Third-generation Suzuki Spacia Gear

The Suzuki Spacia Gear is back, and it's now based on the third-generation Spacia that was released last year. This new model is designed for the outdoors and aims to compete with the Daihatsu Tanto FunCross and Mitsubishi Delica Mini.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear

With prices starting at 1,952,500 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new Spacia Gear chomps down its outdoor-oriented kei minivan rivals in the name of fuel efficiency while donning its new and exciting ways to keep it afloat in the midst of the new normal.

The new Suzuki Spacia Gear looks just like the third-generation Spacia. However, Suzuki revived the headlamps from the previous model and added a Jimny-styled grille. Flashbacks are anything but cute for the all-new Spacia Gear until you take a peek at its interior.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear interior

Just like the entire Spacia range, the renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear

The all-new Spacia Gear has Mild Hybrid technology and features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia Gear has 23.9km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. It's the most fuel-efficient outdoor-themed kei minivan ever made and Suzuki is still the king of fuel efficiency.

The Spacia Gear's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Spacia Gear comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as a Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

The all-new Suzuki Spacia Gear is the most expensive of the outdoor-oriented kei minivans, but it's also the most fuel-efficient. That puts its rivals, the Daihatsu Tanto FunCross and Mitsubishi Delica Mini, back into the toybox. With this one, Suzuki is still the king of fuel efficiency, even in the midst of the new normal. Your quiet weekend drive to Mt. Fuji has turned into a fun and fuel-efficient adventure.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mazda New Flair Wagon (MM94S)

Following the launch of the third-generation Suzuki Spacia range, it didn't take long for Mazda to borrow one for its Flair Wagon equivalent.

2024 Mazda Flair Wagon

Starting at 1,541,100 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the third-generation model features two different styles to choose from such as the all-familiar normal Flair Wagon and the stylish Flair Wagon Custom Style.

Apart from the revamped exterior design, the renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations. 

The third-generation Flair Wagon's Mild Hybrid technology features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as the HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia has 25.1km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Flair Wagon Custom Style's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Flair Wagon comes with a suite of safety features such as a Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

If you want a third-generation Spacia but the nearest dealership is a Mazda, this is your answer.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Third-generation Suzuki Spacia

The Suzuki Spacia range is all-new for its third generation as Japan's most fuel-efficient kei minivan has been reloaded with new ways and means to keep its crown.

2024 Suzuki Spacia

2024 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Starting at 1,530,100 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new, third-generation Suzuki Spacia continues to maintain its crown as Japan's most fuel-efficient kei minivan while donning its new and exciting ways and means to keep it afloat in the midst of the new normal.

2024 Suzuki Spacia interior

2024 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

In Spacia tradition, the third-generation model features two different styles to choose from such as the all-familiar normal Spacia and the stylish Spacia Custom that is now highly reminiscent of a Solio Bandit from a long time ago. Whichever Spacia you're on, you'll be greeted with redesigned looks that show not just proof of maturity but also how far the Spacia has gone since the first-generation model came out a decade ago.

The renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations. 

2024 Suzuki Spacia

The third-generation Suzuki Spacia's Mild Hybrid technology features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia has 25.1km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. It's still the most fuel-efficient kei minivan ever made and Suzuki still keeps its laurel intact. 

The Spacia Custom's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Spacia comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

The competition tried messing with the Suzuki Spacia and they failed. The Spacia is still the most fuel-efficient kei minivan ever made and in this third-generation form, the title stands. With its all-new look, convenient interior, and improved efficiency, this is the Suzuki Spacia reloaded for the new normal.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki Spacia Base

The second-generation Suzuki Spacia range, which consists of the normal version, the stylish Custom version, and the utilitarian Gear version, is now offered with a new purpose-built version known as the Spacia Base.

2023 Suzuki Spacia Base interior

2023 Suzuki Spacia Base

Priced at 1,394,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, which is slightly more expensive than the normal Spacia but cheaper to own than the Spacia Gear, this purpose-built version of the second-generation Spacia is built for almost everything life throws at everyone.

For starters, the styling is similar to the current Suzuki Spacia Custom but the grille and bumper accents are smothered in black instead of chrome while the rear side windows are covered in panels, giving the Spacia Base an impression of a blue-collar worker who is ready for full-time, all the time.

