Mazda Flair Crossover: which 0.7 CVT to choose
The Mazda Flair Crossover has one generation, on sale from 2014 with no end date in the catalogue, and four versions that all share the name 0.7 CVT. The choice is not between engines of different size or between body styles. It is between two outputs of the same 658 cm³ Gasoline inline-3 (52 hp or 64 hp) and two drivetrains (FWD or AWD).
The Mazda Flair Crossover has one generation, on sale from 2014 with no end date in the catalogue, and four versions that all share the name 0.7 CVT. The choice is not between engines of different size or between body styles. It is between two outputs of the same 658 cm³ Gasoline inline-3 (52 hp or 64 hp) and two drivetrains (FWD or AWD). Kerb weight, ground clearance, torque and boost change with that pair of decisions. 0–100 km/h, top speed and fuel use are not measured for any version, so ranking by performance or mpg has to use power, torque and kilograms instead.
Flair Crossover specs that actually differ
All four 0.7 CVT cars are a Microvan, with a front, transverse 658 cm³ Gasoline engine, 3 cylinders in Inline layout, 4 valves per cylinder, distributed injection (multi-point), Variable gearbox, 27 L tank, Independent, spring front suspension, Dependent, leaf spring rear, Disc front brakes and Drum rear. Fuel is 95. Bore and stroke are 64 × 68.2 on every version. Wheel sizes, gross weight, CO2 and eco class are not measured.
What changes:
| Version (as in the catalogue) | hp / kW @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | Boost | Drive | Compression | Kerb weight | Ground clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 CVT 52 hp FWD | 52 / 38 @ 6000 | 63 @ 4000 | No | FWD | 11 | 790 kg | 180 mm |
| 0.7 CVT 52 hp AWD | 52 / 38 @ 6000 | 63 @ 4000 | No | AWD | 11 | 840 kg | 175 mm |
| 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD | 64 / 47 @ 6000 | 95 @ 3000 | Turbo | FWD | 9.1 | 820 kg | 180 mm |
| 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD | 64 / 47 @ 6000 | 95 @ 3000 | Turbo | AWD | 9.1 | 870 kg | 180 mm |
There is no second generation to compare. Restyling is not listed. Buying “a later Flair Crossover” does not, in this data, mean a different engine family or a different body.
Engine: 52 hp naturally aspirated vs 64 hp Turbo
The 658 cm³ unit is the same displacement on all four 0.7 CVT cars. Specific output is 52 ÷ 0.658 ≈ 79.0 hp per litre without boost and 64 ÷ 0.658 ≈ 97.3 hp per litre with Turbo — about 23% more power (64 − 52 = 12 hp) from the same cubic capacity.
Torque is the larger gap. The No-boost engine makes 63 Nm at 4000 rpm; the Turbo engine makes 95 Nm at 3000 rpm. That is +32 Nm, or about 51% more peak torque, and the peak arrives 1000 rpm earlier. For a 658 cm³ microvan that is the main reason to pick the 64 hp 0.7 CVT over the 52 hp 0.7 CVT.
Compression falls from 11 to 9.1 when Turbo is fitted. Fuel stays 95. Layout stays Front, transverse, Inline, 3 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, distributed injection (multi-point). Nothing in the data says the Turbo version uses a different cylinder count or a different gearbox type: both stay Variable.
0–100 km/h is not measured for the 52 hp 0.7 CVT and not measured for the 64 hp 0.7 CVT. Top speed is not measured. City, highway and combined consumption are not measured. You cannot claim a mpg winner from this catalogue; you can only say the Turbo 0.7 CVT has more hp and more Nm at lower rpm, at the cost of extra kerb weight (see below).
Drive: FWD vs AWD and what the extra kilograms buy
AWD adds 50 kg on both power levels:
- 52 hp 0.7 CVT: 790 kg FWD → 840 kg AWD
- 64 hp 0.7 CVT: 820 kg FWD → 870 kg AWD
That is the only drivetrain split in the data. There is no RWD version.
