IQ Press Reviews

Car World Form a 'Q Please

Toyota's tip-top tiny offering is set to go down real storm

YOU DON'T have to be short and thin to fit inside what is seen as the smallest four-seater car in the World.

I'm not short - well, I suppose average at 5ft 8ins. Yet, that did not cause, any problem for me in Toyota's remarkable and cleverly packaged new baby city car, the iQ.

In as much as this angular, short and stubby looking car is less than three metres long (2.985m) -two thirds the size of an average cat, 1.5 metres high and measuring just two metres between the front and rear wheels -it is only 300 mm lower and 15mm narrower than the larger Toyota Yaris. And has an interior length almost the same as the Fiat 500 and the Mini.

Magic

However, the designers have really worked their magic. Looking deceptively small from the outside, the interiors space they've conjured up is certainly no illusion. Using a completely new platform, they introduced six intriguing engineering innovations.

A uniquely-developed front mounted differential, integrated in a conventional transmission layout. A newly-developed repositioned centre take-aff steering gear.

A flat under-floor fuel tank, which is only 120mm in depth. Newly-developed slim, highbacked seats, providing 400mm more knee room for rear seat passengers. An ultra-compact air con and heating unit, 20 per cent smaller that a conventional unit without sacrificing performance.

An asymmetric dashboard, allowing a significant increase in leg room for both the front passenger and the passenger seated behind. With all this enabling shorter front and rear overhangs together with the iQ's wheels placed at the extremities of each corner, maximum interior space was gained. Even the bottom of the steering wheel was flattened to save space.

Spacious

The front passenger seat can be slid forward to ensure enough legroom to accommodate three 190cm tall adults and one child or luggage behind the driver. The cabin is wide and surprisingly spacious. A floating 'V' centre console accommodates the air con control and the audio unit, which are integrated seamlessly into the console with only the CD slot visible.

Power for the iQ, which goes on sale here towards the end of January, will initially come from Toyota's five speed 996cc three-cylinder petrol 2008 "Engine of the Year" in the sub 1.0l class.

This outputs 68bhp, produces 99g/km of CO2 (€104 road tax) and returns 67.3mpg. There will be three grades, Strata, Luna with Sol from next June, and two colours - black metallic and pearl white - with more colours to follow in March.

Toyota, who are targeting "new yuppies" and "responsible socialites", are marketing the iQ as a premium product, yet the cheapest Strata model will sell here for €14,000, with no air con. On the road this little urbanite is an absolute delight. With its incredibly tight turning circle - a turning radius of just 3.9m - the iQ is a great little parker.

When we hit the motorways the brilliant 1.0 litre proved the iQ was a real get-up-and-goer, performing surprisingly quietly and was most civilised. The iQ, which boasts nine airbags and stability control as standard, has been designed to meet the top 5-star EURO NCAP safety ratings.

The iQ, with annual European sales of 80,000 targeted, leads Toyota's 2009 launch offensive of 13 models, six brand-new or next generation models, including the Avensis in the first quarter of the year, and seven product updates.

Gerry Boud - Sunday World