9 February 2011
New car report; A canny wee number
We'd been looking forward to driving Toyota's iQ ever since we heard that a limited number of these micro-sized city cars were destined for our shores.
In exploring a new opportunity in a previously untrodden market segment for Toyota, rather than mount a full-scale new car launch, Toyota New Zealand has made a sound decision to test the water by importing a few very late model low mileage iQ's from their parent company in Japan, retailing them through their Signature Class Used Car programme.
And to add cutesy factor to the tiny four seater iQ, Toyota's marketing team has introduced some personality by giving them each a pet name when putting them up on their website for "adoption;" otherwise known as "for sale".
Ours was called Jock!
After making a few enquiries subsequent to our test drive, we discovered that our test car was named Jock, although there didn't seem to be any tartan, haggis or bagpipes in sight.
At under 3 metres long with a turning circle of just 3.9 metres, we came to the conclusion that Jock's proportions and manoeuvrability would probably render him more at home in congested Tokyo than in the sparsely populated Scottish Highlands, but nevertheless, he did cope with the Auckland traffic and with a fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km, this little puppy didn't cost a fortune to feed.
Touted as the world's smallest 4 seater car, it has to be said that the rear seats have such minimal legroom that it's not really practical for any more than 2 people unless the front seats are positioned so far forward that the front seat occupants will have their faces pressed hard against the windscreen.
Small but safe.
With its 9 airbags, including the world's first centre rear airbag to reduce injury in a side impact, Electronic Stability Control, ABS brakes and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, McToyota has proved that small can still be safe, with Jock's kamikaze ancestors having achieved a 5 star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
All iQ's sold in New Zealand will be offered with a 3 year unlimited km warranty, 3 years free WOF checks and 3 years AA roadside assistance.
Powering the iQ is a 1 litre, 3 cylinder petrol engine robbed from Daihatsu. Producing 50kW at 6,000 rpm and 90Nm of torque 4,800 rpm, the engine is mated to a CVT automatic transmission with 5 simulated stepped ratios.
We found some characteristics of the CVT trans leaving the engine hunting at low speeds as if the wrong gear had been selected, but overall there's no shortage of power and the engine/trans combination is adequate in this sector.
Maximum use of space has been achieved by repositioning the differential in front of the transmission, enabling the front wheels to be pushed forward and with the use of a specially designed flat fuel tank mounted under the floor. Seat backs have been made thinner to maximise space too.
Radio controls are mounted on the steering wheel only, with a small display screen located next to the main instrument cluster telling you what station you are tuned to. As New Zealand iQ's are domestic Japanese models, a band expander is installed meaning you have to decipher the display of frequencies near the top of the dial.
The market for micro-cars here has never been huge and the hefty price tag will deter some buyers.
It remains to be seen how many of Jock's siblings might be adopted in New Zealand.
At $26,990 for a standard G grade car like Jock, or $29,990 for a spruced up L grade iQ with leather seats and alloy wheels, the entry level Signature Class (ie; used) iQ is $5,500 more than an entry level brand new Yaris 1.3L, with the top spec iQ being priced $500 over a top of the range Yaris 1.5L hatch.
Due to the price, it's more likely that iQ's will find homes here for promotional use rather than the intended purpose of reducing city congestion and lowering emissions.
However, those organisations with an eye for the promotional opportunity will find the iQ definitely grabs attention on the road while conveying the message of social responsibility.