1991 MAZDA 121/ Revue (Mk.2) 1.3L 5MT FWD (72 HP)

Vehicle Overview

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.