Toyota's new subcompact will use Mazda's Skyactiv engine

[Thirty-Nine]

The Prius c is outselling the Yaris is outselling the Yaris by more than a 2:1 ratio. Plus, there isn't much profit to be made on the Yaris, so there isn't much marketing. Totally not surprising. This is the case with most subcompact cars in the lineup.

Case in point, my buddy and I were car shopping yesterday. Stopped at the Mazda dealer to look at a Mazda2. First thing the guy said was, "Have you considered the Mazda3? It's bigger, gets better fuel economy ..."

Bring you in with the cheap subcompact in hopes of upselling you. After BSing with the sales guys (it was late and slow), they sales manager said they don't make any money on Mazda2s at all. He actually said after everything is said and done, the dealer takes a $795 loss on each Mazda2 they sell. While I'm sure they get some sort of kickback or incentive for selling damn near anything on the lot, I also believe they make nearly nothing if nothing on the sale of the subcompact Mazda. I'm guessing it's that way all around, too.

I think we'll see more of this platform/engine sharing as manufacturers look to cut costs and increase profits on small cars.