Mazda 121 1.3 LX
A short nose, tall cabin and light front-drive layout made the first European Mazda 121 a simple little car with clever space for people.
1987-1989 Mazda 121 DA Deluxe three-door · TuRbO_J (Flickr user 30474136@N07) · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Mazda's DA-series 121 reached European sales literature at the end of 1987. A December French brochure record lists the LX with a 1,324 cc engine, while exact technical catalogues place the 1.3 LX in model year 1988. Because national versions carry different stated outputs, this profile keeps the shared three-door, front-drive, five-speed identity firm and labels power figures by source and market.
Look a little closer.
The closely related design was also sold as the Ford Festiva and, when built by Kia, as the Kia Pride.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why the year moves to 1988
A brochure can be printed before the model year it promotes. The surviving French catalogue record is dated December 1987, but the exact 1.3 LX technical listing begins in early 1988. Calling it a 1988 model preserves both pieces of evidence without turning a publication date into a verified registration year.
Source: French Mazda 121 brochure record · December 1987 ↗Power depends on which national sheet you read
The broad European catalogue gives 49 kW / 67 PS and 103 N·m. The French brochure index says 65 ch, while a Dutch-market listing says 44 kW / 60 pk and 100 N·m. Those are not merged into an invented average: the profile identifies the main catalogue basis and keeps national differences visible.
Source: AutoWeek · Netherlands Mazda 121 1.3 LX ↗Where these facts come from
- French Mazda 121 brochure record · December 1987
- Automobile-Catalog · 1988 Europe Mazda 121 1.3 LX
- AutoWeek · Netherlands Mazda 121 1.3 LX
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.