Yaris returns for 2016

[428CobraJet]

So says half way down this ia article.

(Incidentally, Toyota will continue selling us the French-built Yaris for now in hatchback form only, although the next-gen model eventually*moves to the Mazda 2 platform, as well.)*

http://m.caranddriver.com/reviews/20...t-drive-review

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

So says half way down this ia article.

(Incidentally, Toyota will continue selling us the French-built Yaris for now in hatchback form only, although the next-gen model eventually*moves to the Mazda 2 platform, as well.)*

http://m.caranddriver.com/reviews/20...t-drive-review

Great link, and great news if this turns out to be the case. Perhaps influenced by increased sales for the 2015 and Mazda's decision to keep the 2 out of their U.S. lineup for the time being.

I like the Scion iA, I just wish it had the iM's dash (I only like that stand up screen when it can disappear inside the dash...like in an Audi) and could keep the same styling as the sedan but in a hatch.

I don't like the view of the rear of the iM .

Great that the iA has highway MPG estimates at least as good as the 2007-2012 Yaris sedan .

[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.

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. Either my sense of aesthetics are way off the norm, or Toyota (among others) needs to start doing some serious public opinion polling/research in various markets on their designs.

On the bright side, surely some smart aftermarket company will come along with an alternative front bumper/grill for the iA - and probably make a LOT of money in the process.

On a related note, I wonder how the long-term reliability of the iA (or upcoming Mazda2 version of the Yaris in a few years) will compare to established Toyota quality standards.

[fnkngrv]

Yup. There has been a TON of discussion about this and the iM on social media. Most of it honestly not good especially for the iA. People are pissed that Yota is doing pretty much a direct rebadge of another manufacturer in the Scion brand. This is a first unless mistaken. I have not seen one person....not one out of my other groups express interest in purchasing one. That includes a group that I am in with over 6k active members.

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[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 .

[Thebigwicks]

I actually kinda dig the ia. It kinda reminds me of the fiesta front end. I think they would looked good lowered, but maybe that's just the kid in me talking.

[Thebigwicks]

However not being offered in at least a 5 speed is a deal breaker for me.

[fnkngrv]

The whole issue is that it really isn't a Yaris. :-(

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[invader166]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

The whole issue is that it really isn't a Yaris. :-(

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Exactly! To me it just looks like they took the front end grill from a Ford, slapped it on a Mazda 3 and called it a day.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

My lease for my Avalon is up in July of 2016. You guys think I will have trouble getting a 16 SE at that point?

[BLKHILLSGUY]

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.

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. Either my sense of aesthetics are way off the norm, or Toyota (among others) needs to start doing some serious public opinion polling/research in various markets on their designs.

On the bright side, surely some smart aftermarket company will come along with an alternative front bumper/grill for the iA - and probably make a LOT of money in the process.

On a related note, I wonder how the long-term reliability of the iA (or upcoming Mazda2 version of the Yaris in a few years) will compare to established Toyota quality standards.

I highly doubt the re-badged Mazda's will EVER be as reliable as a Yaris. Mazda is good, but Toyota reliability is on a whole other higher level.

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I highly doubt the re-badged Mazda's will EVER be as reliable as a Yaris. Mazda is good, but Toyota reliability is on a whole other higher level.

Actually we have a Mazda 2, it has held up nicely so far without any issues at all. It's a company car, so its taken abuse.

Even our Mazda 3's did not have any major breakdown. None of them have rusted either.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

The whole issue is that it really isn't a Yaris. :-(

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I know, but for some there is an emotional connection to the name, even if it is only called that in other markets.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

My lease for my Avalon is up in July of 2016. You guys think I will have trouble getting a 16 SE at that point?

IIRC, in early August of 2014 (when I was shopping for my 2014) there were under 10 manual 2014 SEs and only 20 some odd 2014 SEs overall in the entire United States.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Thebigwicks

However not being offered in at least a 5 speed is a deal breaker for me.

If you are referring to the French built Yaris (and previously the Japan built USDM Yaris), that is just a Gulf States Toyota thing. When Toyota first came to the U.S., they did so via setting up independent distributorships around the country. The parent company has bought up all but two of those distributorships, whose owners won't sell. Those two are Gulf States Toyota and Southeast Toyota. Gulf States covers 5 states, including Texas and Louisiana. Southeast covers 5 states, including Florida. For some reason, Gulf States doesn't want to order any of their Yaris count with manual transmissions.

[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".