The $10k (in Japan) Mazda Flair isn't too good to be true. It's too good to be allowed. It would give Americans the kind of relief from high prices Trump promised but never delivered. It would create an incentive for other car companies to at least offer affordable options. But it's not an option that will be available to Americans – Trump's already forgotten promise about "tiny cars" notwithstanding.

The Flair is not an untenable, impractical vehicle that people wouldn't want to buy. It's just small and basic. The distinction is important. Unlike an old VW Beetle – which barely had heat – the Flair comes standard with AC. It also comes standard with four doors and an automatic transmission, power steering and power windows. It has a powerful enough three cylinder engine augmented by a mild hybrid system that gives it enough pep to be viable in traffic and on the highway. Top speed is about 90 MPH; if you want to go faster, there's an optional turbocharged engine that bumps the top speed up to about 112 MPH. A vehicle that is capable of going that fast can easily go as fast as 65-75 – which is what the speed limit is on most American highways.

This little Mazda is also very fuel-efficient. It averages about 50 MPG, very close to the mileage touted by the most fuel-efficient vehicle Americans are allowed to buy – the Toyota Prius. Just for less than half the asking price of a Prius. There's also an XS variant that has AWD and rugged, Jeep-like styling affectations. It's not a Jeep, of course. But then, the least expensive new Jeep you can buy is the $29,550 Compass – which is about $20k more expensive to buy than the Flair.

Imagine what a used Flair would cost. If such vehicles were available, there would be a plethora of viable, very affordable used cars available. It would be like it used to be – when almost anyone could afford a car – but no longer is. 

So why aren't Americans allowed to buy the Flair? It's more accurate to say why isn't Mazda allowed to sell the Flair to Americans? This is also a distinction that's important. Trump misled Americans about "tiny cars" such as the Flair (there are many others) when he said he would allow them to be made in America. When people heard that, they thought they heard Trump say that these "tiny cars" (Kei cars, in Japan) would soon be available to buy in America. This is an example of the Art of the Con. Let people hear what they want to believe. Then hope they forget all about it after awhile. The $5,000 DOGE refund checks are another example of this technique of Trump's.