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After officially giving the Mazda2 its North America reveal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in January, Mazda Canada announced, nearly 10 months later, it will not sell the subcompact hatchback in the country.
“Following a thorough evaluation of the B-car segment, Mazda Canada has decided not to launch the new generation Mazda2 in Canada,” Mazda Canada said in a statement released Monday.
Instead, the company will focus on its CX lineup, including the CX-3, CX-5 and new, upcoming CX-9 to be revealed for the first time this week in Los Angeles.
Mazda Canada had officially delayed the subcompact earlier this year, stating that a busy launch schedule would stretch resources too thin. The automaker also launched the brand-new subcompact CX-3 crossover, which is based on the Mazda2, and refreshed versions of the Mazda6 and CX-5 this year.
Built in Mexico and sold in the United States as a Scion iA — though as a sedan instead of a hatchback when badged a Scion — the Mazda2 was supposed to come to Canada, but not the United States. Instead, Canadians looking for some zoom-zoom in their subcompact will have to check out the Toyota Yaris Sedan, a Canada-only model that’s identical to the Scion iA sedan in the United States.
AWD is king in the great white north, and the cheaper they are the better.
I mean, legions of compact car and Dodge Grand Caravans make up our best sellers list every year, so it’s not like small, cheap, or FWD is an issue. But then, even up here, subcompacts are still a fringe segment.
Interesting that MazdaUSA spent the time and money to submit it to the EPA (the 2015 Mazda2 has an entry at fueleconomy.gov) and then decided not to sell it.
It’s also hilarious that the only way you can buy a subcompact Mazda in North America is to buy a Scion iA – which are selling like hotcakes, BTW.
Who knew that the Scion iA, a car of which C/D opined:
“A face that makes you want to drive it with a paper bag over your head—which we do not recommend.”
would sell so well to the aesthetically-challenged. To me it is the dullest, sorriest-looking little big nose Noddy car on the market.
I guess the goodness of the Mazda mechanicals overrides the desperate looks Toyota ladled onto the good-looking Mazda2.
In Canada, Toyota manned up and calls it a Yaris, thereby avoiding the cost of shipping the previous model Yaris from France where they screw it together.
As for Mazda, why sell the Mazda2 when you can churn this iA thing out in Mexico alongside the 3? The CX-3 based on the Mazda2 is made in Japan, so it’s not a capacity problem.
Correction. Mazda started making the CX-3 in Thailand as well starting October 26.
Mazda did end up selling the Mazda2 hatch in Puerto Rico and I’m assuming other US territories too. Not sure if the trouble would be worth it but I guess they thought it would make it to Canada when they were testing it.
Was this an internal decision by Mazda, or part of the deal with Toyota?
Good question. They probably determined that they could sell more of these if they just let Toyota do it.
Just sell it as the Yaris hatchback. The Scion is doing decently as a sedan-only model. Put a Toyota badge on the hatchback and it could do some damage in the B-segment.
I believe that’s what will happen when the Yaris is refreshed.
According to TrueCar, average transaction prices where I live are:
CX-3 – $26,563
iA – $17,642
Hmmm. Wonder why they want to build the ute instead? Total mystery.
Gotta fund that rotary research.
The term “crossover” has been diluted as much as has “hero” by Fox and CNN.
The CX-3 is only 0.7″ taller than the current Honda Fit.
“Crossover” increasingly signifies merely a tubby hatchback with over-sized wheels.
And any gain in ride height as a result of those wheels is automatically compensated for by a lower greenhouse every refresh, steadily compressing passenger space and the crucial seat-bottom to door-top distance for easy entry.
“Crossovers” have therefore developed a unique kind of suck for the AARP contingent not even presented by modern sedans with lower seats to ameliorate the ever-lower rooflines.
If the floorpan to ceiling distance is the same, which I imagine it would be as changing that would require retooling of major crash structures, it’s no biggie. Yes, the bigger wheel wells encroaching on passenger space sucks, but sincerely the wheel-to-metal ratio has been drifting to hideously low levels over the last decade. For me, a CX-3 with stickshift, painted fender blisters and lowering springs sounds nice. Base one weighs less than a MAzda 3 with the same engine and the shape is nicer IMO. Dont cry
…looks like our only hope for getting the skyactive 2 stateside is to import through a puerto-rican dealership: do canadians have a similar market loophole at their disposal?..
Buy a Scion iA and then buy/import/install new front bumper, badges, etc.
…yeah, but then you’re stuck with a sedan, plus i think it’s a yaris up in canadia…
The first Mazda2 was kind of a flop in the US/CAN, no? Every time I see one I just think how sad the driver must be, to be at the wheel of something so awful.
Outdated drivetrain, cheap interior, and poor NVH. The new model improves significantly in all of those areas.
Sat in one at an autoshow last year. Limited rear seat legroom with front seats pushed back. It appeared to have a removable tablet for backup /NAV. Which I thought was neat. I liked it. Looked more promising than Mirage/Micra and previous 2.
I don’t understand why, after certifying it, why they wouldn’t just throw it in the showrooms and let it sell. I understand that Mazda has a limited budget and didn’t want to spend to advertise it, but when was the last time you saw any ad for a subcompact car? From what I’ve read, the Mazda2 is a nice little car. Why not have it?
That said, the CX-3 is a beautiful looking little CUV, I can see why they would want space for it on the lots.
Mazda admitted to Automotive News that they barely scrape a profit on the 3, and buyers often moved to other brands. The push to CUVs is twofold: increased profit and retaining buyers.
Cheap fuel happened. They decided it was better to let Toyota sell them in North America instead of splitting a limited market up even more. Plus they can send more cars to other markets where there’s more money to be made on subcompacts.
The problem with the 2 is the CX3 and the fact the ‘2’ is at the upper price bracket for subcompacts… in fact you can get a decent C segment for the same price as the mazda 2, so why get the mazda 2?
Granted the mazda 2 is sold as a ‘premium subcompact’ but really, its a tough sell to the people who buy in this class.
Hey Mazda Canada, instead of polluting the streets with more lame crossovers, how about you bring on that sexy Mazda 6 wagon. I love the 6, but this Canadian needs a hatch.
Why is it so damn hard to find a regular mid-size wagon? Ive been looking to replace my Volvo V50 and pretty much everything is too small (V60 or Sportwagon) or too big/expensive (ie 80k E-Class). That class of Passat wagon has disappeared.
Can’t wait till the C Class wagon comes to Canada!
In the US, Mazda sold as many 6 wagons in a year as VW sold Sportwagens in a month, prior to TDIgate. Half of Mazda6 sales back then were going to fleets, they’re not going to make that mistake again.
Mazda’s goal is to produce cars that consumers will buy, not those that sit on the lot for six months, meaning more CUVs and no wagons.
One contender off the list for my next car purchase. I was eagerly looking forward to the next 2 as I really liked the current one I’ve been driving for the last 4 years even if it was goofy looking and somewhat outdated by now. I guess I’ll have to start considering a poverty spec Mazda3 if I want to stay with the brand. It’s not like there was much price difference anyways but I generally like smaller hatchbacks as a matter of personal preference which makes the new Honda Fit look better everyday.