Article Comments - 2009 Toyota iQ First Drive

15 messages, Last post on Feb 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM

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First Drive: 2009 Toyota iQ - First Impressions: It's clever and fuel-efficient, but will it make Europeans pay attention?(more)

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#8 of 15 Car and Driver by nippononly Nov 05, 2008 (8:58 am)
has a new article on the iQ this month, and what they are saying is very interesting if it turns out to be true. Specifically: - Toyota IS now planning to bring this to the U.S. in 2010, as a competitor to the ForTwo and the Mini - As such, it will sell as a premium small car, with prices possibly approaching $20K for fully loaded models - It will use the 1.3L engine Toyota already uses in other parts of the world. This engine produces 100 hp (the car weighs only 1900 pounds, so it will be VERY spry with so much power), yet should achieve at least 40 mpg combined in the new EPA test (for comparison, the ForTwo achieves 38 mpg combined on the same test). As for the Yaris reference in one of the posts above, they expect that they may start selling a base trim Yaris with the 1.3 also, to bring the base price down to compete with Nissan's new base model Versa. I love this news, because premium small cars are my cup of tea and so few and far between in the U.S. Indeed, I am most surprised that Toyota is hatching such a plan, as I would have expected them to strip the car to the bare metal, offer no options whatsoever, give it zero handling and power, and sell it for $9995. Instead, it may actually sell for a higher average price than the Yaris if this vision is fully realized. And as to seating, this thing is sort of a "3+1" - the front passenger seat is mounted further forward to allow room for a (small) adult in the rear seat on that side. On the driver's side, there is a seat big enough to mount a child car seat, and not much else. So you could potentially carry two kids and an adult quite easily in this thing. I agree that one of Insight's downfalls was its lack of any seating at all beyond two people. That is also probably a limiting factor on ForTwo's sales now, although it is selling better than expected even so. Oh yeah, and 9 airbags will be standard, including a curtain airbag over the rear hatch for back seat passengers.... If this thing turns out to have any kind of decent handling, it will be in the running for my next car. Running against it will be Honda's new CRX (called CRZ currently) and Toyota's own jointly developed RWD sport coupe that Subaru is helping to design, also for 2010.
#9 of 15 iQ in US: Highly Possible by PikachuRacer Dec 25, 2008 (1:09 pm)
Loads of sites have claimed the Toyota iQ is to possibly come out in the United States, yet would be re-badged as a Scion. They also claim the engine and transmissions would be straight out of the US-spec Toyota Yaris. In a way, I agree that this could be coming to the US. This is the perfect rival to the Smart Fortwo (which is approaching it's 2nd year in the US). Now I think the Toyota iQ would be great in the United States now more than ever. With gas prices soon to rise again, more city-car based cars would be great (as long as they are safe). Like the Smart, the iQ is built with safety in mind (9 airbags which includes the first rear hatch-mounted airbag? now that's a smart idea for any subcompact hatchback)! I also agree that it is possible for this to be a Scion. Besides, it has the lowercase/capital labeling that is known from Scion (you know, xA, xB, xD, and tC). Toyota iQ would be perfectly set in Scion's lineup, along with the "love it or hate it" design aspect. I think this is a nice car, I would buy one, and I would like to see this arrive stateside with all the basic features shown for the European model at a starting price tag between $12,000 and $14,000. It's nimble, looks safer than a Smart Fortwo, and with the possible engine/transmission choices... a better all-around car. Now the Toyota (Scion) iQ... that's really a "Smart Car"!
#10 of 15 I agree... by hpmctorque Jan 02, 2009 (6:17 am)
...completely with nippon and pika on the IQ. It outsmarts the Smart. Bring it on! Replies to this message: nippononly (Jan 05, 2009 8:20 am)
