The new iQ from Scion is a microsubcompact, a car well-designed for cities as it can easily fit in curbside parking spaces. A 1.3-liter engine helps the car get an EPA-rated 37 mpg average fuel economy, higher than any other nonhybrid car.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Toyota has been selling its microcar, the iQ, around the world over the past few years, and now it comes to the U.S. wearing a Scion badge. Small cars are becoming more acceptable in the U.S., but Toyota chose its youthful and risk-taking Scion brand to market the car.
The iQ is strangely proportioned, looking almost as wide as it is long. That wideness contributes to stability. The front grille opening is thin, and the headlight casings dominate the fenders.
Because of the car's small size, Scion can get away with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It turns in fuel economy of 36 mpg city and 37 mpg highway in EPA testing.
At just over 10 feet long, the iQ is very easy to park and has an excellent turning radius. The front seats are easy to fit in, but you have to choose between having rear-seat passengers or cargo space.
The interior is a strange mish-mash of styles, with some metal veneer, two tones of hard plastic, and some piano-black trim elements. Scion will only offer one interior design scheme.
