20 Years of Mazda Demio

Well, this is a bit of a belated approach but as you may know, the year 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of Mazda's compact hatchback, the Demio. For two decades, four generations, and numerous awards and accolades, it was one of the most successful models in Mazda's timeline. I guess this is the ideal time to read back the Mazda Demio's 20-year history.

Fourth-generation Mazda Demio

First Generation (1996 - 2002) - The first Mazda Demio was basically a production version of the BU-X Concept first seen in the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show and when it was first announced that the BU-X will enter production, it will be called Demio. This compact hatchback set the standards to this category and it went on sale on the 27th of August, 1996. In its first year, it won the RJC Car of the Year and the Japan Car of the Year respectively. Because it used the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, it was sold globally as the 121 or the Ford Festiva Mini Wagon. It's powered by either a 1.3L or a 1.5L petrol engine.

Second Generation (2002 - 2007) - With the success of the first-generation Demio, Mazda prompted a full model change in 2002 and sold worldwide as the Mazda 2. For the first time, an e-4WD variant was offered and this drivetrain uses an electric motor to power the rear wheels when necessary. It still carries on the same choice of 1.3L and 1.5L petrol engine.

Third Generation (2007 - 2014) - The third-generation Demio was launched in 2007 and it replaces the outgoing model's boxy styling in favor of a more curvy silhouette. In 2011, a facelifted Demio became the first Mazda to incorporate SKYACTIV Technology via the P3-VPS (1.3-litre SKYACTIV-G) engine. The new SKYACTIV-G engine is the next generation of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine that is the first to attain the world's highest petrol engine compression ratio of 14.0:1, 15% increase of fuel efficiency and torque, and a 4-2-1 exhaust system, cavity pistons, multihole injectors and some of the technology that makes SKYACTIV "Only the sky is the limit" after all.

Fourth Generation (2014 - onwards) - In 2014, the Mazda Demio has been regenerated and for this generation, the new Demio embodies the Kodo design with its full SKYACTIV capabilities with the main forte is the S5-DPTS 1.5L SKYACTIV-D 4-cylinder diesel turbo engine. Thanks to that, it won the 2014 Japan Car of the Year.

So, with Mazda nothing doing special to celebrate the Demio's 20th anniversary, I bet most Demio owners across Japan did honored the Demio's 20th birthday for the good of it. But because the Demio is now two decades old, Mazda Demio/121/2 owners like you would like to thank Mazda for giving such a good compact car for two decades so a big hearty thanks to Mazda for 20 years of Demio, the compact car that is so good for first-timers, it really lives up to Mazda's "Be a Driver" slogan. Here's for the next two decades.