Ironic isn’t it, that what was once viewed as the most avant-garde supermini you could buy became the most conformist available. Mazda’s 121 was once the car that everyone in the supermarket carpark stopped to look at. But later models were lost amongst all the other Ford Fiestas found there. The reason for this was that in 1996, the 121 became, well, a Ford Fiesta. Badges and minor styling tweaks apart, it was almost exactly the same as the Blue Oval’s bestseller. It was even built on the same Dagenham production line. All of which was no bad thing. The equivalent Fiesta was a class-leader, which should make the Mazda an excellent secondhand bet.
This Mazda 121 was originally launched in March 1996 with a choice of three engines all, of course, straight from the Fiesta. There were the old 1.3-litre petrol and 1.8-litre diesel units, plus the newer 1.25-litre 16v petrol unit. Trim levels were ZXi, GXi and DXi. Poor sales meant that by 1998, only the three-door 1.3-litre and five-door 1.25-litre models were still being offered and the range was dropped from the UK altogether at the end of 1999 (although sales continued in Europe with a facelifted model based on the next generation Fiesta). As we’ve said, essentially a Fiesta with Mazda badging. You do however, get a better spec (all 121s came with power steering for example), so whatever you buy, it’s likely to be plusher than the equivalent Ford. Not, though, that Mazda didn’t offer Fiesta-style option packs so you won’t find any with items such as air conditioning or the Quickclear windscreen. Otherwise, its all Fiesta; class-leading amongst superminis its age, if you opt for a 1.25 16v model. The 1.3-litre petrol and 1.8-litre diesel engines are old – and feel it.
Prices of 1.3-litre models start at under £1,800 (with a £150 premium for five-doors). More typical P-platers are around £2,000. The 1.25-litre models start at £2,200 with more typical 98R-platers at around £2,500. Diesels range from £1,900-£2,300. Engines are, on the whole, reliable, but watch for signs of wear, particularly on 1.3s. Excess smoke on start-up is a give-away. Rust can be a minor problem on some cars as build quality varied quite a bit on the earlier models. Check the bottom of the doors, boot, front valance and the bonnet’s leading edge. Water leaks through the sunroof and boot also affected some early cars so have a look for staining on the headlining and boot carpet. In its day, this design is the best of the contemporary supermini breed. So, is it to be Fiesta or Mazda 121? Well, there are fewer Mazdas about, so prices of the 121 will be slightly higher. You do get that higher standard specification however, and there’s that impressive performance to consider. It’s all about personal preference when it comes down to it, but for what it’s worth, we think the Mazda’s cheeky smiling grille is a great deal more attractive than Ford’s goldfish look. We’d also prefer to deal with Mazda’s network of friendly dealers, even if there aren’t quite so many of them it is worth taking your used car to one of them.
(approx. based on a 1997 121 1.25 16v – ex Vat) Parts are relatively inexpensive. A clutch assembly will be around £120 and an alternator should be close to £150. Brake pads are around £50 a set, whether you want fronts or rears. A starter motor is around £135 and a radiator about £85.
As with the Fiesta, Mazda 121 ride and handling are excellent. So what made that car so good? Well certainly, the performance and fuel economy figures are good – but that isn’t what counts. No, what matters is that this little supermini is fun, with a capital ‘F’. Put your foot down, preferably in a 1.25-litre model, and it’s hard to credit that there’s not a larger engine under the bonnet, so instant is the response. Roadholding is superb and these cars really do belong to a class above, in terms of quietness and refinement. Compared to some rivals, the Fiesta/Mazda 121 is in a class of its own.
