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iQ: Toyota’s tiny tot for grown-up townies

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18 February 2009

Toyota iQ road test report

Toyota iQ2

Toyota iQ2

What is it?

A landmark city car. Head-turning Toyota iQ is the world’s smallest four-seater. The iQ measures just under three metres long and boasts novel space-saving ideas, such as a flat fuel tank and an asymmetric dashboard.

What’s hot?

  • Attention-grabbing looks
  • Wheel-at-each-corner stance with steeply raked front end…
  • …and upright tail mean the iQ looks like nothing else
  • Rear seats split 50:50 and fold flat for 284 litres of luggage space
  • Super frugal engine and tall gearing mean 65mpg and just 99g/km CO2
  • Miles better than a Smart to drive…
  • …thanks to weighty steering and firm controls
  • Composure on the motorway is matched too…
  • …decent grip levels, little body roll and a big-car ride
  • Amazingly tight turning circle
  • Three-cylinder engine sounds great
  • Clever ventilation controls. Solid build quality

What’s not?

  • Only a three-seater. There’s virtually no space behind the driver
  • Boot is only big enough for a briefcase
  • Fold the seats and there’s no luggage cover to hide your valuables
  • Well equipped (climate, alloys and auto light standard) but very pricey

What you need to Know?

P11D Value: 10,220
Monthly Rental*: 150 (CH)/£172 (PCH)
Tax Band when posted: 10%
Monthly BiK: 17 (20%)/£34 (40%)
Engine: 1.0-litre, 3-cyl
CO2 Emissions: 99g/km
Power/torque: 67bhp/67lb ft
Economy: 65.7mpg

Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on 3 years at 10,000 miles a year.

Business Car Manager Road Test Rating

The iQ has bags of character, is great fun to drive and full of neat ideas – but it doesn’t skimp on quality or refinement. There are flaws – it’s really just a three-seater, luggage space is compromised and it’s far from cheap – but iQ shows the Smart how city cars should be done. A winner.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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