What Did They Change Anyway? Scion iA vs. Mazda 2

"Blake Noble" (blake-noble)
04/24/2015 at 14:00 • Filed to: What Did They Change?, Scion iA, Mazda 2, Badge Engineering

It’s no secret that the brand-new Scion iA sedan is closely related to the 2016 Mazda 2. But just how close? Thanks to the dark voodoo of state-of-the-art image slider technology, we can find out.

Now, the Scion iA isn’t exactly 100 percent “badge-engineered.” It’s not like the old Dodge Neon and Plymouth Neon where only a handful of badges separated the two cars, anyway. Scion did make a few changes to the Mazda 2. Whether or not those changes were for the better is up to you to decide.

Alright, so let’s dive in and check out our sliders. The Scion iA is on the left. The Mazda 2 is on the right.

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Front three-quarter view:

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Rear three-quarter view:

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Interior:

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Let’s quickly run through a list or two of what changed and what didn’t.

What Changed:

The front fascia. The Scion iA looks like a giant fish. Or maybe an angry Ford Fiesta with a mustache and flabby Richard Nixon jowls. Also, it appears that it lacks provisions for fog lights. The Mazda looks sportier, sleeker and trimmer. The chrome trim that frames the grille also lends an upscale feel to the design.

The headlights. The Scion iA and the Mazda 2 do not share the same headlight design. The Scion’s headlights are more of a teardrop shape and the lighting elements lack detailing. They look rather cheap. The Mazda’s are sort of a triangular shape and the lighting elements have some chrome embellishments. Like the grille, the Mazda’s headlights look more upscale.

The taillights. The Scion has clear taillight lenses for that dope Altezza look, yo. The Mazda has red lenses because it’s not trying to cash in on teenaged angst.

The instrument cluster. Believe it or not, the Scion’s instrument cluster is different from the Mazda’s. The Mazda has a prominent central tachometer with a digital speedometer in the lower right hand corner. The Scion only has a speedometer and no tach.

What Didn’t:

The doors, front and rear quarter panels... the entire bodyshell, really. The Mazda looks like a Mazda while the Scion looks like a Mazda. It’s going to be awkward seeing the iA parked next to a tC.

The wheel designs. Really? Come on, Scion. Even GM will change up wheel designs when it brand-modifies a car. I mean, you put all of that effort into designing a new front fascia and you couldn’t be bothered here?

The rear bumpers and decklids. Yep. This is still the same.

The interior. Despite the instrument cluster differing between the Scion and the Mazda, the interior is pretty much identical between the two cars. Which means the Scion is going to feel really awkward around the iM, the FR-S and the tC. Especially the tC and the iM.

That’s about all I can see. Is there anything else you can spot? If so, drop a line down in the comments.

(A special thanks to Adam Pash for hooking me up with his nifty image slider tool!)

Want to suggest a car for the next installment of What Did They Change? That’s easy. Just holler at me !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and I’ll be sure to include it in a future write-up.

DISCUSSION (53)

daender > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 14:04

The A/C controls are also different. I sorta like the Scion’s analogue-look more than the chrome ones on the Mazda..

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 14:08

Now if only Scion could ditch the iA, iM names. I mean what was wrong with Xs?

Funktheduck > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 14:13

The gauge cluster and AC controls are the same on the scion as my Mazda3.

My tach is digital to the left of the speedometer. Might be what's going on in the scion

Nibbles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 14:31

Hokay, how do the rest of us unwashed masses get access to these neat slidybar image crapper things

Funktheduck > daender
04/24/2015 at 14:33

The A/C controls are the same as my 3 or at least looks that way. Strange

TheHondaBro > Nibbles
04/24/2015 at 14:42

HTML, methinks.

Matthew Phillips > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 14:46

I bet the Scion offers an awesome payment plan.

Blake Noble > Funktheduck
04/24/2015 at 15:00

I think the Scion has old school mechanical controls and the Mazda has electronic ones.

Blake Noble > daender
04/24/2015 at 15:01

Good catch! It looks like the Scion might use mechanical controls. Not 100 percent sure, but they are different nonetheless.

Blake Noble > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
04/24/2015 at 15:03

Eh, the only remarkable name out of that bowl of alphabet soup was “xB.” The other two were sort of forgettable.

I personally think they should’ve named this “Prism.”

Because that’s what it is. It’s Toyota’s own Geo Prism. How ironic.

MIATAAAA > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:03

With any luck, in a year or two, you’ll be able to get a slightly ugly Mazda 2 for considerably cheaper than an actual Mazda 2.

I could handle the ugly if it means a couple thousand $$$s in my pocket.

