Yaris returns for 2016

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

What a waste of a good Mazda2 sedan. The European, Asian, and other auto markets seem to get all the good cars, versions, and options.

Sadly, I agree.

That "angry fish" front-end on the iA is a total 100% deal-breaker for me, and makes the 2015 Yaris front look like a masterpiece of design by comparison

I agree the Yaris is a better design, but I don't mind either of them. I'm not a sedan person (especially at this size point/level), but if I had to have a sedan under 20k I might pick this one.... a lot of features for under 17k. Perhaps this is unjustified, but I'd worry what the SE Texas sun would do to that screen housing (same re Phoenix and Las Vegas). As you mention later, I also wonder if it would live up to Toyota's long term reliability standards.

I think the author of the article agrees with you re the design. I seem to remember a line about swapping the nose for the nose of the Mazda 2 sedan .

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Perhaps this is unjustified, but I'd worry what the SE Texas sun would do to that screen housing (same re Phoenix and Las Vegas)

AFTER posting this, I read a post on a different site that discussed this same concern.....and also mention Audi's superior (albeit likely more expensive) solution.

[Flipper_1938]

Mazda as a whole, doesn't have great reliability. You don't hear many people talking about 500,000 trouble free miles from a Mazda. I don't think that a Mexican Mazda could be better than one built in Japan.....

I won't buy a Mazda or a Toyota badged Mazda.

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Mazda as a whole, doesn't have great reliability. You don't hear many people talking about 500,000 trouble free miles from a Mazda. I don't think that a Mexican Mazda could be better than one built in Japan.....

I won't buy a Mazda or a Toyota badged Mazda.

I think that Mazda has made great strides forward since they managed to disengage themselves from Ford - most notably on their newer "SkyActiv" design offerings. Also, I think that their new partnership with Toyota will elevate them further. Only time will tell though.

In the meantime, I see no reason to buy a Mazda2 in any form, when the latest Yaris SE (in manual) provides plenty of well-balanced "Zoom Zoom" driving fun, refinement, and sharp looks. If it had 125-130 Hp instead of 106 (and a 5-spd auto in the case of automatics), it would be damn-well nearly perfect as far as I am concerned. Plus, the current Yaris isn't saddled with all the unnecessary 'tech bloat' of the new2016 iA/Mazda2, iM, and most-likely the 2017 next-gen "Yaris".

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Mazda as a whole, doesn't have great reliability. You don't hear many people talking about 500,000 trouble free miles from a Mazda. I don't think that a Mexican Mazda could be better than one built in Japan.....

I won't buy a Mazda or a Toyota badged Mazda.

Completey agree.