#11 of 15 Re: I agree... [hpmctorque] by nippononly Jan 05, 2009 (8:20 am)
Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 02, 2009 6:17 am) I wonder if this plan will go on hold now that the global economy is in such bad shape. After all, Toyota wanted to market this car as a "premium mini" to go after the Mini Cooper and such.
#12 of 15 Re: Toyate service on Prius would keep me from buying the IQ [bookdiva] by fourteen14 Feb 22, 2009 (2:22 pm)
Replying to: bookdiva (Oct 19, 2008 2:40 pm) ""I just stayed with my Plymouth minivan which gets 24 mpg with 169,000 miles on her. I drive like a grandma."" You don't have to drive an old minivan to get good mileage! I have a Dodge Magnum with, yes, the 340HP Hemi. 0-60 in under 6 seconds, but when I 'grandma' down the Interstate at 65 mph I get 25 mpg!!!! The iQ is cute, but Magnum to iQ for a few hundred dollars a year in fuel savings!?! I don't know!! The iQ has half the weight, gets to 60 in twice the time, and gets twice the mpg - no miracle, just physics!!
#13 of 15 Re: Toyate service on Prius would keep me from buying the IQ [bookdiva] by fourteen14 Feb 22, 2009 (2:53 pm)
Replying to: bookdiva (Oct 19, 2008 2:40 pm) ""I was so glad that I am a slow shopper. "" It may pay to shop slowly a while longer! A year ago I thought that the Smart would be great, but now, compared to the iQ, I wouldn't take a Smart as a gift!! Next I hear that Hyundai may offer a 'city car'! Seeing what they did with the Azera and Genesis, a Hyundai 'city car' may eclipse the Smart and the iQ with high quality and excellent design at a much lower price!! PS: What I would really love is a 'watch pocket rocket'! A tiny but comfortable, light weight, high quality, powerful, great handling car that would also get very good MPG!!!! Like a safe, enclosed, high performance motorcycle with four wheels!! Replies to this message: plekto (Feb 23, 2009 12:11 am) fourteen14 (Feb 23, 2009 3:01 pm)
#14 of 15 Re: Toyate service on Prius would keep me from buying the IQ [fourteen14] by plekto Feb 23, 2009 (12:11 am)
Replying to: fourteen14 (Feb 22, 2009 2:53 pm) You just described the future(to the U.S. at least) Fiat 500. The higher power version is quick, it's neat looking, light, tiny, seats 4, and apparently isn't half bad in terms of reliability(scores consistently higher than the Smart in any case). http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=121677 Good things come to those who wait. And 4 seats plus a real manual gearbox? Toyota and Mercedes have forgotten that it's not about a yuppie toy. It's about a small fun little car that's relatively cheap and straightforward in design.(the base model in Italy is about 10K Euros) And the level of customization is silly. Mini-esque silly, in fact. http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2011-fiat-500.htm Note the 0-60 time... estimated at 9.3 seconds. The Smart and the IQ unfortunately can't come close to that. http://www.motorauthority.com/future-fiat-models-detailed-in-chrysler-viability-- - plan.html Just a few days old. They spilled all their future plans to the government. Nice. Replies to this message: fourteen14 (Feb 23, 2009 3:01 pm)
#15 of 15 Re: Toyate service on Prius would keep me from buying the IQ [plekto] by fourteen14 Feb 23, 2009 (3:01 pm)
Replying to: plekto (Feb 23, 2009 12:11 am) My favorite car 35 years ago was the 1974 Fiat X1/9. What a ball to drive and economical too! Fiat took the transaxle and suspension from the front of their 128 FWD compact, and used it for the mid-engine rear drive X1/9. Two seats in front of the engine, less than 2000#, SOHC 1.3L 75HP engine, four speed manual, disc brakes, Targa roof, and both a front and a rear trunk. With most of it's weight in the center of the car, it was super responsive and handled like a large go-cart or a small Ferrari! It wasn't quick, but very willing, and could break plenty of traffic laws if you wanted to!! Well over 35 mpg. Although tiny, only 150.8" long and 46.1" high, it was roomy and quite comfortable for my 6'-2" 200# frame. With the Targa roof removed, and the rollbar and window behind you, there was no wind turbulence in the cockpit. Great fun car!!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_X1/9 .