Blake Noble > Matthew Phillips
04/24/2015 at 15:03

And no-haggle pricing! Just like Saturn... oh wait.

Blake Noble > Nibbles
04/24/2015 at 15:05

I don’t want to risk pissing anyone off by sharing the link. Not that I think that I would, but I want to err on the side of caution regardless.

If you do some sleuthing however, you’ll get pointed in the right direction. My personal advice? Just reach out to the guy who made the tool and see what he says.

Blake Noble > TheHondaBro
04/24/2015 at 15:07

Sort of. It seems you can’t just use any HTML code for image sliders to work with Kinja. It has to be specific.

Blake Noble > Funktheduck
04/24/2015 at 15:09

Good point. As far as I can tell, though, it looks like it’s just a speedometer.

Blake Noble > MIATAAAA
04/24/2015 at 15:10

Maybe. I’m starting to think a similar Mazda 2 would cost the same the Scion though. We’ll see.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:12

No it’s more like a Metro.

My problem with the name is it make me think ot iPod, or iPhone, and all the other electronic devices that copied that idea. So these “hot new” models, are using a naming trend that happened about 10-15 years ago. Or you know they could just give them names.

Nibbles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:13

I was one word away from finding it

I promise I will likely try to remember to not abuse the system

maybe

Blake Noble > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
04/24/2015 at 15:19

You know, Scion might just be the perfect opportunity for Toyota to unleash its Japanese product naming team on America...

I can see it now. Scion Happy Fighter. Scion Super Hyper Turbo Coupe. Scion Nude.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:22

yes

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:22

The iA could be the Scion Fishy Fishy

Thunderface > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:24

I’d say the look suits the Mazda better

MIATAAAA > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:37

Yeah, but I think the Scion won’t sell as well and dealer incentives will be higher on the Scion, eventually. Just a guess.

Blake Noble > MIATAAAA
04/24/2015 at 15:37

Touche, sir.

TxBrumski > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 15:54

Scion: Exhaust on the passenger side.

Mazda: Exhaust on driver’s side.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 16:00

Much more aggressively creased rear “spoilish” on the Mazda.

Blake Noble > TxBrumski
04/24/2015 at 16:05

Ignore that. I forgot to mention somewhere that I had to mirror the Mazda 2’s image in the second slider to have the correct angle.

Blake Noble > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
04/24/2015 at 16:07

The rear lip spoiler on the Mazda2 is probably an option.

TxBrumski > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 16:08

Ahhh, gotcha. That makes more sense.

wkiernan > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 17:23

Imagine the hood ornaments you could come up with for the Scion Nude!

turbojames > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 17:28

Oh my god... Scion even made the pictures of the interior boring. Let's see- cheap design, far removed from its handsome base: check. Crap headlights: check. Lazy engineering, including not changing the wheels or much anything else except the new face: check. It's a checklist of shit.

wafflesnfalafel > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 23:01

I can’t believe they used the same wheels... they arn’t even all that good looking

Blake Noble > turbojames
04/24/2015 at 23:29

I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of the changes that separate the Scion from the Mazda. But I guess that might be evident from reading the article.

I’m a fan of the idea behind this car, though. I personally wish Toyota could remember how to build a sporty, cheap small car of its own again.

Blake Noble > wafflesnfalafel
04/24/2015 at 23:30

Ultimately, I have to agree here.

turbojames > Blake Noble
04/24/2015 at 23:32

But there’s also Scion’s shitty brand image: read “Scion has #no #idea #what #it’s #doing” on Jalopnik

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MIATAAAA
04/25/2015 at 00:37

It likely won’t hold it’s value as well either. Although it is a “Toyota”... or at least that’s what the salesmen will tell you.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > wafflesnfalafel
04/25/2015 at 00:39

not surprising even the FR-S and BRZ have the same wheels. You would think tho that the Scion would have steelies as standard. I suppose it could tho.

also it looks like the Mazda has the center, and inside edge of the spokes painted a dark grey, so that’s something.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Blake Noble
04/25/2015 at 05:06

Kinja'd!!!

This is adorable, the other one is just a fish

fhrblig > Blake Noble
04/25/2015 at 09:15

You know what bugs me about this? Toyota has had access to a bunch of funky Daihatsus they could have brought here instead, even going back to when Scion first appeared. I don’t know if the Kei cars could or would have made it here (though they did sell the iQ which is damn small), but what about the Boon/Sirion/Toyota Passo? Even the Terios might have been a good idea. If Honda sends that little S660 roadster here, it seems like the new Copen could be a good competitor. I think they’ve missed an opportunity there.

