2013 scion iq review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Urban commuter is small outside, roomy inside. introductionthe scion iq is a pint-sized microcar perfect for city dwellers seeking easy maneuverability and admirable fuel economy. Bold exterior styling, consistent with the scion brand, helps to fend off any would-be bullies. A continuously variable transmission (cvt) kills some of the fun but, on the upside, helps to achieve an estimated 36/37 mpg city/highway, which beats both the smart fortwo and the fiat 500 with the automatic transmission. sure, the car is tiny, but it doesn't feel that way inside. Several features enable the iq to stay small without forcing occupants to feel like sardines. It's proportionately wider than other cars, allowing not only more space, but a greater sense of confidence on the road. In the cabin, that means an offset passenger seat along with thinner seat backs to give rear passengers more space. Under the hood, it's smaller, more compact components such as the front-mounted differential and air conditioning unit, as well as a high-mount steering rack with electronic power-steering. Underneath, a flat gas tank beneath the floor reduces rear overhang. the 2013 scion iq's closest competitors appear to be the smart fortwo hatchback and the fiat 500. Dimensions-wise, the iq sits in between the two (20 inches shorter than the fiat, but 14 inches longer than the smart). The iq could even be considered an alternative to the mini cooper. And while the iq's base price seems fair at around $16k compared to the latter, that's not a lot of car for the money. Springing for upgraded audio, suspension enhancements and other options can skyrocket the iq's sticker price to nearly $20k. It's paired with a continuously variable transmission (cvt) and gets an epa-estimated 36/37 mpg city/highway. lineupthe 2013 scion iq 15,495) comes in one trim level. Standard features include air conditioning, cloth upholstery, power door locks, windows and outside mirrors, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel with audio controls, 50/50 split folding rear seats, trip computer, bluetooth handsfree phone system and a six-speaker, pioneer audio system with hd radio, single mp3/wma cd player, usb and auxiliary audio ports. Steel 16-inch wheels are standard with a choice between two plastic wheel cover designs. options include blizzard pearl paint 395), a rear spoiler 285) 16-inch alloy wheels 749), wheel locks, fog lights, body side moldings, mudguards, a rear spoiler and paint protection film. Performance options include toyota racing development (trd) lowering springs 399), sway bar set 345) and shift knob 80). Interior accessories include floor mats, cargo mat, cargo net and a seven-color interior light kit. an upgraded bespoke premium audio system is also available 845), with a 5. 8-inch lcd color touch-screen display and a variety of apps, like pandora live audio streaming, twitter, yelp and traffic information. The scion brand skews heavily male, so it's no surprise the iq's creators favored strong lines and geometric angles over bubbly cuteness. to make the iq seem less diminutive, scion designers took a chance by straying from typical vehicle proportions. Although only 10 feet long, the iq is unusually wide for a car in its segment. interiorone of the biggest challenges in creating the smallest vehicles is designing a cabin spacious enough to accommodate taller drivers without inducing claustrophobia attacks on passengers. But the scion iq achieves this with relative ease. The cabin feels surprisingly airy, and scion tells us the space between the front seats is larger than that of toyota's yaris or corolla models. The front passenger seat is offset with a track that sits farther forward to give the passenger behind better legroom. Rear seats split and fold down 50/50 and offer enough space for a couple of large suitcases. total cargo room is rated at 16. 7 cubic feet with the rear seats flat. the instrument cluster, like other scions, is simple and attractive, with a pleasing and easy-to-read blue lighting scheme. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is substantial and feels good in hand. We liked the wheel-mounted audio controls, but wish there were also a button to access to the bluetooth hands-free phone feature. climate controls consist of three large, vertically placed knobs on the center stack that are easy to see and reach. On systems equipped with the optional navigation, buttons are integrated into the touchscreen display. sound quality from the pioneer audio system is fair, but, since scion customers tend to be big on customization, we expect music aficionados will roll with aftermarket speakers anyway. An upgraded bespoke premium audio system is also available, with a 5. 8-inch lcd color touch-screen display and a variety of apps, like pandora live audio streaming, twitter, yelp and traffic information. It's important to note that at the time of this writing, bespoke is currently only compatible with iphone 4 and 4s, not iphone 5. driving impressionwe drove a scion iq equipped with navigation, the premium audio system, and trd suspension elements. The comparatively wider track kept the iq feeling stable, even at freeway speeds. We expect a full load would give the 94-hp car a strenuous workout. sharp steering and a tiny turning circle of only 13 feet make for some snappy maneuvers in parking lots and through city streets. While good for fuel economy and not as gutless as some incarnations, it robbed the iq of its potential pep. We'd love to see a manual option in the u. In hopes the iq could emulate any of the famous go-kart handling found in the mini cooper. Still, it's wise to consider larger choices for the money as long as size doesn't matter. laura burstein filed this newcartestdrive. Com report from san francisco. model lineupscion iq 15,495). assembled intoyota city, japan. options as testedbespoke premium audio system 845), trd lowering springs 399), trd sway bar 345), trd shift knob 80). model testedscion iq 15,495). Every iq is equipped with 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, a leather shift. Power Locks✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Player✔ Air Conditioning✔ Bluetooth✔ Alloy Wheels

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2013 Scion iQ - 2dr Hatchback