The Demio is easy to handle, saves fuel

The proposed policy to phase out old cars shall eventually catch up with us all. Fuel prices are also becoming unbearable for many and Shs10,000 only gets you a hair above two litres of fuel which averagely gets you just to your work place. Fuel hungry cars are now more of a burden. Enter the Mazda Demio, a car that is positioned to fight your fuel struggles while giving you a fun drive around town and on long trips.

Mazda has always produced nice cars, but there was often little to get excited about. As a direct competitor to the Toyota Vitz, the Demio has a huge uphill battle to unseat the leader in this compact car category. By virtue of the Vitz having the Toyota emblem, many buyers instinctively would consider it first. Nonetheless the Demio with its sporty look, feel and excellent fuel characteristics, one might consider it.

Exterior
With an upright stance, the 2002 through 2007 Demio looks different and inviting. Addition of sport rims closes the deal as the car’s character lines blend well with the posture. It is simply a pleasing car to look at. Only one five-door body style is available and that tall shape means it looks and feels spacious. There is even more space when you fold down the rear seats.

Cleverly, the front passenger seat also folds completely flat to help if you are transporting long like items. The Demio’s V-shaped grille wears the familiar family face, mirroring that of the Atenza and Premacy. The build quality is evident in the tight shut line gaps, made possible through advanced assembly techniques. If taken care of well, this is the kind of car that ages well.

Maintenance
Mazda’s build quality and design integrity means the Demio really only sees the garage when it is time for a routine service. Rarely does anything go wrong. The biggest problem for many owners is the suspension parts replacements. These fail quite often and are hard to come by. Nonetheless Mazdas from this era shared many mechanical parts interchangeably with Ford. With either a 1.3L or 1.5L engine Mazda’s official fuel economy figures say the two will do around 6.5-7.0 L/100 km on average. That translates to 14 to 15 kilometres per litre which seems to be borne out by owners who report similar fuel consumption numbers.

Experience
Michael Seremba has owned a Mazda Demio for a year and could not be happier each time he turns to fill up. He does about 12–13 kilometres per litre which is great but complains of the interior noise at times and the low power during acceleration.
The Demio may not be the first choice on a shortlist of used mini cars but it definitely merits a look. With solid build quality, an economical engine and plenty of space inside, it makes a different choice to the usual run of the mill alternatives and at prices which are starting to look a steal, you will not be penalised for your individuality. Would you pick the Demio over the Toyota Vitz or Honda Fit, well that should come down to a few tie breakers.
The Honda and Toyota surely shall have higher resale value, not by much but the initial price of admission is also higher on the two. If you can overlook the resale value and the rarer suspension replacement parts, in favour of a cheap, sporty and fuel economical car, then the Demio should be on your list.

Engine performance
Mazda Demio is powered by different engine ranging in capacity from 1.3L to 2.0L. The transmission performance of the engine is supported by 4-speed auto transaxle, 5-speed manual and CVT. Demio with its wide options in the engine puts out the power of 100hp on roads and 98lb-ft of torque around the circles. The acceleration and speed of the car is a bit behind what is available in a car such as the Vitz yet there are differences that make Mazda Demio a better choice in many sections. Demio is a light weight car on 15-inch wheels which are good enough to support its grip.