On the inside, the Spacia Base works and feels like every other Spacia you've come across but because this is a purpose-built version of the second-generation Spacia, it features an adjustable multi-board where users can turn the Spacia Base into either a mobile desk, a neat little sleeper, or for sorting out deliveries if you're in a mood for Uber Eats or something.

Like most Spacia variants, the Spacia Base runs on a HEARTECT platform and is powered by Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. In its natural aspiration form and CVT gearbox, fuel economy is around 21.2km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Spacia Base comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

The Spacia Base is ready for almost everything thanks to its multi-board feature that gives users the flexibility to do whatever means necessary while on the go, such as conferencing while on the go, deliveries, camping trips, and more. A real blue-collar kei car hero the outgoing type of person needs.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair Wagon Tough Style

2019 Mazda Flair Wagon Tough Style

The latest version of Mazda Flair Wagon has gained the new Tough Style variant days after Suzuki brought in their new Gear variant of the second-generation Suzuki Spacia kei minivan.

Starting at 1,635,200 Japanese Yen, the Flair Wagon Tough Style uses the same look as the normal Flair Wagon, this time borrowing some SUV elements to look tough on the outside much like what the Suzuki Spacia Gear looks like but what's on the inside remains the same as your basic kei minivan you used for work and for play. Whatever that means. On the inside, you will be greeted by its water-resistant seats and some jerry can-style glovebox while retaining the same room height and functionality that works like what the Flair Wagon works for you.

Like most of its brothers in the lineup, the Tough Style is powered by its Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. In its natural aspiration form and CVT gearbox, fuel economy is around 28.2km/L on JC08 mode standards for front-wheel drive variants.

As for safety, it features a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional omni-directional monitor camera package, advance car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

So, if you need a Suzuki Spacia Gear of your own but too lazy to go to the Suzuki dealer and the nearest dealer you can get through is a Mazda dealer, consider this.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Suzuki Spacia Gear

It's been a year since Suzuki gave us the second-generation Spacia kei minivan, in normal and Custom variant, and looks like the leader in fuel-efficient kei cars has launched a newest addition to the second-generation Spacia range and this one looks a bit gutsy because this is the new Spacia Gear, a Spacia that looks like an SUV but it feels like a Spacia we know.

2019 Suzuki Spacia Gear

2019 Suzuki Spacia Gear

The third Spacia variant, the Spacia Gear, is targeted for the adventurous people who like to have a laid-back lifestyle on the great outdoors. Judging by the design, it looks like a mash-up between the normal Spacia and the current Jimny but for some reasons, the Spacia Gear almost copied the looks of the Daihatsu Wake, one of the key opponents of the Spacia Gear. Whatever their reason, the SUV-inspired kei minivan made for the laid-back campers doesn't look that bad and once you step inside...

2019 Suzuki Spacia Gear interior

The Spacia Gear's interior still feels the same as the normal Spacia. The room's tall, it still seats up to five, can be arranged for whatever you want to do with it, decent room in the back for your picnic snacks, so on, so forth. However, since this is the Gear, what you will notice that the instrumental panel reminded us of the X-BEE while the glove compartment design has some jerry can design into it, reflecting its laid-back camp attitude. Oh, the seats do come with waterproof fabric and here's your plus one for you, boy scout.

2019 Suzuki Spacia Gear

Running on a lighter and more rigid HEARTECT platform, the Spacia Gear is powered by Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. In its natural aspiration form and CVT gearbox, fuel economy is around 28.2km/L on JC08 mode standards for front-wheel drive variants while turbo variants can do up to 25.6km/L.

The Gear comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional omni-directional monitor camera package, advance car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more, making the journey home more safe and secure for everyone and such tech gave the Spacia range an ASV++ grade by the JNCAP.

The Spacia Gear starts at 1,614,600 Japanese Yen (less than 800,000 pesos) so if you laid-back campers have that amount of cash, you can buy this not-so-rugged but laid-back Spacia fit for your laid-back lifestyle in the great outdoors.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mazda New Flair Wagon (MM53S)

Following the launch of the second-generation Suzuki Spacia range, it looks like their friends from Mazda wants to be part of it so they are more than happy enough to borrow one of those for their Mazda dealerships as the all-new Mazda Flair Wagon.

