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Hi there!

I am looking at buying a new small car mostly for driving around Auckland to work etc. I have narrowed it down to either a mazda demio or a Toyota vitz but am not sure which would be the better choice? An IST is also a car I am considering but I feel it is out of my price range.
I want something that is economical on petrol but my main concern is having a reliable engine which wont cost loads on repairs. I understand these are both reliable cars but in your opinion which is the better overall car?
I am looking at spending $6-7500 and have noticed the Demios tend to be the cheaper option. Does this mean it is less reliable than the Vitz?
Also is one better than the other for doing longer trips out of Auckland? I know these cars are better suited for town driving but does this mean the engines are rather gutless on hills/motorways/open roads?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

The Mazda Demio and Toyota Vitz are both a good choice to consider and the Demio is as reliable as the Vitz - but stay away from the Vitz that's fitted with a CVT transmission. The 1.3L engines will need to work a lot harder up hills than a more powerful engine. Options to consider with larger engines are the Nissan Pulsar and Mazda Familia with either a 1.5L or 1.8L engine.

That's great thank you for your fast response to my questions.
I think I may be leaning more towards the mazdas.
Thanks!

Hi there,

How can I tell whether a Vitz is CVT or not? I'm in the same boat as Sarah. Is there a particular year where they are CVT? I'm looking at a 2005 model upwards

The dealer needs to advise you if the transmission is CVT or a conventional auto. Because of the imports it cannot be pinpointed to a particular year model. When you test drive the vehicle you normally can identify if it is CVT or not by the way a CVT transmission 'flares up' when you put your foot down - like a slipping clutch.