Compare cars
Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.
Mazda DemioVolkswagen PoloToyota Vitz
Mandai score
8/10
8/10
7/10
Typical price
KSh 1,250,000
KSh 1,950,000
KSh 1,350,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2020
Body type
Compact Hatchbacks
–
Compact Hatchbacks
Fuel
Petrol, Diesel
Petrol
Petrol, Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Automatic, CVT
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
Demio 13S Touring
Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline / Highline / R-Line / GTI
Vitz 1.0 F / 1.3 F / 1.5 Hybrid F / Jewela
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
21.0 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 840 km a tank
20.8 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 874 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,107 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 11,071 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,081 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,808 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,091 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,912 for 1,000 km · petrol
Dimensions
Length
4,060 mm
4,053 mm
3,945 mm
Width
1,695 mm
1,751 mm
1,695 mm
Height
1,500 mm
1,461 mm
1,500 mm
Wheelbase
2,570 mm
2,551 mm
2,510 mm
Ground clearance
145 mm
145 mm
145 mm
Boot space
280 L
351 L (1,125 L folded)
286 L (750 L folded)
Kerb weight
1,030 kg
1,145 kg
970 kg (1,110 kg Hybrid)
Seats
5
5
5
Specifications
Engine
1.3L SkyActiv-G Inline-4
1.0L TSI Turbo 3-Cylinder / 2.0L TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder (GTI)
1.0L 1KR-FE / 1.3L 1NR-FKE / 1.5L 1NZ-FXE Hybrid
Power
93 hp
95 hp to 115 hp (1.0T) / 200 hp (GTI)
69 hp (1.0L) / 99 hp (1.3L) / 100 hp combined (1.5L Hybrid)
Torque
123 Nm
175 Nm to 200 Nm (1.0T) / 320 Nm (GTI)
92 Nm (1.0L) / 121 Nm (1.3L) / 111 Nm (1.5L Hybrid)
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive / 4WD
0–100 km/h
10.8 s
6.7 sec (GTI) / 9.5 sec (1.0T 115hp) / 10.8 sec (1.0T 95hp)
11.5 sec (1.3L) / 12.0 sec (1.5L Hybrid) / 14.5 sec (1.0L)
Top speed
180 km/h
200 km/h (1.0T) / 237 km/h (GTI)
170 km/h
Fuel economy
Combined
22 km/L
21.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 19.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 15.0 km/L (GTI)
20.8 km/L (1.0L) / 25.0 km/L (1.3L) / 34.4 km/L (1.5L Hybrid JC08)
City
18 km/L
18.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 16.8 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 12.2 km/L (GTI)
17.5 km/L (1.0L) / 21.0 km/L (1.3L) / 30.0 km/L (1.5L Hybrid)
Highway
25 km/L
24.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 22.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 17.5 km/L (GTI)
23.5 km/L (1.0L) / 28.0 km/L (1.3L) / 36.0 km/L (1.5L Hybrid)
Tank size
44 L
40 L
42 L (Petrol) / 36 L (Hybrid)
CO₂ emissions
104 g/km
108 g/km (1.0T)
110 g/km (1.0L) / 82 g/km (Hybrid)
At a glance
Model
Mazda Demio / Mazda2
Volkswagen Polo (Mk6 AW Series)
Toyota Vitz (XP130 Series 2nd Facelift)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2020
Body type
5-Door Hatchback
5-Door Subcompact European Hatchback
5-Door Subcompact Hatchback
Seating capacity
5
5
5
Fuel types
Petrol, Clean Diesel
Petrol (TSI Turbo)
Petrol, Full Hybrid (THS-II)
Engine sizes
1,298 cc, 1,496 cc
999 cc (1.0L TSI) / 1,984 cc (2.0L TSI GTI)
996 cc (1.0L) / 1,329 cc (1.3L) / 1,496 cc (1.5L Hybrid)
Transmission
6-speed Automatic
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Super CVT-i Automatic / e-CVT
Drivetrain
FWD / AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD or 4WD
Ground clearance
145 mm
145 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan (RHD)
UK / Japan (RHD)
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 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.
- Gold standard city fuel saver: 20.0+ km/L on petrol models and up to 30.0+ km/L on 1.5L Hybrid variants.
- Lowest KRA import duty bracket: 1.0L and 1.3L engines sit in the lowest customs tax valuation category.
- Top-tier resale value retention: Exceptional liquidity and universal spare parts availability across Kenya.
- Nimble 4.5-meter turning radius: Effortlessly parks and navigates tight Nairobi urban traffic.
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.
- 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.
- 1.0L engine can feel sluggish on steep highway climbs: 69 hp 1KR-FE labors when fully loaded ascending Limuru hills.
- Low 145 mm ground clearance: Requires cautious driving over tall speed bumps.