Review of the new Toyota iQ - The Design Story

The idea of owning a small car has never looked more appealing but the reality remains something that lots of people would rather avoid. Toyota undertook to change all that with a fundamental rethink of the small car concept and the end result is called the iQ.

Fuel costs, emissions-based taxation, traffic congestion, parking problems, environmental concerns, as the impact of these factors increases smaller cars tend to look more and more attractive. The problem is that many people still see a small car as a compromise in terms of the space available, the sorts of journeys you can undertake, the safety provision and the all-important question of style. The iQ is Toyota's answer to these and other issues surrounding life with a smaller vehicle. It uses a series of design and engineering innovations to deliver on a practical level but also sets out to offer the desirability, personality and attitude that style conscious buyers crave.

Just how small is the iQ then? Toyota's engineers undertook to design a car that was less than three meters in length but that could seat four people. Remarkably, given the dimensions of other four-seater models currently on the market, they managed it. The iQ is 2,985mm from nose to tail, a full 765mm shorter than Toyota's Yaris supermini but only 30mm lower and 15mm narrower. This unorthodox shape made the accommodation of four people possible but Toyota needed a series of other innovations to ensure they could fit comfortably.

The iQ has a number of unique features specially designed to save space and weight. Amongst them are the front differential, steering gear and air-conditioning unit that are packed in around the engine at the front of the car. Then there's the flat fuel tank positioned beneath the floor and the slim front seats with contoured backs that give 40mm of extra rear legroom. A unique asymmetrical dashboard design gives the front passenger extra legroom and space for the seat to slide forward to increase the space behind.

"Toyota aimed to build a very special small car and most will agree that they've done it. ."

For the driver and front passenger, the iQ never feels like a small car. There's an excellent amount of space available so even taller people can get comfortable in the front and the groundbreaking '3+1' layout brings excellent versatility to the space behind. The secret to the iQ's packaging is its asymmetric dashboard which is cut away on the passenger side. This lets the front passenger seat slide forward to create enough legroom behind for a third adult passenger. The seat to the rear of the driver is better suited to small children but when there are only three people on board, its back section can fold down to create useful luggage space. With both rear seats folded, there's a full 242-litres of capacity in the iQ, more than enough for the weekly shopping.

The iQ's size and light weight have a huge impact on the way it drives but perhaps not in the ways you might think. Toyota's charismatic 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine provides the motive force and its 67bhp is enough to give the iQ a zippy, responsive feel around town. There's an optional Multidrive automatic gearbox or a slick-shifting five-speed manual to choose from but in both cases there's a 93mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of 14.7s. The surprise is not how agile the iQ feels but how refined and comfortable it is on the road.

The suspension is firm and the body roll that afflicts some city cars is almost totally absent partly thanks to the iQ's wide stance. Longer trips aren't a problem with the engine extremely quiet at motorway speeds but it's in urban areas where the car excels. The turning circle is a minute 3.9m making the iQ the easiest thing to park this side of a roller-skate. It will perform U-turns in the blink of an eye and dart through busy streets with ease. Fuel economy is nearly 66mpg with the manual gearbox and CO2 emissions of 99g/km will give major tax savings making the iQ a seriously affordable car to run.

The iQ may be small but its tough. Toyota has engineered the car to set new standards for small car safety and with a massively rigid body shell. It also features special anti-whiplash headrests and a package of no less than nine airbags including a unique rear window curtain airbag and a driver's knee airbag. VSC+ stability control is also standard, which is virtually unheard of in this class of car.

Of course, none of the iQ's undoubted qualities would be enough without the illusive desirability factor. The most successful small urban cars are the ones with a touch of style and individuality about them through which owners can express themselves. With its high window line and foursquare stance, the iQ definitely has attitude and its packed with beautiful detailing from the curve of the rear window to the wing mirrors with their integrated indicators. Inside, it's a similar story, high quality materials and clean minimalist design.

Toyota aimed to build a very special small car and after experiencing the iQ, most will agree that they've done it. Where its unique abilities fit into the wider market is hard to say because there isn't anything else quite like the iQ but think of it as the world's first premium city car and you won't be far from the truth.

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