Faults:

Drivers door window motor broke, replaced under warranty 1999-2000

2005-2006 Intermittent cutting out & starting problem.New ECU fitted £800, new battery £45.Various sensors cleaned & lubricated. Problem ongoing when damp conditions prevail.

General Comments:

My wife's first NEW car, well equipped, very roomy, comfortable & economical.

Amazed at the overall reliability, shame about the current problem, which detracts from the pleasure of ownership. Hope to get it sorted soon.

Faults:

Starter motor.

Exhaust heat shield.

General Comments:

The Mazda Demio is a very reliable car, it is really cheap to run and environmentally friendly.

It isn't overly powerful, but who needs a souped up engine when you've got lots of leg room, an electric sun roof, powerful fan, electric windows, power steering, and unbelievable comfort.

I would recommend the bright green as a colour choice, because it is rarely seen on the roads, and looks outstanding on a nice summers day.

Although a little box shaped, the Demio looks like new every day of the year.

The Demio is reliable, whether it's sunny or whether it's snowing.

The customer service is second to none at Mazda, making Mazda a great option for new or used cars!

Faults:

Exhaust panels rusted and began to rattle.

General Comments:

As a first car I could not have asked for more.

It has excellent handling for its price.

It has enough power to keep up with other cars, and to get my foot down to get me out of trouble.

Its top speed of 110mph may not be high, but it gets there quickly.

Faults:

Nothing serious has gone wrong with this car, just minor things such as one of the rear brake lights seemed to blow every so often.

Had cam-belt changed at 50,000 miles.

Sunroof has started sticking.

General Comments:

These cars are very under-rated, very quick for a 1.3.

However it is a little noisy when driving over 70mph and it can be a bumpy ride for passengers sat in the back seats.

Another good point about this car is that it is very roomy and you would be surprised at how much you can get in it.

Faults:

Absolutely nothing!

General Comments:

This is a tidy, roomy and above all fun-to-drive car. At first try-out the seats felt a little light for my 89kgs, but this proved to be no problem. Even a 500 km drive proved perfectly comfortable. The driving position and super visibility make this a really enjoyable drive. High seats are easy on the back for entry and exit.

The 1.3 engine is lively and responsive; a bit underpowered if loaded up with 4 or 5 people.

Road noise a bit intrusive on some surfaces.

Economy around 40mpg in mixed city/country driving.

Faults:

We have only had the car for one month so unsurprisingly it has been trouble free.

Hopefully the Mazda reliability (Mazda has just won the WhatCar reliability test 2001) will make the Demio a trouble free car.

General Comments:

The ride quality of the car is rather firm, most bumps are felt, however on the motorway it is extremely refined and the engine is almost silent.

Inside the interior is taupe, which isn't bad for a Japanese car. The dashboard and fascia are solid and totally sturdy, whereas a Mercedes A160 that we hired had a loose and non-sturdy dash. There is little storage space inside though.

Excellent equipment, 4x electric windows and a huge electric sunroof are standard as are

14-inch alloys and central locking.

Good looking and very rare, our model has the nudge bar and the angular black bumpers which make it look like a mini 4x4.

The handling is good given the tall shape, the low profile tyres grip the road more than acceptably. Steering is light, but sometimes a little too light and vague for the keen driver, however obviously the Demio is not a sports car, so it does its job well.

Mazda accessories vary. Locking wheel nuts we bought because of the concern over the alloys being stolen. One dealer quoted £19, the other £28, we got them for £25 from a shop next door!

Overall I really like the Demio, it is neat, rare, nippy and generally a lot better than people such as WhatCar? say. Then again, the Demio is not a German BMW, so it is bound to be rated low.

Highly recommended, give it a try, you will not be disappointed. the 1998/S- 2000/W model with a nudge bar looks more sporty and eye-catching.