What are your favorite non-Yaris alternatives, and why?

[Kalispel]

I just don't trust the quality of Korean car manufacturers (sort of a gut feeling sort of thing), and their styling is a bit cheesy/weird to me for the most part. I like the look of several U.S. manufacturer cars, but will never trust their quality/craftsmanship.

I think Mazda has come a long way since their partnership with Ford, and their quality has slowly increased in the years since - especially with their "skyactiv" design philosophies. I would have considered a 2016 Mazda2 Sedan, had they ever decided to release it here in the States without the unsightly Scion bastardization of it. Hell, even the previous generation of the Mazda2 sedan was a sharp looking car, and should have been released in the U.S. instead of the hatchback (or at least alongside it). Likewise, their decision to pull the 2016 Mazda2 hatchback release from the U.S. market, in favor of focusing on the new CX-3 release, was a big disappointment. The cheesy over-sized wheels of the CX-3 and higher stance just don't do it for me - but I am sure it will be a HUGE success for Mazda, just as the new HR-V will be for Honda.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

I just don't trust the quality of Korean car manufacturers (sort of a gut feeling sort of thing), and their styling is a bit cheesy/weird to me for the most part. I like the look of several U.S. manufacturer cars, but will never trust their quality/craftsmanship.

I think Mazda has come a long way since their partnership with Ford, and their quality has slowly increased in the years since - especially with their "skyactiv" design philosophies. I would have considered a 2016 Mazda2 Sedan, had they ever decided to release it here in the States without the unsightly Scion bastardization of it. Hell, even the previous generation of the Mazda2 sedan was a sharp looking car, and should have been released in the U.S. instead of the hatchback (or at least alongside it). Likewise, their decision to pull the 2016 Mazda2 hatchback release from the U.S. market, in favor of focusing on the new CX-3 release, was a big disappointment. The cheesy over-sized wheels of the CX-3 and higher stance just don't do it for me - but I am sure it will be a HUGE success for Mazda, just as the new HR-V will be for Honda.

I think Ford benefitted from the Mazda partnership much more than Mazda benefitted. I remember the Ford Festiva, Mercury Tracer, Escorts, etc. Much higher build quality than Ford was doing at that time. Mazda brought the quality to that party. It wasn't Ford.