Scion iQ review

At only 10 feet long, the new iQ is slightly bigger than the tiny Smart ForTwo.  And like the Smart, this hatchback is one of the lowest-scoring cars we've tested in recent years. Its stubby body gives it an amazingly tight turning circle and makes it easy to park.  And its 34 mpg overall helps out at the pump. But there are few other high points to mention.

This car is slow, uncomfortable, and noisy. Its numb, overly quick steering takes any fun out of driving. Unlike the Smart, a token rear seat adds some flexibility, but it is very small and uncomfortable. The iQ is too new for us to have reliability data, and it scored too low to be recommended. The roomier Honda Fit and Scion xD are nicer cars that cost about the same, provide comparable fuel economy, and are also easy to zip around in.

The iQ is powered by a hardworking 94-hp, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It's fed by a tiny 8.5-gallon fuel tank that provides a cruising distance of only about 300 miles. A continuously variable transmission operates smoothly but makes the engine howl. The gas mileage is excellent, but we expected even more from a car of this size.

A buckboard patter dominates the iQ's stiff, choppy ride, and a very noisy cabin can make long trips fatiguing. The car's small size gives you lots of room in a typical traffic lane, but a short wheelbase and quick, numb steering make the iQ feel nervous on the road. When pushed to its handling limits at our test track, it proved secure and predictable, and it achieved a commendable speed while navigating through our avoidance maneuver.

Its interior styling tries to look smart, with funky, contrasting textures. But the styling can't disguise the cheap-looking plastics, thin carpeting, and a headliner that resembles fuzzy cardboard.

Drivers will find it hard to get comfortably situated because the foot rest and pedals are too close, and the steering wheel—which tilts but doesn't telescope—is too far away. Head and knee room are generous, but left-foot room is tight.

The two-person rear seat is extremely cramped, with virtually no leg room. And putting an infant's rear-facing seat back there can be a bit of a chore.

The tachometer is tiny, and the steering wheel blocks other instruments' small digital readouts. The high-mounted audio system looks like an aftermarket add-on and is frustrating to use. It has a small display and tiny buttons, and it lacks a dedicated tuning knob. The big climate-control knobs turn stiffly and are a far reach for the driver.

With the rear seats in the upright position, cargo storage is almost nonexistent; folding them down helps a bit. In lieu of a spare tire, the Scion provides only a tire-puncture repair kit.