Pint-sized Scion iq a giant in terms of fuel efficiency
Vehicle touted as tiniest passenger car of its kind
The new-to-canada Scion brand has an iq ... a new micro car. While not much bigger than a Smart Fortwo on the out-side, the cleverly designed iq is the world’s smallest four-person passenger car, according to Scion.
A subsidiary of Toyota, Scion’s stated main mission is to appeal to a younger car buyer than would typically purchase a Toyota. And it appears to be achieving that goal, as Scion claims to have the youngest customer base in the industry.
The iq is aimed primarily at those who have embraced the urban-lifestyle and want an easy to park, highly manoeuvrable small car that also offers outstanding fuel economy. While highly efficient, the iq is not bare-bones transportation. It comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning and all the latest in-car connectivity features.
Power comes from a 1.3-litre, fourcylinder engine that can produce 94 horsepower and 89 lbs-ft of torque. A CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) type automatic is the only transmission (no manual unfortunately), and this combination achieves a very impressive 5.1 L/100km (combined city/high-way) fuel consumption rating. It’s also an Ultra Low Emissions (ULEV II) Vehicle.
Some unique packaging technologies were required in order to make the iq the “smallest four-passenger car in the world.” In most cars, the fuel tank is located below the rear seats. The iq has a super-slim (only 120 mm thick) fuel tank that’s centrally located under the floor. Its driveline has an inverted frontmounted differential. The front seatbacks are an ultra-slim design and the air conditioner is a compact unit located in the centre of the vehicle.
Like all Scion models there are no trim levels – the iq is offered as one, well-equipped model ($16,760), but there are some options. My Test iq came with two of them, a rear sway bar ($350) and a rear spoiler ($320) above the rear window.
There are bigger cars for less money on the market, so iq buyers have to be sold on the advantages to owning a micro-car. A turn radius of just 3.9 metres makes it highly manoeuvrable, it can fit in a ridiculously small parking space and its fuel economy is better than any nonhybrid car on the market. The Looks
A more aggressive bulldog-like styling exercise separates the iq from its “cute as a button” competitors in the micro-car market. This isn’t too surprising as the Scion brand, in general, is generally more male-oriented in its appeal. In most dimensional comparisons with the Smart Fortwo and Fiat 500, the iq fits in the middle. It is, however, the widest of the three, which makes the fact that it’s able to turn around in a smaller space even more remarkable. The Inside
The IQ’S cabin is surprisingly spacious and even my big 6-foot 3-inch son was able to fit in comfortably. A unique feature allows the front passenger seat to track further forward and allow the right side rear passenger extra legroom. Scion calls this a “3-plus-1” seating arrangement.
To allow this clever seating arrangement to work, the right side of the dash is pushed forward and the glove box is under the front passenger seat.
It’s a very slick and easy release-and-glide seat adjustment mechanism, plus the already mentioned extra slim front seatbacks have soft backs that add to rear legroom and comfort. Safety
A class-leading passive occupant protection system with 11 airbags includes a rear-window curtain airbag, which is another “world first” for the iq. Also included in this package are front knee airbags for both the driver the front passenger. The Scion Star Safety System is a suite of six active safety technologies that help a driver avoid accident situations. The Drive
The iq’s seats are surprisingly comfortable even though there are only two adjustment levers. A short wheelbase car intrinsically has a choppier ride that’s more noticeable on a bumpy road. You also quickly learn to respect speed bumps, as bigger bumps (and dips) toss the little guy around even more. That said, the iq’s quick steering and nimble road manners allow you avoid most anything, if you’re paying attention. The Score
Small in size yet big on innovation, the Scion iq grows in practicality and performance the more you drive it.