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Jaggy Cars - July 2009
Toyota iQ
Charm Bracelet Attraction
When the guy delivered the Toyota iQ I went out to have a look. At first I thought there had been a terrible accident and asked if the guy was OK. He looked puzzled and said he was fine, and asked me why.
I pointed at the Toyota iQ and asked what happened to it? He still looked puzzled.
So I asked if he had shunted it into the back of a bus and then backed it into a wall. He still looked puzzled. And then it dawned on him. I was pulling his leg because of its oddball looks.
By heck, it's wee. Toyota's answer to the Smart, but in my trend setting opinion, better. The main reason for that statement is because it has a gearbox that I could live with.
Yes, it's a manual box, but it's still much more preferable to the two-pedal box of knicker elastic that is fitted to the Smart. Having said that, the latest version of the Smart 'box is better than it was, but better is still a relative term.
But back to the iQ. God it's ugly. I don't even think you could call it cute. Fortunately, it has a whole host of redeeming features.
First off, the 3 cylinder engine is a wee sweetie. It revs like a bumble bee on Red Bull and sounds like half a Porsche. It's surprisingly nimble too, but then it doesn't have a lot of weight to lug around as it has only half the tinwork of a real car.
Secondly, the gearbox. It's a wee jewel and whether you like its looks or not you'll end up having a sneaky liking for the wee thing before you're finished.
Thirdly, it is surprisingly roomy inside. Toyota reckon you could get four in it, but only if the two in the back were refugees from a garden gnomarium. With the front seats well forward, you could get one, possibly two (at a squeeze), average sized adults in the back for a short journey, but then that's really what this car is for. It's a commuter solution so it can't be judged as a normal family saloon or even a compact, that would be unfair.
Luggage room? Forget it, but the rear seatbacks fold forward and provide enough space for the average weekly shop for a couple of anorexic supermodels. So the iQ is eminently practical for what it is.
The only real downside is the way it pitches forward under braking and rears up under acceleration so it pays to drive smoothly. That is down to the short wheelbase, but because it is as wide as it is long it handles like a kart. Roundabouts can be taken at any speed you like encouraged by a delightfully direct steering action. At first the steering felt very light as if the front wheels were only skimming the ground and all the weight was over the rear, but you get used to the lightness.
And there is another issue if you start chucking it about. The seats lack sideways support so you could end up in the passenger seat on a grippy roundabout if you're note careful.
In fact its response belies its power.
Conclusion
I ended up liking it. It is surprisingly roomy for two folk, well kitted out, extremely frugal, nippy and responsive, and almost as capacious inside as a lady's handbag.
Would I have one? No, it doesn't fit my lifestyle, but if I lived in a city and had to commute around town then it could be an attractive option.
Or maybe I will wait till the Aston Martin version comes out - at twice the price! It would appear that Aston is buying into the green message offering customers of their grand tourers the option to buy one of these as well. They have already done the deal with Toyota who will supply ready-built iQs, which Aston will modify externally with a new grille and profile and leather up the trim on the inside.
Maybe I'll get one for my key ring!
And no, you can't get the tail out - it doesn't have one!
In Short:
Price: £10,495
Engine: 998 cc, 3 cyl. Petrol with 67 bhp
Performance: 0-62mph in 14.7 seconds, flat out at 93 mph
Economy: 72.4 mpg extra urban, 65.7 mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 99 g/km
Insurance Group: 2
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