Takuro Spirit > Blake Noble
04/25/2015 at 09:51

Step 1: Buy Mazda2 at employee price

Step 2: Buy Scion parts at employee price

Step 3: ????

Step 4: CONFUSION!!!

AisforApple > Blake Noble
04/25/2015 at 15:04

I definitely like the Mazda front end better. The “catfish” look on the Toyotas isn’t a design I like. My opinion, but given the other similarities, it really comes down to opinions on cosmetics. Yes, the iA will look pretty different from other Scions, but it sometimes takes something different to show what works and what doesn’t. I have a feeling the iA interior will make the other Scion’s look cheap, forcing Toyota to upgrade the others or have Mazda downgrade the iA interior

stagehand38 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/26/2015 at 03:02

Where shall I start.......”slider technology”!?!? Where? You couldn’t even manage to size the photographs properly!

Blake, your so busy trying to be clever that you only end up looking stupid, lazy, and petty!

If you had done the minimum homework, then you would have known that in the world market....the Mazda also has a speedo in the central position.....on the base model!

You must spend most of your day playing with your pud!!!

p00pman > Blake Noble
04/30/2015 at 11:52

has mazda fixed their rust issues yet? I really want a new mazda2 but if they are anything like the last ones when it comes to rust, no thanks.

Blake Noble > p00pman
04/30/2015 at 12:04

Good question. The recent crop of Mazda models haven’t been around long enough for anyone to know if they’ll have the rust issues of their predecessors.

I want to believe they’ve sorted that out, though. We’ll see.

TheMoosiah > Blake Noble
04/30/2015 at 12:12

Wait, what’s the Mazda/Scion connection? Anyone care to explain the business connect? I know Scion/Toyota is a thing, wasn’t aware of anything Mazda/Toyota/Scion.

Rocket Doc > Blake Noble
04/30/2015 at 12:18

Because the car isn’t on, so the LCDs flanking the speedo aren’t lit. The Scion’s interior is 100% Mazda, which makes some of the comments about cheapness and bad design compared to the “real” Mazda2 amusing. I believe all of the apparent differences are attributable to the Mazda2 showing the interior of a US Grand Touring equivalent in parchment leather, while the Scion is black, making it look worse to begin with, and uses parts mostly from a US Touring w/o Tech Package equivalent with maybe a few items (most notably, the plastic steering wheel) from a US Sport equivalent. Or maybe its a Sport interior with a few items, like the padded dash, from a Touring. The climate controls, e. g., are different because they’re manual, not the dual-zone automatic seen in the Mazda. The mazda.co.uk web site has their Mazda2 configurator up, so you can explore the possibilities; the trim names are quite different but you can see the differences between low and high and black vs. light.

p00pman > Blake Noble
04/30/2015 at 12:35

it's a shame because as far as driving enjoyment goes and style, I like the mazda2's, 3's and 6's the best out of all their competition. but everytime mazda says they fixed it, sure enough within 2 years after they come out with a new model people start showing rust issues especially in the rear wheel well. It seems like it would be such a simple issue for them to solve, too. Literally rust is the only reason why I've never owned a mazda, unless you count a 2nd gen probe or a 2nd gen escort but those were beaters.

jtecho > Blake Noble
04/30/2015 at 14:20

Kinja'd!!!

the mazda is wayy sexier the scion is crap

Big Russ > Thunderface
04/30/2015 at 15:40

For the same money my ass is gonna say Zoom Zoom

Keaton Belliston > Blake Noble
05/03/2015 at 01:10

Why would someone buy the Mazda2 in any body style other than a hatch?? It’s funny how these companies have to spoon feed us Americans with sedans, usually compromising any style originally there. I’m curious if Europeans as many sedan versions of various cars... The Ford Focus & Fiesta are perfect examples of how ugly and less practical these sedans are compared to hatchbacks! The Chevy Sonic, too!

Coupster > Blake Noble
05/20/2015 at 16:02

Will the U.S. even see a Mazda 2 sedan? I bet since they gave Scion the sedan, Mazda will only sell the 2 hatchback here in the states.

thejahbro > Blake Noble
08/14/2016 at 08:43

Jesus, so everything Toyota fucked with they ended up making it worse than the original. Fuck you Toyota!!

Mikemc422 > p00pman
08/13/2017 at 06:38

I have the iA, a 2016, and I’ve had rust issues already, on the outside of the right hand wheel well and the inside of the front fenders, plus the bottoms of all the doors. They fixed it under warranty but it came back after a few more months. I don’t have snow, but I drive on beaches regularly but not through water so it shouldn’t have rust already. Lots of mechanical problems though, definitely don’t recommend the car to anyone. I’ve had it for 13 months and I’m already looking to trade it in.