2012 Scion IQ

By Zack Spencer     February 9, 2012

The Scoop

The micro car market in Canada is-- pardon the pun--really small. The Smart Car, until recently, was the only player but now there is the Fiat 500 and this Scion IQ. The IQ and Smart car have many similarities, they look like they could be cousins, plus they offer the tidiest dimensions on the road. For those that are not aware, Scion is the youth-targeted brand of Toyota, complete with there own separate showrooms inside Toyota dealerships. By appealing to younger buyers, Toyota hopes that these new customers will then move up the ladder into a Toyota and maybe one day a Lexus. Brand loyalty is huge in the car business, once a buyer is happy with a certain brand, they are more than likely to be repeat buyers. So a very small car can be a big deal.

The Skin

It should be pointed out that the Scion IQ is larger than the Smart Car, especially the width. Inside the Smart, the driver and passenger sit close together; this IQ on the other hand is basically the same width as a subcompact car. So even though it is short, the car has a stance. The front bumper is wide and flat and the rear hatch is very square as well. The doors are surprisingly big, plus the roof is tall allowing excellent access to the cabin. Looking at the IQ, it is hard to imagine, but there are actually back seats, but it's true. When the rear hatch is open the back seat fills all but a small, thin cargo space, so most people will fold the seats and use this rear area for cargo. The IQ is only sold with one trim level at $16,760 but for this price the car should have alloy wheels, not the cheap looking hubcaps.

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