Mazda has used the Carol name on its smallest "keicar" cars almost from the start. This page documents the Carol and other Mazda keicars.
1961 P360 Carol
The R360 was replaced in 1962 with the Mazda P360 Carol, the company's first 4-passenger car. It was larger than the Mazda R360 it replaced, running on a 193 cm wheelbase for a total length of 298 cm. It used a rear-mounted water-cooled 358 cc 4-cylinder OHV engine, the smallest 4-cylinder automobile engine in history.
1962 P600 Carol
The Carol 600 appeared in the Fall of 1962 with a larger 586 cc OHV engine and a longer 320 cm length. It was available as a 4-door sedan in late 1963. The car was called the 'Carol' at home, and the '600', 'P600', and 'N600' in other markets.
1972 Chantez
The Chantez (or Chante) had a longer wheelbase at 220 cm than most of its competitors and boasted the powerful 2-stroke engine from the Porter. Sales halted in 1977, and Mazda did not produce another Keicar until 1989.
1989 Autozam Carol
The Carol name appeared again in 1989 on the Autozam Carol. The Carol was produced for Mazda by Suzuki, and while it uses the Suzuki Alto's platform, its interior and exterior are completely unique to Mazda. It was a front- or all-wheel drive microcar with a SOHC 547 cc 3-cylinder F5B engine and a 233 cm wheelbase.
1990
New regulations brought about the replacement of the 1989 Carol within 4 months. The new car was 6 cm longer and used a larger 657 cc F6A engine. In 1991, Mazda offered a turbocharged engine, and the car was lengthened to 329 cm in 1992.
1995
An updated Autozam Carol came out in October of 1995 as a 1996 model. Again, it was front- or all-wheel drive and still riding on the same platform.
1999
An entirely new Carol appeared in October of 1998 as a 1999 model, this time with the Mazda brand name. Unlike previous Carols, this model is a straight badge-engineered Suzuki Alto. This Carol was available with either front- or all-wheel drive and used the old 657 cc F6A engine or a new 658 cc DOHC unit. It was closely related to the AZ-Offroad and AZ-Wagon introduced at the same time.
2001
The Carol was updated with a new look for 2001. Emissions (with a new VVT engine) and safety were also improved.
2004
As Suzuki released a replacement for the Suzuki Alto, the badge-engineered Mazda Carol was also replaced.
