If it's cheap and cheerful you're looking for in your next car, the Japanese domestic market has plenty of options to choose from. An unsung hero of economy motoring without too many practical compromises is the Mazda Flair, a kei car defined by its nameplate.
According to Merriam-Webster, flair is a natural ability to do something good. The Mazda Flair does plenty things good, albeit the US and Europe will laugh at its kei car specifications. Who wouldn't laugh at an economical means of transport available with an asthmatic 0.6-liter three-banger mated to a CVT gearbox? But this is where we are wrong.
Consider the size and that it weighs next to nothing, then consider that 660 cc with dual overhead cams and variable valve timing is best suited for a continously variable transmission. If you're more demanding than that, the Japanese automaker also offers a manual gearbox and all-wheel drive for prices starting at 1,155,600 yen ($9,405) and topping at 1,737,720 yen ($14,140). We know what you're thinking – that's US-specification 2015 Ford Fiesta greenback!
The thing is we're comparing apples to oranges here. An entry-level 2015 Ford Fiesta supermini may be larger and more powerful than a top-spec Mazda Flair and that's the reason why the JDM special is better value. You only need to watch the adjacent video and peer through the photo gallery below to understand just how much tech and creature comforts Mazda can fit inside a package as small as the little Flair.
Just to name a few of the equipment list's highlight, we'll mention keyless entry, push button start, automatic climate control, heated front seats, start-stop, auto braking for speeds of up to 30 km/h (18 mph), extremely modular seats, and plenty of factory-spec personalization options. Best of all? This baby drinks just 3.1 l/100 km (75.8 US mpg or 91.1 UK mpg) according to the JC08 Japanese emission test cycle.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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