2018 Mazda Flair Wagon

Just like we saw with the second-generation Suzuki Spacia, the new Flair Wagon is available in two different styles to choose from; from the basic model which is simple and chic in every single way and the Custom Style variant featuring the front view that was inspired from the Toyota Crown. Need I say more? Anyway, inside, customers will be accommodated with such dimensions sized enough for five people to live with.

Benefiting from its Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine, along with its HEARTECT platform that makes it lighter and more rigid compared to the previous model, the new Flair Wagon's fuel efficiency is around 30.0km/L in JC08 Mode standards while Custom Style variants can do 28.2km/L (with turbo variants exclusive to the Custom Style can do 25.6km/L).

Because the new Flair Wagon is categorized as a "Safety Support Car Wide S, it's been equipped with a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and advance car departure notice function. Apart from that, you can have the Spacia equipped with the omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor featuring for the first time on a kei car, a 3D view of your car that makes parking a lot convenient. Other safety features include the Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and also first for a kei car, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle. Sure, there's a variant that comes with such safety tech but you're more than welcome to drive these with confidence.

The new Flair Wagon starts at 1,333,800 Japanese Yen and while this is basically a new Spacia sold in Mazda dealerships, it still has the efficiency (despite being less efficient than the previous model), the interior, and the safety this kei minivan delivers as well as the pricing. With Mazda removed most of the minivans with sliding doors thanks to the rise of crossovers, especially the recently launched CX-8, this is the only Mazda with a sliding door you can buy.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Second-generation Suzuki Spacia

Four years ago, Suzuki replaced the Palette with the Spacia kei minivan which competes with the likes of the Daihatsu Tanto and Honda N-BOX. With its rivals going on their current stages, the time is just right for the most fuel-efficient kei minivan in Japan to regenerate for its second-generation model, and months after it was previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show last autumn, the new Spacia from Suzuki promises to be better than the previous Spacia as well as its opposition.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Yes, the Spacia is back for the second generation and for this new model, Suzuki promises to be the most fuel-efficient in its class not just because of its mild hybrid system but also because the platform promises to be more engaging than the previous model, something that makes its rivals quaking their boots.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

As always, the Spacia is available in two different styles to choose from. There was the normal Spacia that has the front lamp of the Ignis and the grille of some Suzuki minivan not sold in Japan that I can't mention what that is due to search query reasons, and then there's the stylish Spacia Custom that has the front of a Toyota Crown. See any resemblance? I think there is but still, they're here to satisfy different kinds of first-time buyers. With the normal Spacia starting at 1,274,400 Yen and the Spacia Custom starting at 1,517,400 Yen, you can possibly afford one more than today's Honda N-BOX, making it a fair value.

2018 Suzuki Spacia interior

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

The interior is all new and when you check through the dashboard, it looks exactly like every other new Suzukis ever witnessed like the Ignis and today's Wagon R but because this is a tall car for tall people, the generous dimensions make it possible for someone as tall as I am to live with. 1,410mm of interior height and 2,155mm of interior length, that's how generous the Spacia's interior space is and also, the rear seats can be folded to accommodate some added space for your things.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Like today's Wagon R, the all-new Spacia is powered by Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform that makes it lighter and more rigid compared to the previous Spacia, fuel efficiency is around 30.0km/L in JC08 Mode standards while Custom variants can do 28.2km/L (with turbo variants exclusive to the Custom can do 25.6km/L). While this is the most fuel-efficient kei minivan in its class, it's surprisingly less efficient than the previous Spacia despite the mild hybrid technology so why are you wondering why buy a new Spacia that is less efficient than the old Spacia. That's a good question because Suzuki wanted to be honest about the Spacia's fuel efficiency so they wouldn't disappoint their customers.

Leaving the fuel efficiency fiasco aside, the new Spacia is the safest in its class and it was the first to introduce SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and advance car departure notice function. Apart from that, you can have the Spacia equipped with an omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor featuring for the first time on a kei car, a 3D view of your car that makes parking a lot convenient. Other safety features include the Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and also first for a kei car, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle.

Sure, it may take some time before the new Suzuki Spacia will get noticed but when the time comes, although you may find the design a bit questionable by kei car standards, you will appreciate the efficiency (despite being less efficient than the previous model), the interior, and the safety this kei minivan delivers as well as the pricing. So, fancy having one? Err...Not quite yet but let's wait until someone rings a bell about the second-generation Suzuki Spacia.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki Spacia Custom Z

2017 Suzuki Spacia Custom Z

Let's introduce to the new Suzuki Spacia Custom Z, the latest addition to the Spacia lineup that features a different kind of front face that is even more unique than the regular Spacia Custom model and no matter which customers will be targeted by it, the Spacia Custom Z offers the same features from most of the Spacia range.

