Is the Mazda Demio worth importing as a cheap city car?

Yes — a Mazda Demio can be worth importing as a cheap city car, but only if the all-in landed price is clearly below a local Mazda2/Toyota Yaris/Honda Fit, and you’ve verified insurance, registration, rust, and parts availability first.

Typical price guide (USD):

• Imported Demio, landed used: about $3,500–$8,500 for older/high-mileage examples; $8,500–$12,500 for cleaner, newer, lower-mileage cars.
• Local Mazda2 used: about $5,500–$13,500 depending on year, trim, and condition.
• Honda Fit/Jazz used: about $6,000–$15,000.
• Toyota Yaris used: about $6,500–$15,500.

A Demio is usually a good buy only when the landed total still beats a comparable local car by a meaningful margin. If the savings are small, the import can lose its value once shipping, tax, compliance, inspection, tyres, fluids, and importer fees are added.

Rule of thumb:

• Good deal: imported Demio lands at least $1,500–$3,000 less than a clean local Mazda2/Yaris/Fit.
• Walk away if: the final landed cost is within about $1,000 of a comparable local car, or if there’s any uncertainty about rust, paperwork, or insurance.

What to check before importing:

1. Landed cost: get an all-in quote, not just the auction price.
2. Insurance: confirm an insurer will cover the exact imported model before you buy.
3. Registration/compliance: check local rules for emissions, lighting, speedometer, inspection, and paperwork.
4. Rust: inspect the underside, rear arches, suspension mounts, and boot floor, especially on older cars.
5. Transmission: road-test carefully; avoid jerky, slipping, delayed, or noisy automatic/CVT behavior.
6. Parts compatibility: many service parts overlap with the Mazda2, but trim, lights, body panels, infotainment, keys, and import-specific parts may be harder.
7. Safety spec: cheaper Japanese imports may vary in airbags, stability control, headlights, and crash-spec details by year/grade.

My practical verdict: import one only if it lands meaningfully cheaper than a clean local Mazda2/Yaris/Fit/Jazz, has a verified auction sheet or inspection, and comes from a reputable exporter/importer. If the savings are small, buy local — it will usually be simpler to insure, register, service, and resell. Prices move a lot, so check sold/completed listings before buying.