The Mazda Demio and Toyota Passo are two nice superminis that have been punching above weight over the years. Mazda and Toyota have kept improving these two cars, and the result is there to see. In this article, we will briefly take a look at these two cars by comparing their interior, exterior, engines, and practicality.
Mazda Demio vs Toyota Side-By-Side Comparison
(*Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD pricing as of February 2021)
Mazda Demio Toyota Passo
Generations 4 (DW, DY, DE, DJ) 3 (AC10, AC30, M700)
Production Year 1996 - Present 2004 - Present
Performance 84 HP - 108 HP 69 HP - 90 HP
Fuel Consumption 11.90 KM/L - 38.2 KM/L 17.86 KM/L - 26 KM/L
Drivetrain FWD and 4WD FWD and 4WD
Key Features CD Player, Power Steering, Airbag, Power Window,
Radio, A/C, ABS, DVD, Back Camera, Keyless EntryRadio, CD Player, Airbag, Power Steering, Power
Window, A/C, ABS, Keyless Entry, Back Camera
Seating Capacity 5 Passengers 5 Passengers
BE FORWARD price US$ 470 - US$ 15,950 US$ 460 - US$ 13,910
Exterior/Interior Comparison
Mazda Demio
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Interior
The Demio’s cabin is well designed; its styling is modern and clean. The interior of the Demio is very minimalist with climate control and MZD Connect infotainment system controls placed on the center console. The Demio can accommodate 5 passengers on its comfortable seats, with ample legroom, headroom, and foot room for both rear and front passengers.
The Demio’s instrument panel is dominated by a centrally positioned speedometer, with a digital tachometer. Atop the center console is a 7.0-inch touchscreen display that can be controlled by touch buttons or the MZD Connect dial in the center console. The driver gets a full-sized seat that is comfortable with substantial wings for support, to add to that you get a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and a sizeable left footrest.
The Demio offers storage areas in all corners from the glove box, door bottle holders, cup holders, front seat pockets, and a sizeable boot.
Other standard features of the Demio include power windows, keyless start, air-conditioning, multi-function steering wheel, a trip computer, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, six-speaker audio, a reversing camera, MP3-compatible audio with CD, and leather-trimmed gear knob, handbrake lever and steering wheel rim.
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Exterior
The Demio is adorable and pretty, with great design and styling while still maintaining its traditional hatchback shape.
The eagle-eyed headlights, the chrome-plated grille, the driving lights, and the Mazda badge make the front end of the Demio glamorous. The swooping lines running on the sides from the front to the rear add a touch of style to the exterior.
Safety
The Demio has a good safety rating and comes equipped with standard safety equipment which includes six airbags, emergency brake assist, stability control with electronic brake-force distribution, ISOFIX child safety seat anchorages, front, side and curtain airbags, hill launch assist, and Smart City auto braking (AEB) as an option.
Toyota Passo
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Interior
The interior of Passo is well finished with some nice detailing. The Passo can accommodate 5 passengers, but for comfort, 4 passengers will be better. Due to its size, there is not much legroom, headroom, and feet room (rear) for a 6-foot tall passenger or driver, but since the car is specifically designed for short urban commuting, then any driver or passenger will be fine.
Regardless of its limited size, the Passo has several storage areas which include the glove box, bottle holders, front seat pockets, a non-slippery tray on the dash that can accommodate phones, keys, and other small items.
Other features include power windows, electric parking brake, Dual-zone climate control, reverse camera, and an AM/FM/CD audio system.
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Exterior
There are two trim packages of the Passo hatchback with each featuring unique exterior finishing. The standard X trim’s front features a black grille with halogen headlights, and a trapezoidal air intake on the lower bumper. On the other hand, the Moda trim features a black hexagon grille with chrome finishing and circular HID headlights on its sides, with fog lights and a much wider air intake on the bumper. The exterior finishes are rounded off by unique alloy wheels on both trims, and combination taillights with LED illumination.
Safety
The Passo comes equipped with Daihatsu’s Smart Assist II safety package, whose primary function is to help prevent/mitigate damage resulting from collisions (collision avoidance assist system) in urban areas. The system has several driver support functions which include a false start control function for forward/backward starts; a collision warning for vehicles and pedestrians; a collision-avoidance brake assist; a line deviation warning; and a function that notifies the driver that the vehicle ahead has started moving forward.
Engine and Fuel Efficiency Comparison
Mazda Demio
The Demio came fitted with a couple of engines over its 4 generations as listed below.
1st generation
- The 4-cylinder 1.3-liter (B3-ME) petrol engine produces 84 HP with an average economy of 17.54 KM/L.
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter (B5-ME) petrol engine produces 99 HP with an average economy of 12 KM/L.
These engines transfer power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic.
2nd generation
- The 4-cylinder 1.3-liter (ZJ-VE) petrol engine produces 90HP with an average economy of 18.87 KM/L
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter (ZY-VE) produces 111 HP with an average economy of 14.08 KM/L.
This generation shares the same transmission with the 1st generation.
Mazda’s e-4WD drive option was unveiled in this generation.
3rd generation
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter (S5 SkyActiv-D) turbo-diesel engine produces 103 HP with an average economy of 11.90 KM/L.
- The 1.5-liter (ZY-VE) and the 1.3-liter (ZJ-VE) engines were carried over from the previous generation as well. These engines transfer power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto, or CVT transmissions.
4th generation
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter SkyActiv-G (F-P5) petrol engine produces 108 HP with an average economy of 18.18 KM/L.
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter SkyActiv-D (S5-DPTS) diesel produces 104 HP with an average economy of 26.44 KM/L.
- The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter SkyActiv-Hybrid (F-P5+) engines produce 90 HP with an average economy of 18.87 KM/L
These engines transmit power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual SkyActiv-MT, a 6-speed manual SkyActiv-MT, or a 6-speed automatic SkyActiv-Drive transmission.
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Toyota Passo
The Passo has been around since 2004, and of the models that have been produced, the majority came with the 1KR-FE engine, a few featured the K3-VE engine and there were other options as well. Below are the brief details of the two engines.
- The inline 3-cylinder 1.0-liter (1KR-FE) engine produces 69 HP and an average economy of 26 KM/L.
- The inline 4-cylinder 1.3-liter (K3-VE) petrol engine produces 90 HP and an average economy of 17.86 KM/L
These engines transfer power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, or CVT transmission.
BROWSE LOW COST TOYOTA PASSO MODELS
The Verdict
Cars keep evolving with technological advancements, new environmental control standards and lifestyles challenging manufacturers to keep reinventing. The Mazda Demio and Toyota Passo are two cars that are true demonstrations of that. These two subcompact cars have come a long way when it comes to quality finishing and fittings in addition to the latest in engine and safety technologies, multimedia, and connectivity beyond. From this review where we covered the 2016 and above models, we are all witnesses of how far these two models have evolved to become better cars in various car technological aspects. Between the two, each car has some advantages over the other such as a slightly larger cabin of the Demio and the best urban maneuverability of the Passo. Depending on needs, any of these two will definitely be a great buy.

I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
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