Toyota and Mazda Styling Clash in Scion's New iA Sedan
It’s always interesting to see what happens when two automakers work together to create a car. Scion’s collaboration with Mazda to build the Mazda2-based iA sedan has produced a subcompact car that retains a lot of Mazda’s design language.
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Flowing, organic lines are the dominant exterior design theme, but they’re not the only one; the iA does have a unique front end with the kind of gaping maw that we’ve seen on Toyotas lately with the Camry and Avalon sedans. It doesn’t work with the rest of the car’s Mazda-inspired design.
The iA will come in a single trim level priced around $16,000. For that you get interior quality that outshines other compacts on the market; there’s a padded dashboard section, elegantly designed air vents and nice-looking chrome trim. There’s also Mazda’s multimedia system, which has a console knob controller and a screen atop the dashboard. It’s the kind of high-tech interface that’s rare in this class and strays from Scion’s aftermarket approach to multimedia. The front bucket seats are comfortable, and visibility is good.
The backseat, as you might expect, is a tight squeeze for taller adults, but the front seatbacks are soft enough to let your knees comfortably press against them. The bigger impediment to comfort, though, is the upright backrest. I was bothered by it after only being in the car for a moment.
The Scion brand has been around for more than a decade, but it’s only sold coupes and hatchbacks until now. A sedan should make the brand appealing to more buyers, but I wish Scion had given the iA its own identity instead of passing along Mazda’s.
More on the Scion iA:
2016 Scion iA Photo Gallery (20 Photos)
