Mazda Verisa: Why Can’t We Have One?
The Mazda Verisa is a tall wagon or mini MPV, a five passenger five door hatchback that is currently being sold exclusively in Japan. The company has no plans to export this model.
With $4 per gallon gasoline now the norm, motorists are scrambling for ways to save on fuel including trading in their larger rides for vehicles that are much more manageable. Demand for the hybrid Toyota Prius, the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and other small cars is up sharply. On the other hand, dealers can’t get rid of trucks and SUVs without discounting them by $10,000 or more. How much things have changed!
Ford announced last week that the company was going to overhaul its product line by instituting a “One Ford” program whereby many of the vehicles the company now builds and sells in separate markets will be sold worldwide, including tiny cars destined for the US. GM is going to build the subcompact Chevrolet Cruze at an Ohio facility and Chrysler is working with Nissan to provide a small car by about 2010 for the US market. Within the next two years, the face of the US auto market will be quite different!
One company that is in good shape is Mazda as they avoided doing what the Big Three as well as Toyota and Nissan have done: build big trucks and SUVs. Because the company is partnered with Ford, a Mazda version of the F-Series was possible, but the company chose to concentrate on smaller vehicles. This decision has paid off as Mazda is weathering the economic downturn and shifting customer tastes quite well.
Like Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan, and the rest, several models that Mazda sells elsewhere aren’t sold in the US including the Mazda Verisa, a five passenger, five door hatchback built exclusively for the Japanese market. This car is powered by an economical 1.5L DOHC I4 engine that is paired with a four speed automatic transmission. Front wheel drive or electronic all wheel drive, the Mazda Verisa achieves gas mileage numbers of about 42 mpg!
Unfortunately, Mazda has no plans to import the little Verisa, a shame considering its interior roominess and attractive style. Best of all, its price of $16-18K is quite good and with its high fuel numbers, the Mazda Verisa would be a good car for many commuters.
Though the Mazda Verisa isn’t coming stateside, the upcoming Ford Fiesta shares the Verisa’s platform. So, if you’re looking for something cute, affordable, and thrifty, you can get the Verisa in the form of the all-new 2010 Ford Fiesta!
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I live in Malawi and i managed to buy a Mazda Verisa through Tradecarview, its really a quality car. Everytime i park close to public places like shopping malls i get one or two people who are interedsted in knowing where i got this car since its not available for sale to anywhere in the world besides Japan. I truly dont understand why Mazda has not decided to sale this vehicle outside Japan because it has potential to beat almost other Mazda models available around the world. Its a unique vehicle in terms of shape and perfomance especially its fuel saving capability on a 1.5l engine.Mazda has to seriously consider this model for export if they want to cash in fast.