DB13 (Mk3) 121

Mazda in Japan finally had a badly needed success on its hands with the 121 Metro, a spacious, utilitarian light car with a rugged pseudo off-road look.

But Australians had little love for the box that burst our beloved Bubble.

The Metro’s basic cabin and high prices saw to that.

The entry-level version was lumbered with a 53kW 1.3L engine and 5-speed manual/3-speed auto transmission options, while the 1.5L engine now produced 64kW of power, and offered the 5-speed manual/4-speed auto choice.

All Metros came with an airbag and power steering, while the Shades special editions from October ’97 had air-conditioning, while the Shades Extra added better audio.