Review, driving impression of Scion iQ
02-13-12, 10:28 AM
#1
Review, driving impression of Scion iQ
I was bored so I test drove an iQ.
After hearing so many horrible reviews on the Smart Fortwo, my expectation for the iQ is very low. I have never driven a Smart Fortwo, but I sat in a few and they are VERY cramp inside, felt tiny, feels like a golf cart with doors.
On this iQ, WOW, this thing is very impressive for what it is.
In a nut shell when I am driving it, it never feels like it is a very tiny city car, everything basically feels just like a Corolla, now that is saying a lot. From how it handle, ride quality, engine power, response, interior space, comfort...............everything feels just like a Corolla, until you turn your head and look at that tiny space behind you. Speaking of that, I am not a tiny guy, I actually fit in the back seat........with the front seat moved half way up of course, I fit in the back without any discomfort. For a short period of time of course, I won't want to sit back there for longer then one hour.
Power is surprisingly good, now I know how slow I actually drive now, an iQ feels fast enough for me.........haha. I was up to 80 mph just like that, it never struggle to get up to speed with normal traffic. The CVT feels fine too, it is programmed to operate in steps to mimic the feel of a traditional tranny with gears, it doesn't have much of that motor boating nauseating sensation that some CVT in some econoboxes provide. The motor is loud as expected in this level of cars, but again it is not obnoxious like in the Honda Fit.
The most impressive part is the cabin feels "normal size", it is due to it being very wide, you never feels like being in a tiny city car, as opposite to the Smart feeling like a golf cart. The ergonomics and material is good too, again the same as a Corolla.
The turning radius though, is comical.............that feels like a golf cart
That's it, the only draw back is, with it being feels like a big car, it come with a big car price. $16k base, nicely equipped like the one I drove with alloy wheels and NAV, spoiler, fogs, floormats..........is $19k. So it is the same price as a Corolla, you can almost get a base Camry for that price.
The more I think about it, this iQ is basically a Corolla chopped in half.
Good job Toyota, you once again embarrassed German engineering in a huge way (Smart Fortwo).
After hearing so many horrible reviews on the Smart Fortwo, my expectation for the iQ is very low. I have never driven a Smart Fortwo, but I sat in a few and they are VERY cramp inside, felt tiny, feels like a golf cart with doors.
On this iQ, WOW, this thing is very impressive for what it is.
In a nut shell when I am driving it, it never feels like it is a very tiny city car, everything basically feels just like a Corolla, now that is saying a lot. From how it handle, ride quality, engine power, response, interior space, comfort...............everything feels just like a Corolla, until you turn your head and look at that tiny space behind you. Speaking of that, I am not a tiny guy, I actually fit in the back seat........with the front seat moved half way up of course, I fit in the back without any discomfort. For a short period of time of course, I won't want to sit back there for longer then one hour.
Power is surprisingly good, now I know how slow I actually drive now, an iQ feels fast enough for me.........haha. I was up to 80 mph just like that, it never struggle to get up to speed with normal traffic. The CVT feels fine too, it is programmed to operate in steps to mimic the feel of a traditional tranny with gears, it doesn't have much of that motor boating nauseating sensation that some CVT in some econoboxes provide. The motor is loud as expected in this level of cars, but again it is not obnoxious like in the Honda Fit.
The most impressive part is the cabin feels "normal size", it is due to it being very wide, you never feels like being in a tiny city car, as opposite to the Smart feeling like a golf cart. The ergonomics and material is good too, again the same as a Corolla.
The turning radius though, is comical.............that feels like a golf cart
That's it, the only draw back is, with it being feels like a big car, it come with a big car price. $16k base, nicely equipped like the one I drove with alloy wheels and NAV, spoiler, fogs, floormats..........is $19k. So it is the same price as a Corolla, you can almost get a base Camry for that price.
The more I think about it, this iQ is basically a Corolla chopped in half.
Good job Toyota, you once again embarrassed German engineering in a huge way (Smart Fortwo).
