Mazda Demio 1996–2000 car dimensions: 3800 mm long, 1670 mm wide and 1535 mm high. Unladen weight is 960 kg. Braked towing is 900 kg.
The cabin feels tall and airy with good headroom and a high rear seating position for views. Manual air conditioning is standard on the GL along with power windows, central locking and a tilt steering wheel. Driver airbag and ABS are standard. passenger airbag is optional on early cars and becomes more common later. Rear seats slide, recline and 50/50 split-fold, and the whole cabin can go full-flat. No modern driver aids appear in the records.
Boot space starts at 330 litres with seats up and rises to 679 litres folded, enough for two mountain bikes. Rear seats slide to trade legroom for load length and the floor is low with a wide opening.
Braked towing is listed at 900 kg and unbraked at 410 kg. Payload sits around 415 kg on European figures for this generation. The flexible folding seats and tall body suit light everyday loads and occasional work use, but nothing in the specs points to heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension.
The cabin offers a tall seating position and generous space for the compact exterior size. Rear seats slide and recline with 50/50 split fold for flat load floor. Manual air conditioning, power windows, central locking and tilt steering are fitted. UV-cut glass is standard. Front seats have height adjustment on higher grades. Overall feel is basic and practical with good visibility.
Fuel: regular unleaded, 40 L tank, 17.2 km/L (10-15 mode) for 1.5 GL MT
Service interval: engine oil and filter every 15 000 km or 12 months
Crash test: performed well in 1997 NASVA frontal test
Standard safety: driver airbag, ABS, side impact bars, rear 3-point belts, child seat fixings
The 1.5-litre engine runs on regular unleaded petrol from a 40-litre tank. Official 10-15 mode economy is 17.2 km/L on the manual GL.
Oil and filter changes are due every 15 000 km or once a year. Timing belt replacement is listed at 90 000 km on related engines.
Driver airbag and ABS are standard on the GL along with side impact bars and child-seat anchors. Passenger airbag started as an option and became standard later in the generation. The car did well in the 1997 NASVA frontal crash test.
Keep up with the 15 000 km service schedule and check for rust on body seams. Parts remain available and the simple mechanical layout keeps ownership straightforward.
Length 3800 mm, Width 1670 mm, Height 1535 mm, Wheelbase 2390 mm (Demio 1996–2000)
Sources: manufacturer data, GAZOO/Motor-Fan Japanese catalogs and cars-directory.net, Wikipedia JP and multiple sites.