Mazda Demio

First generation (DW)
1998 Mazda Demio (Japan; pre-facelift)
Overview
Also called	Mazda 121 Ford Festiva Mini Wagon
Production	1996–2002
Assembly	Hiroshima, Japan (Hiroshima Plant) Valencia, Spain (Ford Spain) Bogotá, Colombia (CCA)
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door hatchback
Platform	Mazda DW platform
Powertrain
Engine	1.3 L B3E/B3-ME I4 1.5 L B5E/B5-ME I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,390 mm (94.1 in)
Length	3,815 mm (150.2 in)
Width	1,670 mm (65.7 in)
Height	1,535 mm (60.4 in)

When it came to redesigning the Revue, Mazda came up with a tall hatchback, minivan-esque package (the sedan-only Revue was already over 1,500 mm (59.1 in) tall). Introduced in a time full of negative press coverage, the Demio became a surprise hit for Mazda in Japan, and also foreshadowed B-segment minivans such as the Opel Meriva, Fiat Idea and the Renault Modus.

A concept model previewing the DW series, called the Mazda BU-X was shown in 1995.[3]

At its introduction in 1997, it won the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in Japan.

Production of the new Demio started in July 1996 (sold as the 121 outside Japan and Europe) used the DW platform. Ford retailed a version in Japan as the Ford Festiva Mini Wagon. In 1997, the Mazda logo was changed to the current logo. The Demio received a horizontal grille in September 1998 for Japanese market. The Demio received a facelift in December 1999 with a revised exterior, redesigned dashboard, cabin air filtration, retuned automatic transmission, and available DSC. The original Demio was replaced in 2002.

Beginning with the 2002 second generation Demio, export models received "Mazda2" badging. The third generation appeared in early 2007, followed by a fourth generation in September 2014. Mazda continued to call the car Demio in its home market (and some select export markets) until the nameplate was retired in favor of the global moniker in September 2019.[4]