Is the Scion iA a Mazda?
The Scion iA is not a Mazda-branded car, but it is closely tied to Mazda engineering. It originated as a Mazda2-based sedan sold under Toyota's Scion banner, and it later became part of Toyota’s Yaris lineup.
Origins: A Mazda2 under a different badge
The Scion iA is the North American version of Mazda's subcompact Mazda2 sedan, redesigned with Toyota branding for the Scion division. Mazda supplied the underlying architecture, engine, and many engineering elements to create a car that fit Scion's entry-level lineup while leveraging Mazda’s know-how.
Key facts about the iA's origins and relationship to Mazda:
- Based on Mazda's Mazda2 sedan platform (the DJ/DE chassis lineage)
- Designed by Mazda for Toyota's Scion brand as an entry-level model
- Powered by Mazda's SKYACTIV-G 1.5-liter engine with transmissions shared with the Mazda2
- Manufactured by Mazda (for Scion/Toyota) and later marketed under Toyota after Scion's branding was retired
The Scion iA thus represents a close collaboration in which Mazda provided the core design, engineering, and production framework, while Toyota marketed the car under Scion before shifting branding to Toyota’s lineup.
Renaming and market fate
To understand its branding story, it helps to trace how the iA evolved in the market landscape:
- 2016: Scion introduces the iA as part of its new model lineup
- 2017: Scion is discontinued as a brand; the iA is relaunched in the U.S. as Toyota Yaris iA
- Subsequently: The model continues as a Toyota Yaris in many markets, with the Scion badge phased out
These branding shifts reflect Toyota’s decision to absorb Scion models into the Toyota lineup while preserving the Mazda2-based underpinnings that powered the car.
What this means for buyers today
If you encounter a Scion iA today, it’s essentially a Mazda2-based vehicle that was sold under Scion and later rebranded as a Toyota Yaris. For buyers, the practical takeaway is that the car’s core mechanicals come from Mazda, but branding, trims, and dealer logistics have been handled by Toyota rather than Mazda. The Scion name itself is no longer in use, and the lineage continues under Toyota’s Yaris umbrella.
Summary
The Scion iA is not a Mazda-branded car, but it is a Mazda-designed and Mazda-built version of the Mazda2 that Toyota marketed under the Scion banner. After Scion was retired, the model lived on as the Toyota Yaris iA, and most markets now list it simply as the Toyota Yaris. In short, it’s a Mazda-origin car with Toyota branding, not a Mazda badged vehicle.
What brands owns Mazda?
Mazda, founded in 1920 as Toyo Cork Kogyo, became an independent automaker. It gained renown for its unique rotary engines and innovative vehicle designs. Ford owned a 33.4% stake in Mazda until 2015, ending its control. Mazda is now independent, with a strategic alliance with Toyota (5.05% stake).
Is a Scion iA a Mazda?
And it was started in 2003. And it went from 2003 to about 2017. And in 2016 they had a model That was all Mazda. And that was an iteration of a Mazda 2 hatchback which they didn't sell in the states.
What is the Scion iA based on?
The 2016 Scion iA is based on the redesigned Mazda2 sedan, from which it was rebadged and sold. It shares the same platform, chassis, and mechanical components as the Mazda2, which was manufactured in Mazda's new factory in Mexico. Subtle exterior differences like the front fascia, headlights, and taillights are the main distinguishing features.
- Mazda2 sedan: The Scion iA is a platform twin to the 2016 Mazda2 sedan that was sold in other markets but not the U.S.
- Mechanicals: The engine, transmission, and other mechanical components are sourced from Mazda.
- Manufacturing: Both cars are built on the same platform at Mazda's factory in Mexico.
- Branding: The relationship was part of a partnership between Mazda and Toyota (which owned Scion), and the car was later rebadged as the Toyota Yaris iA after the Scion brand was discontinued.
Is Scion Toyota or Mazda?
Scion was a marque of Toyota that debuted in 2003 and was available only in the United States and Canada.