Last edited by BNR34; 02-13-12 at 12:27 PM.
I already replied to the same-posting you made in my iQ static-review.
02-13-12, 12:12 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
nice review, thanks!
02-13-12, 12:35 PM
#5
seems like you copied what I wrote before... did you drive the car at all? :-))))
j/k...
... yep, thats what it is.. it is premium small car. I read review in Autocar, between iQ and VW Up, and they were surprised how much better iQ is, it is simply premium small car, not built to the price.
They honestly should have spent $1k more in interior and called it a Lexus, and it would sell better everywhere. Now in Europe, in my country, iQ is 2x the price of Aygo, and Aygo is bigger car. So average customer does not understand why.
j/k...
... yep, thats what it is.. it is premium small car. I read review in Autocar, between iQ and VW Up, and they were surprised how much better iQ is, it is simply premium small car, not built to the price.
They honestly should have spent $1k more in interior and called it a Lexus, and it would sell better everywhere. Now in Europe, in my country, iQ is 2x the price of Aygo, and Aygo is bigger car. So average customer does not understand why.
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02-13-12, 03:11 PM
#8
In Vegas, where a Hummer H1 don't look very big, tiny city car is pointless.
Is stupid too, the iQ is the same price as a Corolla, why would anyone want a smaller car if it cost the same with similar MPG?
Last edited by BNR34; 02-13-12 at 03:53 PM.
02-13-12, 03:31 PM
#9
02-13-12, 03:56 PM
#10
Lexus Champion
Seems like you just used a different screen name and shared my test drive experience this weekend. Did you drive it at all? J/k x2.
I too test drove this amazing 4 seat sports car and was utterly impressed, and frankly a little confused, by it. The low end pick up speed, agility, and interior space of this car would play trick on your mind.
Scion IQ's visual field was tall and ample, the car got top of class mpg, go kart handling, plenty of amenities: mirror turning signal, aux/usb/ blue tooth hands free-- all for under 16K.
Front passenger seat had a nook and therefore more room to slide the seat, allowing greater access to the back. Loved the orange lit accent and the darth vader media hub. The only draw back for me was the lack of driver side arm rest, but it's done with the obvious reason to inflate interior space.
There was a roid up 5-axis aero and rim package ($20k) that looked totally awesome. This could've easily been that red lil sports car that I was looking for.
I too test drove this amazing 4 seat sports car and was utterly impressed, and frankly a little confused, by it. The low end pick up speed, agility, and interior space of this car would play trick on your mind.
Scion IQ's visual field was tall and ample, the car got top of class mpg, go kart handling, plenty of amenities: mirror turning signal, aux/usb/ blue tooth hands free-- all for under 16K.
Front passenger seat had a nook and therefore more room to slide the seat, allowing greater access to the back. Loved the orange lit accent and the darth vader media hub. The only draw back for me was the lack of driver side arm rest, but it's done with the obvious reason to inflate interior space.
There was a roid up 5-axis aero and rim package ($20k) that looked totally awesome. This could've easily been that red lil sports car that I was looking for.
02-14-12, 09:34 AM
#11
Nice review BNR, pretty visual
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
02-14-12, 10:14 AM
#12
Nice review BNR, pretty visual
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
http://youtu.be/TLOepyJnRv4
The iQ got 11 airbags though, like the i-robot car.
02-14-12, 10:57 AM
#13
Nice review BNR, pretty visual
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
However in so cal being the land of single-driver suvs, impatient a-holes, ladies putting on makeup, guys shaving while driving, and people who are constantly on the phone making executive life and death decisions on their cell phone, there is no way I'm getting these miniature death trap
02-14-12, 10:58 AM
#14
BNR - did you read how many parts of iQ are unique to iQ? One of the reasons it is expensive is that most of the mechanicals were specially developed and cant be shared with other cars... it is bespoke, as brits would say.
02-14-12, 11:27 AM
#15
I was looking at the front brake rotor, it is hilariously small, looks like is from a go-kart.