While the exterior looks as highly questionable as a youth wearing three noserings on his right side, the interior still retains its class-leading dimensions that fits just about anyone or anything. Apart from that, the Spacial Custom Z still comes with the revolutionary S-ENE-CHARGE system that assists the 660cc R06A engine's acceleration with a motor by adopting the Integrated Starter Generator and a Li-ion battery that specifically made for this system. With that, fuel economy is expected to be around 30.6km/L. 26.8 if you opt for the turbocharged variant, of course.

The Spacia Custom Z also 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. Other features in this new system include a lane departure warning function, and a stagger alarm function, among many others.

The Spacia Custom Z starts at 1,490,400 Japanese Yen, which is somewhat slightly more costly than a normal Spacia Custom, but it still undercuts against rivals like the Daihatsu Tanto Custom or the Mitsubishi eK Space Custom. With this new model, you now have different kinds of Spacia to choose from,

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki Spacia - 2016 minor change

2016 Suzuki Spacia

2016 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Two years ago, Suzuki replaced the Palette kei minivan with the Spacia, in two different flavors ranging from the plain but normal model and the spunky Spacia Custom. Both of them have best-in-class fuel economy benefitted by Suzuki's fuel-efficient technologies that its rivals can't keep up as well as cutting-edge safety features that make them a class apart from its rivals.

Now, they've launched improved versions of both models for the 2016 model year and apart from their updated looks, their class-leading fuel economy has been improved to 32.0km/L by JC08 Mode standards, thanks to the revolutionary S-ENE-CHARGE system that assists the 660cc R06A engine's acceleration with a motor by adopting the Integrated Starter Generator and a Li-ion battery that specifically made for this system.

2016 Suzuki Spacia interior

2016 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

Apart from the added fuel economy, the 2016 minor change features, for the first time, 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. Other features in this new system include a lane departure warning function, and a stagger alarm function, among many others. This new feature is an optional extra for all models.

The Spacia now starts from 1,274,400 to 1,503,360 Yen for the normal models while Custom models start from 1,528,200 to 1,762,560 Yen.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair Wagon Custom Style

2014 Mazda Flair Wagon Custom Style

The Spacia Custom from Suzuki attracted so much attention for those who want a Spacia but the normal design's too vanilla-ish. So attention-grabbing, it seems that Mazda decided to sell their own version of the Suzuki Spacia Custom as the 2014 Mazda Flair Wagon Custom Style. This is the first time they're doing this because last year, the old Palette-based Flair Wagon doesn't have a Custom Style version in a form of a now-extinct Palette SW because it's too late to do so.

With the current Flair Wagon is the Mazda version of the Spacia, then the new Custom Style variant of the Flair Wagon really sums it up as the Mazda version of the Spacia Custom. You still have the SPARKLING LED EYES, the black interior which matches the Custom Style's personality, the optional smartphone-integrated navigation system, and the concessions for convenience that this kei tall wagon can offer.

2014 Mazda Flair Wagon Custom Style interior

Also, you can still expect the Ene-Charge, the Idling Stop, and the Eco-Cool and with this kind of green technology and the CVT as standard, fuel economy is about 27.8kmpl for the naturally aspirated model while the turbocharged model has a fuel economy of 26kmpl.

Prices start at 1,512,000 Japanese Yen.

Suzuki Spacia Custom

The Suzuki Spacia was launched in Japan since March 2013 and it is now Japan's third best selling model after the Toyota Aqua and its rival, the Honda N BOX. I'd never know that the Spacia, which is the replacement for the 5-year old Palette, became the best selling Suzuki in Japan, so best selling, it outsells the Wagon R by a huge margin. It was one of the most successful cars ever sold because of its tall height and eco-friendly performance but the one thing they didn't like about the Spacia is the looks because...it's a bit too vanilla to look at.

Now, however, there is a solution, it's called the Spacia Custom. You get the same attributes from the normal Spacia except now, you're rolling the streets of Shinjuku in style.

