The first time we saw the Scion iQ was on Top Gear UK and it was a Toyota. The iQ was released in Europe in 2009 after its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in 2008.
There are few cars that immediately fit the style and build of a clown car. The iQ fit that mold immediately, but doesn’t appear to be the SUV- car crusher that the Smart Fortwo looks to be…
Base Price: $15,265
As Driven: $16,205, the destination fee is added here. There are no factory options.
Engine: 1.3L 4-cylinder, 94 hp
Transmission: Continuously Variable-speed
Curb Weight: 2,127 lbs.
Wheelbase: 78.7 in.
MPG Rating: 36city/37 highway
Driving
The iQ is powered by a whopping 1.3L 4 cylinder engine. We’re going with whopping because it’s .3L larger than the Smart Fortwo’s 1.0L. The 1.3L produces 94 horsepower at 6,000 rpms. The problem is that at the moment when you feel the engine start to assertively pull, then the CVT shifts. Most of the time the car is around 4 thousand rpms, but it sounds like it’s at the top of the tachometer, loud, and underwhelming.
The turning radius is fantastic, but this is not a vehicle for aggressive driving. The car will turn just fine, but powering out of the turns is not a reality. This car politely suggests that it always be driven calmly and with discretion. It isn’t fast at all, but with the short wheelbase, quick maneuvers at highway speed could put a number of the “Darwin Award” drivers in the ditch.
The 0 to 60 time is… Has anyone taken the time to find out? It’s less than a minute, but longer than 10 seconds. Scion says that iQ will run 0 to 60 in 11.8 seconds. The numbers that really matter for this car are the MPGs. In the city you are averaging 36 mpg and 37 mpg on the highway. The Smart Fortwo is listed at 34 city and 38 highway. The nail in the Smart coffin for us is that premium fuel is recommended. That will definitely add up over the years.
Looks
The iQ is easier on the eyes than the Fortwo. We are not really fans of either car’s look, but the iQ is easier to stomach, like eating seafood (we hate seafood) instead of nails…
It is shorter, wider, and longer than a Smart Fortwo. Where the Smart car looks like a strong sneeze could blow it over taller and thinner, the iQ looks short, stout, and stable. We have heard anecdotes of Fortwos being blown off the road while traveling at highway speeds by winds over 30 mph.
The lines add to the box look, but don’t make it look awkward or top heavy. It does not look as bad as the Cube.
Interior
The interior is surprisingly roomy… The driver’s seat is able to slide forward and back, but can’t be raised or lowered. At 6’4”, we fit in the driver’s position, but could sense the roof looming just above. We have a lot of hair right now and could feel it tickling the roof, think Van de Graaff machine.
The legroom for the front passenger seat is impressive. A passenger commented on the fact that he could recline the seat and really experience all of the room. We couldn’t do that since the steering wheel, while it tilted, didn’t telescope. If the steering wheel had telescoped, then we could have removed the driver’s seat and driven from the back seat.
There’s no point in checking your blind spots. You’re sitting in the blind spots. Set your wing mirrors wide enough to just barely see the car at the edge and you won’t ever have to worry about a vehicle being in your blind spot.
There is a back seat, but if you want a trunk, you must lower it. This car optimizes space...or at least the little bit it has. This car can be used to carry more than two people, but it is not recommended to do so longer than ten minutes, since their legs will be falling asleep.
With all of the seats in place the iQ offers only 3.5 cubic feet of cargo space. This means the back seat has very little space behind it. The Fortwo offers 7.8 cubic feet of space with all of the seats in place. The difference comes when you maximize your space. The Fortwo still offers the same 7.8 cubic feet of space because there is no rear folding seat. The iQ offers 16.7 cubic feet of space when the seat is folded, plus the front passenger seat will fold flat.
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