2012 Scion iQ Western US Launch – Initial Impressions

Update: Check out our interview with the owner of this car here.

Love them or hate them, small fuel efficient cars continue to change the automotive landscape. Scion decided to target this market directly by bringing another model to their growing lineup. Enter the 2012 Scion iQ.

I happened to be fortunate enough to privately view one of the first iQ's sold in Washington State. Although the iQ didn't officially launch until today, Wilson Motors provided me the opportunity to take some photos before their first one was delivered to its owner. While some of these images may appear squished, I can assure you that they are actual size – the iQ is that small in person. The color of this particular iQ is called Hot Lava and it's stunning in person. I can only hope that the Scion FR-S wil be available in this color as well.

The iQ appears to be slightly more practical than a smart fortwo and more affordable than a Fiat 500. Comparing their specification sheets, it's obvious that Scion wanted the iQ to be a direct competitor to these cars. The iQ's wheelbase is 5.2" longer than the fortwo's and nearly 1 foot shorter than the 500. Compared to the fortwo, the iQ is shorter in overall height by more than 1.5" and lighter by more than 180 pounds. The automatic Fiat 500 is 307 pounds heavier and .7" taller than the iQ by comparison. The iQ produces 94 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque while the fortwo and Fiat 500 produce 71 horsepower and 68 lb-ft of torque and 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque, respectively.

One of the first things you notice when you open the door of the iQ is how much room the front occupants have. Scion did a great job designing the interior to be both ergonomic and stylish. Scion states that the car seats 3+1 people. This means is that the iQ can seat 3 adults and 1 child. As can be seen in the gallery below, the front dash is recessed to allow the passenger's seat to move farther forward to make room for an adult in the rear.

With the rear seats in the upright position, the rear cargo area is fairly useless. However, when folded down, the space becomes completely useful. I would estimate that 2 full-size suitcases would easily fit when the rear seats are down.

Due to its size, the iQ may appear unsafe to some people. To help combat this concern, the engineers at Scion incorporated 11 airbags into the car including the first ever rear window airbag. I find it amazing that they were able to fit all of this into such a small package and still maintain a respectable curb weight of 2,127 pounds.

The iQ gets an EPA rated fuel economy of 36 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway (37 mpg combined). Although these fuel economy numbers aren't quite as high as I had hoped, they are still impressive for a non-hybrid vehicle. The engine is a direct injected 1.3 liter 4 cylinder utilizing Toyota's Dual VVT-i and Toyota Direct Ignition (TDI). All iQ's are equipped with a CVT at this point but they may introduce a 5 speed in coming years.

I wasn't able to drive the iQ since it had already been sold, but I intend on driving one as soon as they are available.

The iQ starts at $15,265. If you're interested in taking a look at a Scion iQ, contact John Ayre at (360)676-0600 or stop by Wilson Motors in Bellingham, WA.

[Sources: Scion, smart, Fiat USA]