Ground clearance does not rise with AWD. The 52 hp AWD 0.7 CVT sits at 175 mm, 5 mm lower than the 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT (180 mm). The 64 hp FWD and 64 hp AWD 0.7 CVT both stay at 180 mm. If the reason for AWD is a higher ride, these numbers do not support it: AWD either matches 180 mm or, on the 52 hp car, reduces clearance to 175 mm.
Tank volume is 27 L on FWD and AWD alike. Wheels are not measured, so tyre size is not a reason to pick one 0.7 CVT over another here.
Weight per horsepower (the usable ranking when 0–100 is not measured)
Kilograms per horsepower, from the kerb weights and outputs in the table:
- 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD: 820 ÷ 64 ≈ 12.8 kg/hp (lightest load per hp)
- 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD: 870 ÷ 64 ≈ 13.6 kg/hp
- 0.7 CVT 52 hp FWD: 790 ÷ 52 ≈ 15.2 kg/hp
- 0.7 CVT 52 hp AWD: 840 ÷ 52 ≈ 16.2 kg/hp (heaviest load per hp)
The 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT is 30 kg heavier than the 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT (820 − 790) but carries 12 extra hp, so it still has the best kg/hp. The 52 hp AWD 0.7 CVT is the worst of the four: it takes the 50 kg AWD penalty without the Turbo’s 12 hp and 32 Nm.
Turbo AWD vs naturally aspirated FWD: 870 kg vs 790 kg is +80 kg for +12 hp and +32 Nm. That is still better kg/hp than either 52 hp car (13.6 vs 15.2 and 16.2).
Gross weight is not measured on any 0.7 CVT, so payload cannot be compared.
Chassis pieces that do not help you choose
Front suspension (Independent, spring), rear suspension (Dependent, leaf spring), front brakes (Disc) and rear brakes (Drum) are identical on all four versions. They are not a reason to prefer one 0.7 CVT over another. Body type is Microvan for the whole generation.
Which 0.7 CVT to buy
Buy the 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT if the goal is the strongest catalogue figures with the least extra mass. It is the only combination of Turbo, 64 hp, 95 Nm at 3000 rpm and 820 kg. It matches the 180 mm clearance of the lightest car, keeps FWD, and posts the lowest kg/hp (about 12.8). Versus the 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT you give up 30 kg of lightness and 1.9 points of compression (11 → 9.1) and gain 12 hp and 32 Nm.
Buy the 64 hp AWD 0.7 CVT if AWD is required and you still want the Turbo. It is the heaviest Flair Crossover at 870 kg, but kg/hp stays better than both 52 hp cars. Clearance stays 180 mm, unlike the 52 hp AWD car. Versus 64 hp FWD you pay 50 kg for AWD and nothing in extra hp, Nm, tank size or measured speed.
Buy the 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT if the priority is the lowest kerb weight. At 790 kg it is 30 kg lighter than 64 hp FWD, 50 kg lighter than 52 hp AWD and 80 kg lighter than 64 hp AWD. Power is 52 hp and 63 Nm at 4000 rpm, boost is No, compression is 11. It is the lightest and the least powerful FWD. Choose it when 12 extra hp is not worth 30 kg, not when you need AWD.
Buy the 52 hp AWD 0.7 CVT only if AWD is required and Turbo is not. It is the weakest kg/hp of the four (about 16.2), the only version with 175 mm clearance, and it still uses the 63 Nm engine. Versus 52 hp FWD you add 50 kg and lose 5 mm of ground clearance. Versus 64 hp AWD you save 30 kg (840 vs 870) and give up 12 hp and 32 Nm. That is the narrow case this version fits.
What this generation did not change
With one generation from 2014 and four 0.7 CVT versions still listed without a stop date, there is no later Flair Crossover in this data that grew the tank, switched to a different gearbox name, or published 0–100, top speed or mpg. Reliability, common problems and real-world fuel use are not in the launch figures; those searches cannot be answered with a number from this set. The decision is arithmetic on what is measured: 52 vs 64 hp, 63 vs 95 Nm, No vs Turbo, FWD vs AWD, 790–870 kg, 175 or 180 mm, 27 L for all.