Toyota unveils all-new Yaris sedan, Scion iM hatch
What is it? The Scion iM and iA were unveiled the night before the New York International Auto Show. The Scion iA is a subcompact sedan that will be sold in Canada branded as a Toyota Yaris Sedan, and the iA is a sporty new subcompact hatchback. The two were unveiled at a cocktail party-like event with a lot of lasers, bassheavy music and some interpretive dance performances. This suits the image Scion is trying to portray: It wants young people to see the brand as making youthful, forwardthinking cars that suit their go-go-go lifestyles.
The Yaris Sedan will be powered by a 1.5-litre fourcylinder engine that outputs 109 horsepower. It will be available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission (Toyota is finally ditching its aged fourspeed automatic!).
The Scion iA is geared to be sportier and will be powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder engine with 137 hp and come with either a six-speed manual or a CVT. Why does it matter? Scion has always struggled a bit in the Canadian market. The brand is far more popular in the U.S. This is the beginning of a huge push from Scion into the consciousness of Canadian small car buyers. With the Scion xB and iQ being discontinued, the brand has a void in its lineup, and the iM fills that gap quite nicely.
Subcompact sedans are also big sellers in Canada, and Toyota didn’t have one in its lineup for a long time. When is it coming? The Scion iM and the Toyota Yaris Sedan will be coming to the Canadian market in the fall of 2015 as 2016 models. Should I buy it? If you’ve always wanted something between a Yaris and a Corolla, the subcompact Yaris Sedan could do the trick. The Toyota Yaris Sedan has hints of Mazda3 silhouette from the side, but the grille is distinctively Toyota. It looks good for its price bracket and looks a bit more expensive than its price would suggest.
The iM looks sharp and competes with the Hyundai Elantra GT, which is due for a makeover soon. Judging by looks alone, the iM looks a lot more aggressive and sharper than the Elantra GT, and Scion promises a sportier drive and a long list of premium features.
Pricing information will be available closer to its onsale date, but expect the Yaris Sedan to be within spitting distance of the Hyundai Elantra GT, which starts at $18,499.