Body style: Hatchback
Segment: Mini
Production years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
The third generation of the Mazda 121 was conceived as a city car vehicle, in the shape of a small three-box sedan. It was a big departure from the boxy hatchback of the second generation.
While the first generation was a straight-four Mazda Cosmo vehicle from 1975, the second generation came as a true small-class vehicle. That said, it is difficult to name the 1991 model as the second generation, but it was the third generation of the Mazda that had a 121 badge on it.
From the outside, the rounded vehicle with a low waistline and a high roof made the car look like a hat. It was at the beginning of the biodesign era when all the shapes were rounded and you would be punished, as a designer, if you would draw a straight line on a car. The small, 13” didn't help too much on the car's image. The body-colored plastic bumpers were a good addition.
Inside, there was a very roomy interior for four adult passengers. Both the knee and the headroom were surprisingly big for a Japanese car. In the back, only two passengers could sit comfortably. For the driver, the dashboard was simple, but with a stereo mounted too low on the center stack. The instrument cluster featured white needles on a light-blue background. Unusual for a 1991 city car was that the 121 didn't have power steering.
There were few engine options for the 121, either with a carburetor or a single-point fuel injection. Depending on the engine and country, the 121 was available with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual.
ENGINE SPECS - 1.1L 5MT FWD (54 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1138 cm3 |
Power: | 39.7 KW @ 5600 RPM 54 HP @ 5600 RPM 53 BHP @ 5600 RPM |
Torque: | 63 lb-ft @ 3600 RPM 86 Nm @ 3600 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 93 mph (150 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 15.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 165/70 R13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 150 in (3810 mm) |
Width: | 65.2 in (1656 mm) |
Height: | 57.9 in (1471 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.9/55.1 in (1,420/1,400 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.1 in (2390 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 10.2 cuFT (289 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 1775 lbs (805 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2866 lbs (1300 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 30.9 mpg US (7.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 45.2 mpg US (5.2 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 35.6 mpg US (6.6 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 152 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.3L 5MT FWD (53 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1324 cm3 |
Power: | 39 KW @ 5500 RPM 53 HP @ 5500 RPM 52 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 72 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM 97 Nm @ 2800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Monopoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 93 mph (150 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 165/70 R13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 150 in (3810 mm) |
Width: | 65.2 in (1656 mm) |
Height: | 57.9 in (1471 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.9/55.1 in (1,420/1,400 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.1 in (2390 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 10.2 cuFT (289 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 1786 lbs (810 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2866 lbs (1300 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 30.9 mpg US (7.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 43.6 mpg US (5.4 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 35.1 mpg US (6.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 150 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.3L 5MT FWD (72 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1324 cm3 |
Power: | 53 KW @ 6000 RPM 72 HP @ 6000 RPM 71 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 77 lb-ft @ 3700 RPM 104 Nm @ 3700 RPM |
Fuel System: | Monopoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 99 mph (159 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 165/70 R13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 150 in (3810 mm) |
Width: | 65.2 in (1656 mm) |
Height: | 57.9 in (1471 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.9/55.1 in (1,420/1,400 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.1 in (2390 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 10.2 cuFT (289 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 1785 lbs (810 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2866 lbs (1300 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 33.6 mpg US (7 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 45.2 mpg US (5.2 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 36.2 mpg US (6.5 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 154 g/km |