Scion iQ - Smart killer

Check this out:

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/08/scion-iq

Looks like it would be a great city car. It could be a good platform for a hot hatch too at <2200lbs but that powertrain would have to go.

I'd take it over the Smart, but I personally wouldn't be caught dead in either.

And here's where they lost me.

WIRED wrote: ...the mileage numbers are very, very impressive for a non-hybrid car. Scion’s iQ returns 36 MPG city, 37 MPG highway and a combined figure of 37 MPG.

I'm sorry, but I don't find that impressive from that kind of vehicle.

ReverendDexter wrote: And here's where they lost me.

WIRED wrote: ...the mileage numbers are very, very impressive for a non-hybrid car. Scion’s iQ returns 36 MPG city, 37 MPG highway and a combined figure of 37 MPG.

I'm sorry, but I don't find that impressive from that kind of vehicle.

True, but it's similar to the Smart and costs way less. Surprising that they didn't even hit 40 with a tiny car, small-displacement engine and a CVT though.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Yeah, that is weird. I know it's a city car, not a long-hauler. Still find it strange that it did 3mpg worse than an Elantra/Civic/Focus on the highway... Gearing?

has to be. my subcompact gearing sucks on the highway too. but I can still get 35-38 mpg on the reg.

yes.. but can you do 35mpg in the city? That is the impressive part.

I can hit 35mpg in my 318ti.. but in the city (this was supposed to be BMW's "city car") I get about 25mpg

It looks like Toyota is bringing the IQ to the states. When I went to the Tokyo Auto Salon in December 2008, a lot of the aftermarket companies had tricked out versions in their displays. Size wise, I remember them being a shorter than a the current MINI but about the same width.

35 would be nice in the city. Better than the 24 in probably getting in the Escort. Still wouldn't be caught dead in one.

come on guys, lift it 3", roof rack with 3 pairs of hellas, flat black exterior with BOX FLARES?

[Toyota is aiming at the] Smart ForTwo, Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 — but it’s doing so with a much more affordable, and, it hopes, hipper package.

1) The MINI is twice the size of any of these other cars. I saw a MINI and a 500 next to each other and the MINI was huge.

2) Toyota... hip?! Bwahahahahah gasp choke. Sorry, not happening. Certainly not compared to at least 2 of the 3 competitors they cite in the article. And they ignored the Cube among other offerings, too.

Duke wrote: And they ignored the Cube among other offerings, too.

So would I.

Duke wrote: 2) Toyota... *hip?!* Bwahahahahah *gasp choke*. Sorry, not happening. Certainly not compared to at least 2 of the 3 competitors they cite in the article. And they ignored the Cube among other offerings, too.

Well they sell their cars that aren't meant to be bland appliances under the Scion brand for a reason...

How is it cheaper than a smart? 16k is approx 3.5k more than 12.5k last I checked...

ReverendDexter wrote:

Duke wrote: And they ignored the Cube among other offerings, too.

So would I.

Well, I do too, but they seem to fit that niche "funky city car" slot pretty well, and that's the subject of this article.

i'd pick the fiat or the mini in a heartbeat. but probably wouldn't either for myself unless the mini was the awd turbo one=]

Ill take the Fiat. As for any of the other micro-mini-subcompact-jr class cars, I don't think I've mentioned it, so just saying, wouldn't be caught dead in them

16K really???? The Fiat is cheaper and roomer and in likelyhood will be more fun and better built.

N Sperlo wrote: wouldn't be caught dead in them

I think we get the point. Good for you. I however will take one of each. I love me some small cars.

Let's see... with a K&N intake, my 2005 xB gets 35 around town (as long as the a/c is off) and about 38 on the highway. It seats 5 or it can haul a new chest freezer home.

On another point, it costs almost as much as a new xD. Hmmm.

I might have considered trading for an iQ, but they killed me by not sending over the true manual gearbox.

mad_machine wrote: yes.. but can you do 35mpg in the city? That is the impressive part. I can hit 35mpg in my 318ti.. but in the city (this was supposed to be BMW's "city car") I get about 25mpg

lowest I have ever gotten out of a tank is 29mpg, stop and go with a heavy right foot. 29, or 25mpg in your case, worthwhile tradeoff i suppose for not having to drive a 1.0 liter cvt.........

nocones wrote: How is it cheaper than a smart? 16k is approx 3.5k more than 12.5k last I checked...

QFT. Everyone seems to think Smart cars are $25k or something, but they're not.

dculberson wrote:

nocones wrote: How is it cheaper than a smart? 16k is approx 3.5k more than 12.5k last I checked...

QFT. Everyone seems to think Smart cars are $25k or something, but they're not.

Let's be fair. A $12.5k Smart doesn't include air conditioning or a radio.

EvanR wrote:

dculberson wrote:

nocones wrote: How is it cheaper than a smart? 16k is approx 3.5k more than 12.5k last I checked...

QFT. Everyone seems to think Smart cars are $25k or something, but they're not.

Let's be fair. A $12.5k Smart doesn't include air conditioning or a radio.

But it doesn't cost $10k to add those, either. You can get a/c and a radio and still be at or under $16k which is what the iQ starts at.

the MPG still gets me also... for HW i get 35mpg interstate in the neglected 20 year old 1.9L AT escort that I got for $600 3 years back... my '98 neon ACR did even better and i'm sure if it didn't have the ACR final drive and 5th gear it could have done even better... I know the SOHC can easily do better then 40mpg city...

granted I do give up about 5mpg city... but them touting the amazing MPG is just a little silly IMHO