2014 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Think of the all new Spacia Custom as the successor of the already stylish Suzuki Palette SW with some sparkling LED eyes as seen on the current Wagon R Stingray but it is quite difficult to explain why...

Firstly, it costs about 1,412,250 Japanese Yen, that's about over 200,000 yen more than the standard Spacia but surprisingly, cheaper than an entry-level Daihatsu Tanto Custom. Of course, you can still expect Suzuki Green Technology implemented on the Spacia Custom. You can expect the Ene-Charge, the Idling Stop, and the Eco-Cool and with this kind of green technology and the CVT as standard, fuel economy is about 27.8kmpl for the naturally aspirated model while the turbocharged model, that is the highlight for the Spacia Custom, has a fuel economy of 26kmpl.

So, job well done but anyway, forget about the performance and eco story for the Spacia Custom. Let's concentrate on the main reason why there are so many Japanese kei car customers out there who want a Spacia are really interested over the Custom version. Well, you know them but even though the Spacia is the best selling Suzuki in Japan, no one really interested on how it looks...especially the big red smiley face on the Spacia logo.

2014 Suzuki Spacia Custom

I've been busy reading the comments out of from the Japanese community saying that they should better wait for this than rather having a normal Spacia with a big red smiley face at the back because not only it's better looking than the normal model but it really reflects their personality. Think about...a change in demographics because as the Japanese population is getting a bit older and more "selfie", the Japanese carmakers are trying to respond very quick to meet the demands and with this, I'm sure your Tito or your Ninong wouldn't rather having you for a ride because this was made by "selfies", for "selfies".

Question, how "selfie" is the new Spacia Custom, perhaps? Well, checking on the design process it looks pretty much the same as the old Palette SW it replaces. I mean, look at the "sparkling LED eyes" at the front, that's kinda look like it's been cut from the Wagon R Stingray and then pasted it on the front of the Spacia. Later on, with the Stingray's front, Suzuki had gone mad with the styling details and then...the big red smiley face from the Spacia logo...is gone! The tall kei car targeted for mommies had been converted into a visual kei's bedroom.

2014 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

In a car like these, the all new Spacia Custom was not made for those who are soccer moms. This was made for those punks who want to "rollin" in style. It's also made for those who are feeling a bit "casual Friday" and for idiots who wished they wanna made a rollercoaster at their own backyard. Hey, wait a minute! That's someone else's idea! You know? The rollercoaster in the backyard? Okay, never mind about that but even it was made to be a head-turner, it's still behaves like a normal car. It's even, as experts claimed, lighter than a Daihatsu Tanto Custom or a Honda N BOX Custom.

2014 Suzuki Spacia Custom

In the interests of convenience, the Spacia Custom never fails in the dimension game because the room is measured at 2215mm long, 1375mm high, and the distance between your foot from the inside to the outside is 340mm, making it a benchmark for the tall kei wagons out there and because the seats are foldable, you can have it either as a relaxing bed for an outdoor break, fold rear seats for luggage purposes, and fold the half of to make room of your bikes or whatever something long.

Because everyone in Japan is growing too much interest to the Spacia Custom, I'm betting that it will outsell the standard model by a huge margin because everyone demanded to have one of these and because of all the stylish looks made for the selfies in Japan and the modest performance, it's an easy choice to have one of these rather than the normal Spacia despite it's over 200,000 yen more.

Available Colors: Steel Silver Metallic, Cool Khaki Pearl Metallic, Luna Grey Pearl Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl 3, Phoenix Red Pearl, Mysterious Violet Pearl, and Pearl White.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair Wagon (2nd generation)

2014 Mazda Flair Wagon

As I speak, Mazda borrowed the 2014 Suzuki Spacia as the basis for its OEM model, the new Mazda Flair Wagon, replacing the Palette-borrowed Flair Wagon model. It's an all new model for Mazda which can rival the likes of the Honda N BOX or the Daihatsu Tanto.

Like the Spacia, the new Flair Wagon comes with the same fuel-efficient features such as Suzuki's Ene-Charge system where with the R06A engine combined with an electric motor and li-ion battery, ENE-CHARGE comes with an regenerative braking system and uses some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine while it can also run certain electrical equipment. It promises a class-leading 29kmpl of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards.

I can also tell you that the new Flair Wagon is available in late April 2013 with the starting price of just 1,265,250 Japanese Yen for the entry level XG model.

