2016 Scion iA First Test Review - Motor Trend
As a maker of good first cars, Scion shares a reputation for reliability and stellar resale value with its parent company, Toyota. After discontinuing a few models, the Mazda2-based 2016 Scion iA sedan is now the brand’s entry-level model. We spent a few nights in a blue iA with the six-speed manual to see if we could answer a pressing question: Could the newest Scion be the right car for the job. An agreement between Mazda and Toyota resulted in Scion gaining exclusive distribution rights for the Mazda2 sedan in North America. That is to say, the iA is a Mazda2 sedan with a Scion front fascia and Scion badges. From the side you can see the larger Mazda3 sedan in the swooping character lines. We imagine after taking school pictures with the rest of the Toyota and Scion Class of 2016, the iA probably didn’t win the yearbook vote for “Best Teeth. Mazda makes some of the most entertaining fuel-sippers in the compact segment, so we expected that the 2016 iA would have driving dynamics in the bag, but when we saw the spec sheet, our hearts dropped. At least the EPA estimates were respectable at 31/41 mpg city/highway with the manual and 33/42 mpg with the automatic, both six-speed units. We hopped into the Scion iA, depressed the clutch, and were greeted with a not unpleasant engine note. Source: www.motortrend.com
