Mazda New Flair (MJ55S)

2017 Mazda Flair

With the new Suzuki Wagon R launched a few months ago, Mazda is no stranger to them as they borrowed one for their brand new Flair kei car currently available at their nearest Mazda dealership across Japan.

As the story is similar to the latest Suzuki Wagon R, the base XG variant has a front face reminiscent of a Ford F-150 while the XS variant features a more Vellfire-esque front face. Sadly though, the Custom Style variant, which is based on the Wagon R Stingray, is out of the question, leaving only the base variants where the XS variant is the stylish variant of the new Flair range, which sounds very weird to us.

Like the new Wagon R, the new Flair features a Mild Hybrid technology setup, which comes with an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. Along with the new platform we're familiar with, fuel efficiency has gone up to 33.4kmpl.

For safety purposes, the new Flair comes with a dual camera brake support system, which detects the vehicle and pedestrians from about 5kph in the speed range of about 100kph, and to avoid collisions, the automatic braking feature triggers with the alarm and then it stops. It even comes with a lane departure warning function, and a stagger alarm function, among many others.

The new Flair starts at 1,177,200 Japanese Yen.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair (2015 minor model change)

2015 Mazda Flair

2015 Mazda Flair Custom Style

Following with the launch of the 2015 Suzuki Wagon R facelift which includes its brand new fuel-saving "S-ENE CHARGE" feature that propels its fuel economy up to 32.4kmpl, beating the likes of the Daihatsu Move and the Mitsubishi eK Wagon, it looks like the Mazda equivalent, the Flair, won't be far behind because, like the Wagon R it was based on, the 2015MY minor minor change sees the Flair, along with its Custom Style model, receiving the same S-ENE CHARGE feature.

2015 Mazda Flair interior

2015 Mazda Flair Custom Style interior

If you're new here, let me get this straight; S-ENE CHARGE is basically an improvement of the ENE-CHARGE and it takes  full use of the lithium-ion battery and the Integrated Starter Generator while joining forces with the improved R06A engine. The ISG provides a motor assist during acceleration and during deceleration, it stores some of its electric power.

With S-ENE CHARGE, the 2015 Flair's fuel economy has improved to 32.4km/L on the JC08 Mode scale.

Not only the fuel economy that stands out from the rest but it's loaded with safety features such as the very clever Radar Brake Support, a special feature that prevents unintended acceleration, a big issue that was faced with millions of drivers in history, an Emergency Stop Signal that warns drivers from behind, ESP, and so much more.

Prices start from 1,166,400 Japanese Yen up to 1,737,720 Japanese Yen. Customers can even afford one with or without S-ENE CHARGE but just like the Wagon R, there are differences to these models because on the normal Flair, you can afford an entry-level model with a 5-speed manual gearbox exclusive to this model while on the Flair Custom Style, the 660cc turbocharged engine is available exclusively for that model.

Dismissed.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair

When Suzuki launched the Wagon R a few years ago, Mazda decided to have its own version so they asked Suzuki to borrow one of these and badged it as the Autozam AZ-Wagon in 1994. This kei car has been spawned for four generations and it spawned in either a normal and the stylish Custom Style variant which was based on the Stingray. However, when the fifth generation Suzuki Wagon R was launched last month, Mazda is having some issues whether they decided to borrow one for their next AZ-Wagon or not but they have something else in mind. When Mazda borrowed the 2013 Suzuki Wagon R, they decided that they will no longer be using the AZ-Wagon nameplate and instead they decided to call it the Flair, and hold it, it's not to be confused with the recently launched Flair Wagon, which is based on the Suzuki Palette.

2013 Mazda Flair

Correct, it is essentially a fifth-generation Suzuki Wagon R with some Mazda badges on it. You still get the new mild-hybrid system named "ENE-CHARGE" (short for 'energy charge') and an energy-saving electric air conditioning system dubbed "ECO-COOL". I said that before but in case they forgot, here's a quick recap;

With the R06A engine combined with an electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion battery, this new ENE-CHARGE provides regenerative braking and at least some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine while it can also run certain electrical equipment. With all that technology, the new Wagon R can get up to 28.8km/l in Japan's JC08 driving cycle (67.8mpg US, 3.5lt/100km or 81.4mpg UK).

That makes sense? Good. On the new Mazda Flair and the Mazda Flair Custom Style, they both have the same fuel-saving technology and the 28.8km/L fuel economy. So what are you waiting for? If you are living in Japan, best to rush at your nearest Mazda dealer to check them out by yourself.

PRICE LIST:

660 XG - 1,151,850 Yen
660 XG 4WD - 1,269,450 Yen
660 XS - 1,270,500 Yen
660 XS 4WD - 1,388,100 Yen

660 Custom Style XS - 1,354,500 Yen
660 Custom Style XS 4WD - 1,472,100 Yen
660 Custom Style XT - 1,472,100 Yen
660 Custom Style XT 4WD - 1,634,850 Yen

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation