Toyota iQ Review
November 4, 2009 by Matt Brogan
If this is where small cars are headed, consider me a convert.
Model Tested:
- 2009 Toyota iQ3; 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, petrol; CVT automatic; three-door hatch – $21,560*
By Matt Brogan. Tokyo, Japan.
This may be the shortest first steer of the smallest car I’ve yet driven, but my 20 minutes behind the wheel was enough to tell me that if this is where light cars are headed, then consider me a convert.
Visiting Toyota’s MegaWeb complex in Tokyo, I was treated to a short steer of the upper-spec iQ3 around the facility’s in-house test track.
The 2km track (which I circled a number of times) is designed to be closely representative of Tokyo’s city streets featuring a number of scenarios which closely simulate a city street-scape and, as such, is a small series of short straights, tight turns and varied surfaces aimed to give prospective local buyers a feel for the car’s abilities in its intended environment.
The iQ name, hinting at the car’s clever design, has an “i” to represent individuality, innovation and intelligence, while the “Q” stands for quality – a hallmark of the Toyota name. It seems Japanese media were equally convinced of the iQ when naming the Car of the Year for 2008.
A compact yet remarkably well utilised design, iQ draws an uncanny amount of space from its minimal proportions. At just 2985mm long by 1680mm wide and 1500mm high, the iQ can still house three adults and a couple of items of luggage or, alternatively, two adults and two small children.
Admittedly the rear seat is a bit tight with an adult up back (the passenger seat slides forward to accommodate) but for short distances or temporary use it’s ideal, especially if the iQ’s primary role was as a two-seater.
Entry and egress is easy enough, and for its seemingly small proportions, leg and headroom are both suitably – and surprisingly – ample.
iQ’s design is said to emphasise four key traits: low fuel consumption, maneuverability, environmental friendliness, and maximised interior space.
Toyota’s design team have achieved these traits by giving the iQ minimal overhangs (wheelbase is only 2000mm), a windscreen that is pushed well forward on the body, a asymmetric dashboard (sans glovebox), a flat fuel tank (mounted beneath the floor), slimmer seat design, smaller heater and air conditioning unit and finally, rear-angled shock absorbers.
Powered by a choice of 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre petrol engines, or, in European markets a 1.4-litre diesel, the iQ caters well for a mix of markets chasing differing blends of performance and economy.
With the Australian market fitting the former category, performance, I thought it best to take the reigns of the Toyota Yaris powered 1.3-litre, four-cylinder petrol iQ to see just what’s on offer.
As you’d no doubt expect of a car weighing 955 kilograms, but with 72kW on board, performance is rather sprightly, even if we were meant to be limited to 40km/h on our test.
Acceleration is brisk, and very smooth thanks to a CVT transmission, with iQ feeling a lot faster underfoot than its claimed 0-100km/h time of 11.8 seconds.
The car is stable thanks to it’s wide track and, comparatively speaking, long wheelbase further enhancing cornering feel as well as the absorption of lumps and bumps.
The electric power steering is blissfully light, but not bereft of feel, and, at the risk of being crucified here, feels almost sporty in tackling the mid-course slalom.
Stopping power is confident with iQ’s disc/drum combination (available in four-wheel disc in some markets) offering ABS with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution as standard.
The safety theme is continued throughout iQ with nine airbags (dual front, dual side, dual curtain, front passenger seat cushion, driver’s knee and rear window curtain) offered as standard as well as optional ESC with Traction Control.
Like I said, it was a really short drive over a relatively unchallenging and slow course but the sure-footed feel and impressive performance of this sub-light hatch matched with good looks and clever versatility emphasises the fact that micro-motoring need not be all bad.
Toyota currently have no plans to bring the current generation iQ to Australia.
*Pricing is an estimate as converted from Yen to AUD based on the recommended retail price of a Toyota iQ3 1.3-litre CVT (as tested).
Specifications:
- Engine: 1329cc DOHC four-cylinder (16 valve)
- Power: 72kW @ 6000rpm
- Torque: 123Nm @ 4400rpm
- Induction: Multi-point
- Transmission: Continuously Variable
- Driven Wheels: Front
- Brakes: Disc/Drum with ABS, EBA & EBD
- Top Speed: 170km/h
- 0-100km/h: 11.8 seconds
- CO2 Emissions: 120g/km
- Fuel Consumption: 5.10L/100km
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 32L
- Fuel Type: 95-98RON Unleaded
- Euro NCAP Rating: Five-Star
- Airbags: Nine (refer article)
- Safety: ESC with Traction Control (optional)
- Spare Wheel: N/A
- Suspension: Strut (F) / Torsion Beam (R)
- Cargo Capacity: 130L (approx.)
- Tow Capacity: N/A
- Turning Circle: 9.0m (approx.)
- Warranty: Three Year / 100,000km
- Weight: 955kg (tare)
- Wheels: Alloy 16-inch
I always thought Disk/Drum was a cost cutting exercise but the iQ is a full premium small car so maybe theres another reason in this instance?
Possibly because parking brakes are better applied to drum disks, and theres no space for a disk-drum rear brake combination, it’s better to just use drums (the car weighs very little anyway -though still more than I expected-)
Hmmm I’d hope the one I got had disk/disk brakes… I just feel more confident that way.
The swift has disc/drum and has more than enough stopping power. it is heavy though, my swift weights only 100kg more.
How is the 1.3l version of this car priced in Japan vs say the 1.3l version of the Yaris? And what’s the turning circle?
I have to admit I’m a bit suspicious of cars of this nature. I don’t necessarily see the point in going any smaller than a Yaris/Mazda 2/Focus etc in Australia. Even a drive from an inner suburb to the CBD is likely to be a 20km round trip taking in some hills and 80km/h highway as well as bumper-to-bumper crawling, and most people will need to carry more than a shopping bag or two (be it the kids’ cricket bag, an Ikea box or the proverbial golf clubs). If all you need from a car can be comfortably achieved (and for the price, it would want to be comfortable) in a car like the iQ, the Smart or the i10, one wonders if you actually need a car at all.
I totally agree with Raf. There is absolutely no point in introducing this class of car to the Australian Market. The only reason they would do so is for marketing reasons and for some oneupmanship on similar rivals eg SMART.
I am currently really impressed with the offerings in the small car segment – fiesta, jazz, yaris, mazda 2. These are four great cars in their class, and for those who want to spend a little more, there is the alfa mito, mini cooper and BMW 1 series.
The IQ and the SMART might work well in London or Rome as an alternative to a scooter, but there is no logical place for them in the Australian Market.
If this is where small cars are headed then I’m going to glue my hands to the steering wheel of my Mini.
I don’t mind the IQ, but I don’t like it either. It’s nothing to do with it being a Toyota, I just find it ugly and undesirable.
It reminds me of something out of Monsters Inc
it’s too pricey…. 21k for a small car…
+1 ……….
AND it consumes too much fuel for a “micro” car.
If it comes to Aus, then I shall buy my granny one. She loves something that is small, slow and easy to park…
Looking at the see though image, I wouldn’t bother to try and fit any one in the back seat… that child had 1 inch of leg room and NO feet room… I can feel the pain of his Twisted ankles.
I’ve heard that TMCA are considering bringing the iQ to Australia. TMC Japan wouldn’t have told you anything about that Matt.
Imagine being a back seat passenger at a set of lights and having a truck run up the rear!
As with the rest I don’t see the purpose of this car in Australia, especially at $25k on road! You could buy almost 2 Suzuki Alto’s with that money that would do exactly the same job!
Gilly
It wouldn’t need to be a truck even a small 4WD like a Terios or Jimny with their high front bumpers would do a fair amount of damage.
But yeah your right about the truck it would bit a bit like kicking a watermelon with steelcap workboots on.
Got to question the credibility of these NCAP safety test!
I really dont like this money making measure by toyota, but i think i know why it costs so much. It has nine airbags!!!!!!!!!!!! something which even high end German limos dont achieive up until the high end of the line up. NINE ARIBAGS, you would think that the airbags take up more space than the occupants when full.
But you can bet your a$$ you’d need every one of them in a MVA!
No amount of air-bags are going to save you if you get rear-ended by a semi
Semi sandwich anyone ?
Take another look at the car in the article re genes and bad driving.
If this is where small cars are heading I weep for our automotive future.
If anyone ends up buying this car, I’d like to question his/her IQ.
This is a smart car that is actually smart. The Mercedes backed Smart city car costs more than a Corolla, seats only two and could be outran by Shocking. The iQ can carry up to four and goes and turns like a normal car. The best thing I could like about it is that it’s possible to park it in half-car spaces where some inconsiderate idiots leave such a gap between themselves and the vehicle next to them. And if you have a mate who owns the same car, you can share one space and ticket guys should only charge one car’s worth!
It’s definitely welcome here as long as it’s reasonably priced.
Bring back the Daihatsu Copen or Suzuki Cappuccino… now those were small cars!
Jay,
We did not get the Cappa here but I agree a little RWD that with a few mods could get that turbo 3 cylinder keeping up with the big boys. The Copen is a bit ordinary in comparison.
The price tag doesn’t it’s specs. 9 airbags? It’s a waste of money.
I like the car, its got good spec interior , looks pretty cool but too pricey.
I dig the hell out of it.
That thing with the Euro-spec 1.4 turbo-diesel would be fantastic.
Count me in, I want one.
I really like this car, and if I lived in Japan I would certainly pick this. But i think it doesn’t suit the Australian market…the yaris is small enough already.
Matt Brogan, did you have a good time at Odaiba?
I love this car and really want one. I hope Toyota Australia import this!
Australia always get stock standard cars with standard boring options (conservative). Europe and Asia have so much more variation / production car to choose from. Wake up Australia…..!!!!!
in australia there is no need for a car this small? this might work in rome or japan where there’s much higher density but in australia i don’t see the need for a car smaller than a swift or yaris or fiesta
even these cars i think are smaller than need be… something i30 or civic is as small as practicality allows… ie. 4 adults and enough to swallow a few suitcases
“No place for one in Australia”, get real most of your population live in cities and towns where car don’t go much more than 40K’s average speed. This thing is made for it. I can just imagine all the yuppies in St Kilda having one to run the Coles once a week; it will look good witha 6ft thruster on the roof!!
and what exactly does this car do that is so much better than a Swift?
You don’t have to sardine can people in the back of a Swift? Does the Swift take up more parking space? Is it harder to park?
This is a free country… Toyota can sell what they like but to me, this car is a giant waste of time. I’d rather have a Ford Focus or something that isn’t so compromised in every possible way for so little gain.
i’d choose this over the alto any day