The first-generation Mazda2 (code DY), also known as Mazda Demio in Asian markets, marked a turning point for the Japanese manufacturer in the early 2000s. Based on the B3 platform jointly developed with Ford (shared with the Ford Fiesta Mk5 and Ford Fusion), it adopted a mini-MPV silhouette, prioritizing interior space and headroom. Manufactured in Valencia (Spain) for the European market and in Hiroshima for the rest of the world, it received a facelift in 2005 (refined headlights, better quality interior plastics, revised sound insulation). It is a pragmatic vehicle, very reliable with gasoline engines, but its advanced age now requires rigorous inspection, particularly for corrosion.
The first-generation Mazda2 (DY) is an excellent choice as a used car on a small budget, provided you exclusively target a gasoline engine (1.25, 1.4 or 1.6 MZI) with a manual gearbox. These versions are indestructible if basic maintenance is respected. However, the 1.4 MZ-CD diesel is to be avoided due to its chronic injector problems, as is the disastrous ASM automated manual gearbox. The critical point before any purchase remains the inspection for rust on the underbody and wheel arches, a typical scourge of Mazdas from this era, although models produced in Spain fare slightly better than those produced in Japan.