Mazda Flair: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Mazda Flair version to choose depends mainly on three decisions: Gasoline or Hybrid, naturally aspirated or Turbo, and FWD or AWD. The first generation and its restyling offer the broadest selection, including 0.7 MT and 0.7 CVT versions with either 52 hp or 64 hp. The second generation simplifies the range to two 0.7 CVT Hybrid versions, both producing 52 hp: one with FWD and one with AWD.
The Mazda Flair version to choose depends mainly on three decisions: Gasoline or Hybrid, naturally aspirated or Turbo, and FWD or AWD. The first generation and its restyling offer the broadest selection, including 0.7 MT and 0.7 CVT versions with either 52 hp or 64 hp. The second generation simplifies the range to two 0.7 CVT Hybrid versions, both producing 52 hp: one with FWD and one with AWD. Across the catalogue, every Flair is a Microvan with a 658 cc Inline three-cylinder engine, but output, transmission, drive, kerb weight, ground clearance and rear suspension vary by version.
Mazda Flair generations: what changed?
The first generation ran from October 2012 through July 2014 as a Microvan with six listed versions. Its naturally aspirated 0.7 MT and 0.7 CVT engines produce 52 hp and 63 Nm, while the Turbo 0.7 CVT produces 64 hp and 95 Nm. Both FWD and AWD are available. The transmission choice consists of a 5-speed Manual or Variable transmission, although the Turbo is paired only with the Variable transmission in the supplied data.
The first-generation restyling ran from August 2014 through February 2017, again as a Microvan with six versions. The specifications listed here retain the same basic choices: 52 hp naturally aspirated 0.7 MT and 0.7 CVT versions, plus 64 hp Turbo 0.7 CVT versions, each offered with FWD or AWD. Consequently, the supplied figures do not identify a change in engine output, torque, displacement, tank capacity or the main weight figures between equivalent pre-restyling and restyled versions.
The second generation started in February 2017 and is represented by two Microvan versions. Both are named 0.7 CVT and use a 658 cc Hybrid engine producing 52 hp and 60 Nm. The key choice is between FWD at 770 kg and AWD at 820 kg. Compared with the earlier 52 hp Gasoline versions, second-generation torque falls by 3 Nm, while the compression ratio rises from 11 to 11.5. The second generation also replaces the earlier dependent leaf-spring rear suspension: the FWD model has a semi-independent torsion rear arrangement, and the AWD model uses a dependent spring setup.
Mazda Flair engine and specs
Repeated names refer to distinct drive or power configurations, so the 0.7 CVT versions are identified below by generation, output and drive while preserving their exact database name.
| Generation and version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation — 0.7 MT, FWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| First generation — 0.7 CVT, FWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Variable | FWD |
| First generation — 0.7 MT, AWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| First generation — 0.7 CVT, AWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Variable | AWD |
| First generation — 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, FWD | 64 hp | 95 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | Variable | FWD |
| First generation — 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, AWD | 64 hp | 95 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | Variable | AWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 CVT, 52 hp, AWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Variable | AWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 MT, FWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 CVT, 52 hp, FWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Variable | FWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 MT, AWD | 52 hp | 63 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, FWD | 64 hp | 95 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | Variable | FWD |
| First-generation restyling — 0.7 CVT, 64 hp, AWD | 64 hp | 95 Nm | 658 cc | Gasoline | 3, Inline | Turbo | Variable | AWD |
| Second generation — 0.7 CVT, FWD | 52 hp | 60 Nm | 658 cc | Hybrid | 3, Inline | No | Variable | FWD |
| Second generation — 0.7 CVT, AWD | 52 hp | 60 Nm | 658 cc | Hybrid | 3, Inline | No | Variable | AWD |
Every engine is front-mounted and transverse, with distributed multi-point injection, four valves per cylinder, and a bore and stroke of 64 × 68.2. The 52 hp Gasoline engine develops peak power at 6000 rpm and 63 Nm at 4000 rpm. The 64 hp Turbo develops its 64 hp at 6000 rpm and 95 Nm at 3000 rpm. The second-generation Hybrid produces 52 hp at 6000 rpm and 60 Nm at 4000 rpm.
Calculated from the supplied displacement and output, the 52 hp engines deliver about 79 hp per litre, whereas the 64 hp Turbo reaches about 97 hp per litre. Turbocharging therefore adds 12 hp and 32 Nm over the naturally aspirated Gasoline engine, equivalent to approximately 23% more power and 51% more torque. Its peak torque also arrives 1000 rpm earlier.
