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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.
Mazda DemioAudi A1Volkswagen Polo
Mandai score
8/10
7.5/10
8/10
Typical price
KSh 1,250,000
KSh 2,200,000
KSh 1,950,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2023
Body type
Compact Hatchbacks
–
–
Fuel
Petrol, Diesel
Petrol
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
Demio 13S Touring
A1 Sportback 25 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline / Highline / R-Line / GTI
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed
Fuel and running cost
Trim
Fuel consumption
20.5 km/L4.9 L/100km combined · about 902 km a tank
19.5 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 780 km a tank
21.0 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 840 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,107 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 11,071 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,164 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 11,639 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,081 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,808 for 1,000 km · petrol
Dimensions
Length
4,060 mm
4,029 mm
4,053 mm
Width
1,695 mm
1,740 mm
1,751 mm
Height
1,500 mm
1,409 mm
1,461 mm
Wheelbase
2,570 mm
2,563 mm
2,551 mm
Ground clearance
145 mm
135 mm
145 mm
Boot space
280 L
335 L
351 L (1,125 L folded)
Kerb weight
1,030 kg
1,165 kg
1,145 kg
Seats
5
5
5
Specifications
Engine
1.3L SkyActiv-G Inline-4
1.0L TFSI 3-Cylinder Turbo (30 TFSI)
1.0L TSI Turbo 3-Cylinder / 2.0L TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder (GTI)
Power
93 hp
116 hp @ 5,000 rpm
95 hp to 115 hp (1.0T) / 200 hp (GTI)
Torque
123 Nm
200 Nm @ 2,000–3,500 rpm
175 Nm to 200 Nm (1.0T) / 320 Nm (GTI)
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
10.8 s
9.4 sec
6.7 sec (GTI) / 9.5 sec (1.0T 115hp) / 10.8 sec (1.0T 95hp)
Top speed
180 km/h
203 km/h
200 km/h (1.0T) / 237 km/h (GTI)
Fuel economy
Combined
22 km/L
19.5 km/L (1.0T) / 17.5 km/L (1.5T)
21.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 19.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 15.0 km/L (GTI)
City
18 km/L
16.5 km/L (1.0T) / 14.5 km/L (1.5T)
18.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 16.8 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 12.2 km/L (GTI)
Highway
25 km/L
22.0 km/L (1.0T) / 20.0 km/L (1.5T)
24.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 22.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 17.5 km/L (GTI)
Tank size
44 L
40 L
40 L
CO₂ emissions
104 g/km
112 g/km
108 g/km (1.0T)
At a glance
Model
Mazda Demio / Mazda2
Audi A1 Sportback (GB Series)
Volkswagen Polo (Mk6 AW Series)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Hatchback
5-Door Compact Luxury Hatchback
5-Door Subcompact European Hatchback
Seating capacity
5
5 seats
5
Fuel types
Petrol, Clean Diesel
Petrol (TFSI)
Petrol (TSI Turbo)
Engine sizes
1,298 cc, 1,496 cc
999 cc / 1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
999 cc (1.0L TSI) / 1,984 cc (2.0L TSI GTI)
Transmission
6-speed Automatic
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD / AWD
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Front-Wheel Drive
Ground clearance
145 mm
135 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan (RHD)
Japan / UK (RHD)
UK / Japan (RHD)
Pros and cons
What’s good
- Superior fuel efficiency: The SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines achieve up to 25 km/L on Kenyan highways.
- Premium interior finish: Soft-touch materials and available MZD Connect screen rival European subcompacts.
- Smooth torque-converter automatic: Avoids the rubber-band CVT feeling found in competitor hatchbacks.
- Sub-1,500 cc tax advantage: Qualifies for Kenya lower customs valuation and excise duty bracket.
- Lowest customs duty bracket: 1.0L engine qualifies for Kenya's lowest customs tax valuation category.
- Premium Virtual Cockpit display: 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with MMI touch screen.
- Excellent 19.5+ km/L fuel economy: Low operating costs for daily urban commuting.
- Effortless city parking: Compact 4.02-meter length makes Nairobi CBD parking stress-free.
- Lowest KRA import duty bracket: 999 cc TSI engine sits in KRA's lowest customs tax valuation category.
- High-speed European stability: MQB chassis provides unshakeable highway composure at 120 km/L.
- Punchy 200 Nm 1.0T torque: Turbocharged low-end torque makes city overtaking responsive and effortless.
- Generous 351 L boot capacity: Class-leading trunk space for a subcompact hatchback.
What’s not so good
- Modest rear legroom: Tighter rear passenger seating space compared to the Honda Fit or Toyota Vitz.
- Diesel DPF sensitivity: The 1.5L SkyActiv-D diesel requires regular long highway runs to prevent DPF clogging.
- Low ground clearance: The 145 mm clearance requires careful driving over tall speed bumps.
- 135 mm ground clearance: Requires care over steep estate speed bumps.
- S tronic dual-clutch sensitivity: Demands proper transmission maintenance in heavy traffic.
- Low 145 mm ground clearance: Requires care when navigating high urban speed bumps.
- Requires quality synthetic VW 504 00 oils: DSG transmission requires fluid maintenance every 60,000 km.