I'm getting a mazda demio or a passo (yet to decide) in a few weeks, my first car.. what are the stats on these cars? Also is the honda fit better than demio??
I'm the typical female driver, I've tried visualising myself as that hot super woman with all the stunt driving in the movies but sadly this technique doesn't help my driving, I still do lots of instant brakes n if you hoot I'll switch off my engine... so, comsumption??

Wangu.n check out the link below. Seems the Fit and Demio have the Passo beat in terms of fuel efficiency.

http://www.thegreencarwe...cars-in-japan-revealed/

The Vitz however seems to hold its own. My experience has been that Toyotas fair better in Kenya especially when it comes to parts availability.

Concur with amga on the Vitz

.
The top 10s in each segment
were as follows:
Small and standard sized
vehicles:
1. Toyota Prius – 35.5km/l
2. Honda Civic Hybrid –
31.0km/l
3. Toyota Vitz – 24.5km/l
4. Honda Fit – 24.0km/l
5. Toyota iQ – 23.0km/l
=5. Mazda Demio – 23.0km/l
=5. Smart ForTwo Coupe –
23.0km/l
=5. Smart ForTwo Cabriolet –
23.0km/l
9. Toyota Belta – 22.0km/l
10. Toyota Passo – 21.5km/l
=10. Daihatsu Boon –
21.5km/l
Light vehicle category:
1. Daihatsu Mira – 27.0km/l
2. Subaru R1 – 24.5km/l
=2. Subaru R2 – 24.5km/l
=2. Suzuki Alto Lapin –
24.5km/l
5. Subaru Stella – 23.0km/l
=5. Daihatsu Move – 23.0km/l
=5. Daihatsu Sonica –
23.0km/l
=5. Daihatsu Move Conte –
23.0km/l
=5. Suzuki Wagon R – 23.0km/
l
=5. Suzuki Cervo – 23.0km/l
=5. Mazda AZ Wagon –
23.0km/l

Anyone used the VW TDI cars for comparison?
Some don't like them because of the fuel quality (i think pre 2007 they should be ok for low sulphur diesel), though a mech I know says that if you treat them well they are great.

Randomly picking a 2006 1.9 TDI VW 105 bhp Golf from autotrader.co.uk to get the performance / economy stats

Manual - MPG (UK) - Town/Highway/Combined - 43.5/65.7/56.5
(km/l -> 15.4/23.26/20)

Auto (DSG) - MPG (UK) - Town/Highway/Combined - 37.7/58.9/48.7 (km/l -> 13.35/20.85/17.24)

Looks to me that barring any potential fuel issues a turbo diesel offers excellent consumption with great performance.

Of course lead foot winning over egg shell would skew these figures significantly.

Could possible reason for 'heavier foot' be that MSA - NRB is uphill (rising altitude)?

@Sentinnel Prime -Interesting. Where does one find such user reported data. On the Honda Fit- dont know much about the it but concur that generally Hondas are built and quite popular in North America but for some reason never really caught on in Kenya. Are spare parts readily available though for the Fit? Regardless of built quality, it too must break down some time.

nice read

I've done Nairobi - Vihiga (10 or so kms from Kisumu)and back to Nairobi, then another 5 days or so of 42kms daily on one full tank. Car is an Allion 1.5lt. Do the math

@siringi, My advice on hybrids, only listen to reviews from those people who use/own hybrids. I use it and the analysis by Baraza to me is mis-information. With some few tips about use, the car is GOOD.