At the presentation in Russia, I was handed a miniature copy of the Toyota iQ. I place it next to an iPhone and an iPod — and there it is, the whole essence of this microcar's positioning in our market. At a price of 777,777 rubles for the only, but richly equipped version, all that remains of the Toyota name is, in fact, just "Toy." That is, a toy. A fashionable accessory.
EUROPEAN VIEW
But here's our mentality. When compatriots first see the iQ, they are puzzled. This cube-like little one is almost two meters shorter than the best-selling Toyota Camry! Is it really such a self-propelled joke?
But residents of European megacities take such cars completely seriously. For them, the iQ is a real salvation: it easily slips through traffic jams and solves the eternal parking problem. The "cube" can even be parked across the sidewalk, the main thing is that the wide doors open. And, surprisingly, four people get out of the iQ...!
The main competitor of the iQ is the two-seater Smart. If you consider it the pinnacle of engineering, then the iQ is simply a miracle. Yes, adults will be cramped in the two rear seats. And when there are four people in the car, you'll have to forget about the trunk: between the seatbacks and the fifth door there's a gap for 32 liters. Even the usual glove box was replaced with a removable "briefcase," just to win precious millimeters. But the iQ has as many as nine (!) airbags.
Now about the main thing. The Smart is, after all, a means of transportation. The Toyota iQ is a full-fledged car. And I write this statement with a completely serious face. No jokes.
 | FOUR
No matter how you sit, there still won't be room for luggage. And you can only fit four "according to the instructions": the front passenger will have to press against the dashboard. |
GO, YOUTH!
The car accelerates briskly, the CVT works adequately, the ride is surprisingly smooth, on a straight line — stability even under gusts of wind, and handling is decent by "little ones" standards. And silence! Noise insulation and build quality are top-notch — this car made itself respected. It turns around almost on the spot, and at the same time you forget about its real dimensions. The driver and front passenger don't feel "cramped" by the body at all. The driver's seat is comfortable, "adult-like," and you quickly get used to the non-standard solutions.
Who in Russia is being offered to master the unique iQ niche? In principle, anyone who has that very money. But logic suggests that the first will be representatives of the golden youth. Those who once were the first to buy an iPod, and then an iPhone. And whom others began to emulate.
WEIGHTY!
iQ equipment: power drives and heaters, climate control, onboard computer, audio system with mp3, stability control... A rich little one!
SERIOUSLY
An amazing feature: in the iQ, everything is thought out so that the driver forgets about the dimensions. There are almost no complaints about the inner world.
MANUFACTURER'S DATA
ENGINE
1329 cm3, petrol, 4 cylinders,
98 hp at 6000 rpm,
123 Nm at 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
CVT, front-wheel drive
DYNAMICS
max speed – 170 km/h,
acceleration 0-100 km/h – 11.6 s
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length – 2985
width – 1680
height – 1500
ECONOMY
average consumption – 5.1 l/100 km