- Mazda refreshes the Scrum Van and Wagon in Japan.
- The kei vans are rebadged versions of the Suzuki Every.
- Local pricing kicks off from the equivalent of $8,500.
Badge engineering is alive and well in Japan’s highly popular kei class. Mazda has rolled out facelifted versions of the Scrum Van and Scrum Wagon, handing both a new face and a dose of current safety tech.
As before, neither is a Mazda in any meaningful sense. The Scrum Van is a rebadged Suzuki Every, the Scrum Wagon a rebadged Nissan Clipper Van, and both donor models recently went through this same set of updates to stay current with Japan’s safety rules. Mazda is along for the ride, and the profits.
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The visual work is all up front. The Scrum Van gets a cleaner grille and a reworked bumper intake, with entry-level versions wearing a softer look and the high-spec Buster trims adding a chrome strip above the grille. The passenger-oriented Scrum Wagon goes further, with an upscale honeycomb grille, darkened headlights, and a distinct bumper that forms part of a sportier bodykit. It also trades the van’s steel wheels and hubcaps for shiny alloys.
Moving inside, the cabin adopts a blacked-out theme. There’s a new digital instrument cluster and a three-spoke wheel, the latter available with heating. What there isn’t is an infotainment screen. A chunky plastic cover sits where one would go, hogging most of the center console.
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At 3,395 mm (133.7 inches) long, the kei van twins make the most of their footprint. Fold the rear bench flat and the Wagon offers up to 1,123 liters (39.7 cubic feet) of cargo room. High-spec trims add electric sliding doors with reclining side steps, and the glass now does more to keep heat out of the four-seater cabin on sunny days.
Still, the most substantial upgrade happens within the safety suite. The “Dual Sensor Brake Support II” system is standard across the lineup, improving collision avoidance at intersections. The Scrum also gains low-speed forward brake support, new parking sensors, lane departure prevention, traffic sign recognition, and traffic light departure notification with the Scrum Wagon adding Adaptive Cruise Control.
The powertrains come straight from Suzuki, unchanged. The naturally aspirated 660 cc three-cylinder makes 48 hp (36 kW / 49 PS) and drives through either a five-speed manual or a newly adopted CVT. The turbocharged version bumps that to 63 hp (47 kW / 64 PS) but comes only with the CVT. Either way, buyers can choose rear-wheel drive or a part-time four-wheel-drive setup.
What It Costs In Japan
The refreshed Mazda Scrum lineup is currently available to order in Japan. The cheapest Scrum Van PA with RWD and a manual starts at ¥1,354,100 (equal to around $8,500 at current rates) which is a tiny bit more expensive than the equivalent Suzuki.
For those who want something flashier, the flagship Scrum Van Buster Turbo 4WD retails for ¥1,940,400 ($12,200). As for the turbo-only Scrum Wagon, it runs between ¥2,048,200-2,275,900 ($12,900-$14,300).
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The van update complements the mechanically-related Mazda Scrum Truck, which underwent a more comprehensive facelift earlier this year.
