Alternative review of Toyota IQ

The car world is devoting more and more attention to small cars at the moment and why not? Urban congestion and the environment are two of the biggest issues facing the industry and the best guess seems to be that they're only going to get bigger. Small cars are a neat way of tackling both and for my part, I've always had a soft spot for a cute little city car anyway. All of this meant that I was instantly hooked when I first read about Toyota's iQ. Here was a tiny car that somehow managed to cram four seats inside, had a super-economical engine and, more importantly, looked really cool. Could the reality be as good as the marketing flimflam? I couldn't wait to find out. The iQ is a noteworthy technical achievement but I'm more engaged by what it might mean for the future of the car market. Along with contemporaries like the Smart Fortwo and the Fiat 500, it's aiming to give city cars something they've rarely had in the past, genuine desirability. It's creating a new market above conventional vehicles of this size for premium city cars that buyers will choose for reasons of image and fashion as well as more practical considerations. That's an interesting development and for lovers of exciting small cars, it's great news.

It's the seating arrangement that will gain the most column inches for the iQ. This really is a tiny car. It's under three meters long and yet it has four seats. Admittedly, the one behind the driver would be useless except for sitting a small child or someone who's just had their legs fed through a mangle but the offset cabin layout, that puts the front passenger ahead of the driver to free space behind, means the other three seats are fine for adults. Indeed, sat in the front of the iQ, there's a huge amount of room. You could easily forget you're in such a compact car. There's very little boot to speak of but the back of the kiddie seat behind the driver can fold down individually enabling the car to carry three adults and some baggage. Fold both the rear seat backs down and there's luggage capacity way in excess of that in the 2-seater Smart Fortwo. Toyota has also made attempts to give the iQ cabin a premium feel. Buttons and switches are kept to a minimum and there are some very neat design features to catch the eye. Funky interiors aren't usually a Toyota strong point and although the intelligence of the iQ's design is unarguable, you can't help feeling they could have been a little more adventurous with such a groundbreaking car.

The engine on offer is the well regarded 67bhp 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol unit used in the Aygo citycar. This powerplant is billed as the world's lightest production engine. Like the Aygo, the iQ is urban transport first and foremost, reflected in a sprint to 60mph that takes around 15 seconds. If going fast isn't too much of a priority, there's also the option of a CVT Multidrive automatic gearbox. At lower speeds the steering's electric assistance makes manoeuvring the car simplicity itself and the minimal front and rear overhangs contribute to a turning circle that is spookily tight. The iQ can swivel itself round in a space of just 3.9m meaning that even if you spot a parking place on the other side of the road, you should be able to throw a quick U-turn to snaffle it. The driving experience is most impressive because you're not constantly reminded that you're in a tiny car. The suspension soaks up bumps reasonably well and the iQ feels nippy at low speeds. It also does surprisingly well on winding roads at higher speeds where good body control and responsive steering inspire confidence through the corners. Toyota has committed to a low carbon dioxide figure for the iQ, with 99g/km achievable in the manual models. Fuel economy is even more impressive at over 65mpg.

The iQ's success in the UK may hinge on how successful it and its contemporaries are at creating this 'premium city car' market sector. If they can persuade the public that little cars with intelligence and attitude are the things to have, the price premium won't be an issue. The iQ is certainly intelligent enough to pull this off and it won't take too much persuasion to get me on the waiting list.

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Toyota IQ 1.0 VVT-i 2 3dr hatchback
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