If you are looking at the picture on this page and thinking it looks more like a Ford Fiesta than a Mazda you are right. It may have a Mazda 121 badge on the rump and a slightly different-looking grille on its nose but under the skin the car is identical — a fact that is less surprising when you consider that Mazda is controlled by Ford.

But why do manufacturers produce virtually identical cars with different names? The primary reason is economy. Spreading development costs across two manufacturing divisions makes good sense. Second, there is brand loyalty: some people won’t drive a “foreign” car and others prefer Japanese for perceived reliability. By producing the same car with a different badge, a slightly different specification and a revised list price, car companies hope to win sales they would otherwise miss.

The good news for used-car buyers is that second-hand values are rarely identical for the competing models so there is the chance to bag a bargain by buying the less desirable incarnation. The Mazda 121 is a good case in point. Used Fiestas fly off dealer forecourts but second-hand Mazda 121s don’t, so are cheaper.

Introduced to the UK in March 1996 the Mazda 121 was available with a choice of three engines. The base-model GXi came with an ageing Endura 1.3 pushrod engine producing just 60bhp. Matching it for power, but with much less refinement, was the 1.8 litre diesel DXi version. Neither engine is going to set the world alight, and if the car is laden with passengers and luggage you’ll be dropping a gear at the first sign of a gradient. A better option is the 1.25 litre, which despite its smaller size produces a more useful 74bhp.

All models come with a five-speed manual gearbox and, in common with Ford Fiestas of the same age, the 1.25 litre also has the option of a rather whiny CVT automatic. If an auto tempts you then check it well, particularly on low-mileage examples, which can suffer more from underuse than overuse.

The paucity of engine options is matched by the austerity of trim levels, the 1.3 being available only as a basic GXi, which translates into power steering, split-fold rear seat and precious little more (although a driver’s airbag was added in October 1998). The 1.25 litre was originally badged as a ZXi, produced in 1996 and 1997 before being renamed GSi for the rest of its production run, which ceased altogether in 2000. The 1.25 litre is a higher specification car than both the 1.3 petrol and 1.8 diesel and is easily distinguished by colour-coded bumpers, a pop-up glass sunroof and central locking.

On the road, and in common with the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda 121 performs with aplomb, handling well and offering surprising amounts of space in the front, rear and boot. The driving position is pretty good, even if the pedals are a little offset to the left. The dashboard is pure Ford Fiesta with just the Ford badge missing from the centre of the steering wheel, so in an effort to differentiate the two cars Mazda opted for some different seat fabrics and colours.

So there you have it, the Mazda 121, a nearly identical twin to the Ford Fiesta but with a slightly lower ticket price.

Driving position Plenty of space but pedals are slightly offset to the left

Power steering Standard on all models

Auto gearbox Ultra-low-mileage examples can have more problems than average-mileage cars

Carpets Check front carpet under the dashboard. If wet then the bulkhead sealant may be perished

Insurance Group 5 for the 1.25 litre and group 4 on the 1.3 and 1.8 diesel

Safety ABS not standard and could not be specified as an option

Boot Check spare wheel tray as this can get damp and rust

Rear wiper Standard on all models, but some owners report that it fails

Filler cap Check inside cap rim, another potential area for rust

Suspension When driving listen for clunks from the suspension, a sign of worn rubber bushes

Dealers Fewer Mazda dealers than Ford dealers but servicing is straightforward and can be done by any reasonable garage

Vital statistics

Model Mazda 121 1.25 GSi 5dr
Engine 1242cc 4-cylinder DOHC 16v
Power 74bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 40.9mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 11.9sec
Top Speed 106mph

The one to buy

Mazda 121 1.25 GSi 5dr 1999 T with 70,000 miles. Pay £2,395 from a main dealer or £1,895 privately

Or for similar money

1999 T-reg Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr

1999 V-reg Nissan Almera 1.6 GX 5dr

1999 V-reg Citroën Xsara 1.4i LX 5dr

1999 V-reg Fiat Punto 85 SX 5dr

1997 P-reg Renault Mégane 1.6e RXE 5dr

Values: Mazda 121 1.25 GSi 5dr





Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'Retail' is what you would pay a dealer