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Hilda, a Nairobi-based car owner, has shared her experience driving a Mazda Axela. Speaking to Money254, Hilda revealed that practicality was her guiding principle when she began car search in 2022.
While her first option was common models like the Suzuki Swift, a reliable and easy-to-maintain car, her decision took a turn one afternoon amid the chaos of Nairobi’s notorious traffic.
“One afternoon, stuck in the gridlock, a sleek hatchback pulled up next to me. It had this aggressive, sporty look that immediately caught my eye,’’ she recalled.
That car was a Mazda Axela, and from that moment, her mind was made up. A few months later, Hilda was behind the wheel of her own imported Mazda Axela, a 1500cc petrol engine model that set her back Sh1.4 million.
According to her, the Axela is more than just a mode of transport due to its fuel efficiency, reliability, and top-notch comfort.
“The Axela is my daily commuter for city life, though I take it for the occasional out-of-town drive. The typical driving environment is city roads, where its handling really shines,” she explained.
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“In heavy city driving, I comfortably get about 13.5 kilometres per litre (km/l). When I hit the highway, that figure shoots up beautifully. I recently drove from Nairobi to Nakuru and back, and for the whole round trip, I averaged an amazing 17.8 km/l,” Hilda added.
A key contributor to this efficiency is Mazda’s i-Stop system, a technology that automatically switches off the engine when the car comes to a complete stop.
“If you are regularly stuck in Nairobi traffic, you will love this feature—it’s an absolute money saver,” Hilda says.
Two years into ownership, Hilda describes her Axela as “incredibly reliable.” Maintenance costs remain modest, with standard servicing every 10,000 kilometres or roughly twice a year costing about Sh8,000 to Sh9,000 at AutoXpress.
Beyond the basics, she has only faced one significant expense: replacing the shocks and links at a cost of around Sh25,000.
“The only recurring annoyance is changing the wipers frequently—a small price for clear visibility in our heavy rains and dusty conditions,” she says.
What has made her ownership journey even smoother is the Axela Nation Car Group, a community of fellow Mazda enthusiasts who share maintenance tips and connect owners to trusted mechanics and parts dealers.
While the Axela’s low, sporty stance gives it excellent handling and cornering, it’s not without its drawbacks.
“The ground clearance is definitely my biggest complaint,” Hilda admits. “Every time I have to leave the tarmac for a rough road, my anxiety spikes.”
Still, those worries fade once she’s back on the highway. The smooth cruising and the feel of control make up for it.
“All in all, for a Sh1.4 million investment, the Mazda Axela has been an excellent first car. It has taught me that I don’t need to break the bank to own a vehicle I enjoy driving,” she reflects.
