5 variant, but with a different bore/stroke ratio from all others (75.5 mm bore, 83.4 mm stroke, 1493 cc total). This motor produced and .
Later Eunos Presso and Familia 'Interplay X' versions (1994 on) have a B5-ZE engine which produces at 7,000 rpm and at 6,000 rpm This was also installed in the Japanese market "Ford Laser"-badged versions of the Familia.
B6
B6 — (78.0x83.6 mm) — This was a bored-out version of the B3. The 16-valve SOHC B6 was found in the 1985-1989 and 1990-1994 Mazda 323, 1991-1993 Mazda MX-3 the 1987-1990 Mercury Tracer, and the 1985-1990 Ford Laser. The 16-valve DOHC B6 was also found in the 1994-1998 Ford Laser KJ/KL, 1997-2004 Kia Sephia, Kia Shuma, 2000-2004 Kia Spectra and 2000-2005 Kia Rio (for export markets).
In Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia a fuel-injected version called the B6F was available. In Europe, the B6 also came in a 16-valve DOHC version, mostly found in the Mazda 323 BG and 323F BG models from 1989 to 1994. This engine was the same 1.6 liter fuel-injected, but with two camshafts and 88 hp. Kia's version of the B6 (16-valve DOHC) had a marginally shorter stroke (at 83.4 mm), for a total displacement of 1,594 cc. This engine was used in the Rio, Sephia II, and Shuma.