Photos of Toyota Scion iQ on dealer lot in California

But what did you think of the turning circle? Amazing fun. Still love the looks I get when we spin ours round almost on its wheelbase. I'm assuming this feature has made it to the US cars.

 

The salesman demo the tight turning in the parking lot.
It was remarkably tight.

IIRC, the Gen II Prius has a turning radius of ~17 ft.
I've read that the iQ has a turning radius of 13 ft.

 

Just like a grocery cart.



.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of being more like a Bumper Car! Hmmm, I wonder, if you keep turning the steering wheel does the IQ go into reverse?

Seriously, the IQ gets many more smiles per gallon than a Prius

 

Ah but the magic thing is that it handles really well at motorway/highway speeds of 80 mph. I wouldn't say you'd want to get it upto 90 purely because it'll be revving itself apart but surprisingly it will sit at 80/85 mph quite happily and handles very very well. They've managed to balance high speed handling with the amazingly tight steering and I think that's its appeal. A city car with the option of those longer runs if required, even daily.

 

this car handles like a bigger car
you dont have the feeling that your driving a small car like this is.
its nice but expensif

 

From the diesel I can report that it also sits perfectly still on the highway at 110mph. The wind noise was pretty loud, though (I was going against the wind).
Without the wind against me, the salesman said that I should be able to push 125mph. I will report back if I find if anything should be different at that speed.

I just have to change to my Summer tires first - the Winter tires are only good for 80mph.

The electric steering assist is pretty much off at those speeds, and the width and aerodynamics makes it as stable as any larger modern car I have driven.

 

as they said, iQ is more stable than Yaris because of wide track.
I dont see why do you think you need to be brave to go 100mph in a car.

 

I also helps that my diesel is 400lb. heavier than the base 1.0 iQ, but most of the highway stability comes from the width and suspension. I would be much less keen to go at those speeds in the (more aerodynamic) Toyota Aygo because of the cheaper suspension, which makes is easier to throw off course.

It also feels like the iQ generates more downforce, but I can't back up that claim.

 

deer, rabbits, skunks, possums, cats, dogs, turkeys, geese, raccoons, other drivers, police (you lose your license if over 35 mph over the speed limit), and ............

The occasional darn Prius driver.

 

Aygo can also easily go 100mph on the highway, but yes, feels more unstable than iQ... a lot more.

iQ feels a lot like you are driving a Corolla. Which is also why it gets a bit worse mpg than Aygo... you cant have it all folks .

But sure guys, we are European... if I dont go 100mph on the highway, someone will run me over.

 

uh, please... iQ is premium small car. Echo my arse.

 

Toyota added more soft touch plastics to the interior upgrade of Toyota iQ in 2011 in order to please car journalists (to the dismay of actual owners who have to keep the car clean!). Didn't those upgrades make it to the 2012 Scion version?

 

you need to drive Aygo and drive iQ and then tell me which is which .

Sure iQ is small, but it is premium car. I dont know how to explain it if you dont experience small cheap cars. We do here.

For instance Autocar tested iQ to new UP and wrote how they were amazed how much nicer iQ is than UP. But thats obvious since iQ is designed as premium small car and uses more expensive parts and components (not just unique ones).