Mazda Flair performance, mpg and fuel consumption
Acceleration from 0–100, top speed, city fuel consumption, highway fuel consumption and combined fuel consumption are not measured for any listed Mazda Flair version. Mazda Flair mpg and Mazda Flair Hybrid fuel-consumption figures therefore cannot be compared from this dataset. CO₂ output and environmental class are also not measured.
The available figures still reveal useful differences. The first-generation FWD 0.7 MT weighs 750 kg, giving about 14.4 kg per horsepower. The 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT weighs 780 kg, or exactly 15 kg per horsepower. The 64 hp Turbo FWD 0.7 CVT weighs 820 kg, reducing the ratio to about 12.8 kg per horsepower despite its higher mass.
Among AWD models, the naturally aspirated 0.7 MT weighs 800 kg, or about 15.4 kg per horsepower; the naturally aspirated 0.7 CVT weighs 830 kg, or about 16 kg per horsepower; and the 64 hp Turbo 0.7 CVT weighs 870 kg, or about 13.6 kg per horsepower. On power-to-weight alone, the Turbo versions have the strongest numerical case, although actual acceleration remains not measured.
The second-generation 0.7 CVT FWD weighs 770 kg, or about 14.8 kg per horsepower. Its AWD counterpart weighs 820 kg, or about 15.8 kg per horsepower. The Hybrid designation cannot be converted into an economy advantage here because no consumption measurement is supplied.
Mazda Flair dimensions, weight and clearance
Overall length, width, height and wheelbase are not measured, so complete Mazda Flair dimensions and size comparisons are unavailable. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every version. Gross weight is not measured.
The kerb-weight range is 750–870 kg in the first generation and its restyling. The lightest configuration is the 52 hp 0.7 MT FWD at 750 kg. The heaviest is the 64 hp 0.7 CVT AWD at 870 kg, a difference of 120 kg. Moving from FWD to AWD adds 50 kg when comparing equivalent first-generation Manual, naturally aspirated Variable, or Turbo Variable versions. Choosing the naturally aspirated Variable transmission instead of the Manual adds 30 kg with the same drive system.
Ground clearance is 155 mm for the first-generation FWD versions and 150 mm for the first-generation AWD versions. Thus, the AWD specification is 5 mm lower in the supplied data. The second-generation FWD and AWD versions both have 150 mm of clearance.
Every listed version has a 27-litre fuel tank. Every version also uses independent spring front suspension, front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. First-generation and restyled models use dependent leaf-spring rear suspension. The second-generation FWD version instead has semi-independent torsion rear suspension, while the second-generation AWD version has dependent spring rear suspension.
Which Mazda Flair version should you buy?
For the lowest kerb weight, choose the first-generation or restyled 0.7 MT with FWD. At 750 kg, it is 30 kg lighter than the equivalent 52 hp FWD 0.7 CVT and 70 kg lighter than the Turbo FWD 0.7 CVT. It also provides the only explicitly listed 5-speed Manual configuration.
For the strongest engine figures, choose the first-generation or restyled 64 hp 0.7 CVT Turbo. It gains 12 hp and 32 Nm over the 52 hp Gasoline engine, reaches peak torque at 3000 rather than 4000 rpm, and has the best calculated weight-per-horsepower result in both FWD and AWD form. FWD is the lighter Turbo choice at 820 kg; AWD raises kerb weight to 870 kg.
For AWD without Turbo, the 0.7 MT is the lighter first-generation option. Its 800 kg kerb weight is 30 kg below the naturally aspirated AWD 0.7 CVT, while both produce 52 hp and 63 Nm. If the Variable transmission is essential, the naturally aspirated AWD 0.7 CVT provides the requested gearbox and drive combination at 830 kg.
For the second-generation Hybrid powertrain, the 0.7 CVT FWD is the numerically lighter choice. It weighs 770 kg, which is 50 kg less than the AWD version, while both produce the same 52 hp and 60 Nm and have the same 150 mm ground clearance. AWD therefore buys a different drive system and dependent spring rear suspension, but not additional power, torque, clearance or tank capacity.
The supplied data contains no prices or sale listings, so it cannot determine what extra money any version costs or whether a Mazda Flair is available in the USA or elsewhere. It also provides no reliability, problems, engine-oil capacity or engine-number-location information. The defensible buying decision is therefore specification-led: 0.7 MT FWD for minimum weight, 64 hp 0.7 CVT Turbo FWD for the best power-to-weight calculation, naturally aspirated AWD 0.7 MT for the lightest earlier AWD configuration, or second-generation 0.7 CVT FWD for the lighter Hybrid specification.