2017 TOYOTA COROLLA iM
Proof that Toyota hasn’t abandoned millennials
Alas, the missing millennial.
Since 2001, the percentage of people aged 18-34 buying new vehicles has nearly halved, from 24 percent to 13 percent of the market. As a result, manufacturers are focusing their firepower on Baby Boomers, who today buy 62 percent of all new vehicles, up from 39 percent at the turn of the century.
Still, at some point—car makers reckon—the children of baby boomers will get their incomes up and that trillion dollars of student loans worked down enough to start buying new cars, and so they haven’t given up on them.
Case in point, the 2017 Toyota Corolla iM, which was designed to be the Scion iM before Toyota took off life support the company it built to cater to millennials; which isnot the fault of the iM—an affordable, well-equipped, fuel-efficient hatchback.
First things first. The the one thing critics agree on is that the iM’s 137 horsepower, 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine is sort of underwhelming. This is especially true in an iM equipped with optional ($345) CVT automatic transmission.
Toyota gets that, which is probably why our tester showed up with the standard six-speed. It had the expected slushiness and long throws of front-wheel-drive cars and had an oddly placed clutch pedal that contributed to a handful of occasions in which the engine stalled—an embarrassing occurrence for this old hand who had not stalled a car in, oh, shall we say three decades? Four?
Still, the ratio spread was dialed in nicely and the car was reasonably peppy, able to merge into interstate traffic without undue exertion, and could get from 0-60 in a hair under nine seconds. Other reviewers found it took nearly 10 with a CVT in the drive train.
Handling was also good, not great. The steering is dull, but the car is well controlled when tossed about, showing minimal body lean. The ride is comfortable and reasonably quiet, though road noise seemed greater than necessary.
Rear seating was typical for the class: Cramped and cheap. Toyota did not invest heavily there, figuring people who still live with their parents are unlikely to have adolescent or older children.
There, we’ve covered its weak points.
LOT OF CAR FOR THE MONEY
Competing in a class that includes the Mazda3, Ford Focus and Kia Forte, the iM makes its mark by offering a ton of standard features—including advanced safety technology. That’s head-turning in a car that starts at $18,750 and goes no higher than $19,490.
Goodies include a rearview camera, dualzone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touch-screen display, Bluetooth and a great-sounding, six-speaker Pioneer stereo ready to play from a variety of sources.
The front of the cabin has a premium feel, with standard bolstered front seats with whip-
With the 2017 Corolla iM, Toyota shows it knows how to build an automobile to appeal to a new generation.
lash injury lessening structure.
High quality materials abound, with a layered dashboard design that combines sports car-inspired instrument panel styling with easy to reach, easyto-use controls. Borrowing ideas from the luxury car realm, the Corolla iM keeps noise outside with an acoustic layer windshield, foam-type insulation and floor silencer sheets.
The steering wheel is wrapped in real leather and has fingertip switches for audio, multi-info display and hands-free phone calls via Bluetooth. A 4.2-inch color TFT multi-information display between the main instrument gauges provides displays for the car's features and other functions.
In keeping with Scion's one-price shopping strategy, the option list is short, and some desirable things, such as a moon roof and push-button start are not available.
PREMIUM ON SAFETY
Best of all, the iM, like all 2017 Toyotas, comes with the manufacturer's safety suite: Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beams and a PreCollision System, all of which help prevent or mitigate collisions.
That's in addition to Toyota's Star Safety System: stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and smart stop technology.
The iM also has a tire pressure monitoring system and eight airbags.
COMPETITIVE FIELD
If pure value is your driving force, you might want to consider the Kia Forte ($16,600) and Forte5 hatchback ($18,200), which are also feature filled and have three engine options.
If its handling you're after, the Maxda3 ($17,845) and Ford Focus ($16,775) certainly are sportier.
At the end of the day, however, or more specifically, at the end of a 60or 72-month financing period, one suspects the iM might turn out to have greater value. After all, it's a Toyota.
Bottom line: If I had or soon would have a young family, or if I were a young professional looking for a solid platform on which to do some tuning, the Toyota iM would be high on my list.