Toyota (Scion) iQ - Smarter Than a smart? Um...no!
Automobile magazine (Nov '08) has an article on the new Toyota iQ which will be sold under the Scion brand in mid 2009. They said it "outsmarts the smart, no contest." The iQ is a front engine front wheel drive (1.0, 3 cyl, 68-hp) microcompact that seats four (?) that's priced in line with a base Mini. First of all I don't need or want a back seat (iQ is a foot longer than a smart). Secondly, I'm a rear drive person, never liked or wanted a front drive car. Lastly, isn't a base-priced Mini ($19,200, miniusa.com) thousands more than a smart? I don't want that either. Doesn't sound that smart to me.
Tags: iQ
Views: 93
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by SATO on -
Let the fight begin... We are going to get pelted from every side as if it were a political debate..... IQ Vs Smart.
We need information!
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Permalink Reply by toes on -
Do they explain their claim as to what they think is smarter about the iQ?
(imitation is the greatest form of flattery ... smart --> iQ ... (sarcasm) how clever.
Now the question is: how high/low an iQ? We already know that smart is smart.
At $19,200 the iQ is a competitor to the mini or even more the Honda Fit, not the smart. The mini is sexier than the iQ at that price. And the smart is more clever (especially for being a 10 year old concept/design).
Sorry Toyota, try again.
My 2c. t.
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Permalink Reply by kurlee on -
My thoughts exactly, toes. The article doesn't go into much detail and only two pictures, one from the front quarter and a picture of the dash, but I'm sure we'll hear more soon.
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Permalink Reply by DendoRacing on -
More photos are available from here.
It looks like you can have a rear seat or luggage capacity but not both at the same time - "The iQ is called a 3+1, meaning it is capable of carrying up to three adults along with a child or luggage in comfort." Perfect for all those three adult, one child families.
From the Top Gear review - "But climb in and it's a crushing disappointment. The materials are just horrible - hard cheap plastics, none of the desirable finishes of a Smart. Major blunder."
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Permalink Reply by CubeFX on -
It is make sense to sell it as Scion. It will be great replacement for discontinued xA. My wife drives '06 xA and she loves it. I always sought that Toyota dropped the ball big time when they replaced xA with xD. If they will be able to keep price under $14K (base xA price was $13200) it would sell like a hotcakes. I would also keep an eye on the Nissan CUBE.
CUBE
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Permalink Reply by kurlee on
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Russ, you're right about the advertising. If I didn't see an occasional ad in a British car magazine I wouldn't see any at all. Good point. Interesting about the rear seat/luggage area. I'd like to see how tight that is.
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Permalink Reply by Vince on -
Is there no other way to design a micro-compact without it so closely resembling a smart in appearance? Competition is a healthy thing generally, but the idea is that competition should generate innovation and originality. The smart already has the innovation and the originality; where is the iQ's? It is practically a copy cat.
Yeah, I'd also like to see how tight that so called rear seat is on the iQ. My 2006 Mustang is a 2+1 - and notably larger than an iQ - and my rear Mustang seats are pretty much for smaller children and novelty only! I would only want rear seats in my smart if the car itself were at least 3 feet longer.
The various photos showing the cabin space sure make it seem claustrophobic compared to our smarts.
Just opinions. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Alan Perry on -
I have been trying to link to comparison photos between the smart and the iQ, but it isn't working. Here is a link to a blog with the photos - http://www.burlappcars.com/2008/08/toyota-iq-vs-smart.html
Within the size constraints, the smart and the iQ are fairly different. Any car with that short of a wheelbase is going to be "all door" from the side and have a sharp drop-off in the back. The iQ is not as tall and wider. It is front-engine, fwd, which is also different. That and the additional length and rear seats result in the iQ being packaged completely different from the smart.
By the name, Toyota is clearly targeting smart. However, it is different enough that I don't think that the label "copycat" applies.
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Permalink Reply by Dariusz on -
One look at IQ and I would hope that I don't have to look again. I asked once a friend of mine why did he buy Mustang when there is so many cheaper cars of similar characteristics. His answer was simple and impossible to argue with: For the looks of it.
Smart just attracts attention and is fun to hang an eye on.
I got exact opposite impression with IQ.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Perry on
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If you do some Google searches on the iQ and find some blogs and write-ups and then read the comments, you will see that there are plenty of people who think the iQ is better looking than the smart.
Where did the price quoted here for the iQ come from? All of my web searches have turned up rumored prices for the iQ roughly the same (just a little less) than the smart.
With smart selling every car that they can make for the US, there is probably room for Toyota to sell the iQ in the US as well.
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Permalink Reply by kurlee on
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The Automobile magazine article said it would be same as a base Mini. The Mini website has it at 19,200. The car mags that I've seen didn't have an official price yet. I'd love to see a lot of city comuters out there. I just think they should stand on their own instead of trying to outsmart the smart. I know, I live in a dream world, oh well.
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