Suzuki Spacia (MK32S)

2014 Suzuki Spacia

If you like the Daihatsu Tanto or the Honda N BOX, then Suzuki tries to lash out with its new model that some say this is the replacement to the five-year old Palette tall kei wagon. Uh-huh, this car is the replacement to the Suzuki Palette, it's called the Spacia.

The Spacia, hmmm...this is a tall kei car suitable for those who are housewives or midwives but a different kind of midwives that doesn't have the "Call the Midwife" taste and yes, even though it's just another kei car for these kinds of people, Suzuki claims that this is an all new model, a direct successor to the Palette. Yep, I said that much but how does it differ to the Palette it replaces? First of all, the Spacia uses an entirely new platform so that now...wheelbase is now 2,425mm, that's 25mm more than the Palette it replaces and with that added 25mm of wheelbase really does sums it up to the generous interior space it deserves.

2014 Suzuki Spacia interior

On the interior, it's typical Suzuki kei car interior here and on the new Spacia, like its predecessor the Palette, accommodates up to four people. Thing is though that when you make usog-usog with the rear seats pushing to the back, you might be accommodating about 170mm of legroom and that's also generous. There's one thing though on the front seat because on one seat lies a secret compartment that kinda reminds me of the time the current Mazda Premacy had when it had a secret compartment under the seats. In the Spacia, it's all that simple, find the rope and lift it up so you can find a secret compartment to put something inside and that's convenient if you're hiding a very important stuff from your peers. Kinda feels like there's about 20,000 leagues under the sofa but this isn't the sofa, it's the secret compartment from the Spacia's other front seat.

In a more expensive model, there's one feature that customers going to like and that's the satellite navigation system that integrates Bluetooth connectivity. Which means, that if you have an Apple iPhone with the Mapple Navi app on it and when connected via Bluetooth, this is a wondrous tech-savvy feature that you don't have to use your smartphone as a GPS. Only the Spacia's sat-nav connectivity does the magic for you if you want to go to the nearest grocery or the hospital or back to your work as a midwife.

2014 Suzuki Spacia

Of course, with Suzuki being the leader in fuel efficient cars because the Alto Eco, the Wagon R, and the MR Wagon being the top trumps, the Spacia can easily trump the Tanto and the N BOX alike with its record-high 29kmpl of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards and it comes courtesy of the same fuel-efficient feature that you've expect on the current Suzuki Wagon R. Yes, we're talking about Suzuki Green Technology, Suzuki's new low-fuel consumption technology that won last year's RJC Technology of the Year award.

The Spacia comes served with Ene-Charge, Suzuki's very own mild hybrid energy mechanism, and a new idling stop system. How Ene-Charge works you say? Let's have a recap from last year's Wagon R, okay? Ehem...You see, this Ene-Charge system, with the R06A engine combined with an electric motor and li-ion battery, ENE-CHARGE comes with an regenerative braking system and uses some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine while it can also run certain electrical equipment. So, 29kmpl, how's that feel for a taller kei car that is more fuel efficient than the Tanto or the N BOX? Don't ask me, ask Suzuki because they're the no.1 in fuel efficient cars in Japan right now.

The Spacia also comes with a turbocharged version of the R06A engine complete with Suzuki Green Technology that you get on the current Wagon R. Power is now 64PS and fuel economy for the turbocharged version is 26kmpl.

Available only in Japan this March 2013, the Spacia really knows how to trump the Daihatsu Tanto and the Honda N BOX in terms of fuel efficiency. Yep, Suzuki Motor Corporation still knows how to defend its title of being the only carmaker that makes the most fuel efficient cars on the market today. And if you're reading this from India or Pakistan, NO, THIS FUEL-EFFICIENT KEI-CAR'S NOT FOR YOU, INDIANS AND PAKISTANIS. THIS IS A JAPAN-ONLY CAR. Thank You.

Available colors: Forest Aqua Metallic, Candle Orange Metallic, Silky Silver Metallic, Fizz Blue Pearl Metallic, Innocent Pink Pearl Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl 3, Pearl White, Forest Aqua Metallic White Two Tone Roof, Fizz Blue Pearl Metallic White Two Tone Roof, Candle Orange Metallic White Two Tone Roof, and Innocent Pink Pearl Metallic White Two Tone Roof.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation