2016 Scion iM Review - Tweener Toyota takes a turn

2016 Scion iM Review - Tweener Toyota takes a turn -

2016 Scion iM (9 of 21)

To wonder aloud: How long can be cool, you know, cool

for Scion, "cool" has a half-life of about 12 years and the brand focused on young Toyota has a significant shift to right the ship back to the sales of the first year in America. Last month, Scion posted a 20 percent drop in sales, discontinued two models - iQ and xD - and an end to his statement xB -. the only Scion to post something like sales growth

Is it better to be dead or cool? Kurt Cobain did not write a song about it?

The Scion iM is 50 percent of the response to what is the next step of Scion. The new sedan based overseas Toyota Auris / Corolla will hit dealerships alongside the iA on September 1. The five-door goes head-to-head with competitors like the Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf in a segment that analysts predict will sell more than 500,000 cars this year.

Built in Japan, the iM is a distant cousin of the US market Toyota Corolla in all its splendor, and the iA likely will be part of "pragmatic, not necessarily hip Scion" offensive in the coming months .

I can not wait.

tester

2016 Scion iM

engine : 1.8-liter, direct-injection I-4 (137 horsepower @ 6100 rpm, 126 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm)
Transmission : 6-speed manual (as tested) automatic CVT

EPA rating : 27 mpg city / 36 mpg highway / 31 mpg combined (manual) 28/37/32 mpg (CVT )

Price 795 $ 18.460 + $ destination (manual) ;. $ 19.0 + $ 795 destination (CVT)

To be honest, I n have never led Auris overseas, which is packed with a variety of engines ranging from 1.8-liter Scion favorite here mill gasoline to a diesel 1.4 liter - even a turbo-hybrid combo 1 8 liter for Japan. For states, we get only one choice, and that's OK because I'm a little slow.

2016 Scion iM (21 of 21)

Thus is the iM. While 0-60 mph happens in 10 seconds in the iM (which, relatively speaking, is average for a tailgate), the engine never felt really rushed to get anywhere. There are no huge power pick-up throughout his band - not at 4000 rpm at full twist, not redline at 6100-rpm. So it is fair to say: Do not worry about the manual; he has not the guts of the CVT anyway.

This is probably due to the considerable heft iM. The five-door hatchback weighs 2,943 pounds with a manual transmission, 3,031 pounds with an automatic, and it understood what I had for lunch. Descent, you are well on power. Uphill, you may want to reconsider this happens, young man

2016 Scion iM (16 of 21) Instead, the feeling of the sport of iM just two locations :. Its chassis and brakes. double wishbones at the rear of the front and instead of MacPherson keep iM planted around corners and relatively flat. The body kit of iM hide his height - he is 55 inches tall with 5.5 inches of ground clearance - but the car maintains a relatively firm grip on the road. Several times through the winding drive around San Mateo, the iM held its own and kept clean in the corners. The iM will not be confused with a sports car, but he eagerly jumps into the corners -. Although it can not dart

The suspension of the iM is firmer than expected and way more than I ever expected from a Toyota. It is not too firm for every day driving, but it's dangerously close.

On the other side, the iM the brakes are extremely confident and quick to stop the momentum of the heavy door. Even through standard 17-inch wheels of the car, you can see the large rotors 11 inches of waiting and this feeling comes through the gradual, but not lazy, the pedal. The brakes could stand another 50 to 500 more horsepower engine, I think.

2016 Scion iM (8 of 21) Inside, the iM is surprisingly well regarded for a car that costs $ 19,000. The interior accent the dashboard is well placed and flexible surface materials contribute to keeping attention away from doors, which are powerfully dull. Ditto for the seats, which offer contrasting stitching to help visually separate the black pattern on black, but it falls a bit flat. The good news: You can accommodate five people comfortably in the hatch to cover all interior materials

There is plenty of room for the equipment with 60/40-split folding rear seats and 20.8 cubic feet space in the. . cargo area with the seats in place

Following the strategy of Scion "mono spec" price, there are really only two things to consider with the iM - color and transmission. The same Pioneer audio system comes in all models (with or without navigation as an option installed by the dealer, for which there is no dedicated button and confused the hell of a monkey like me), Bluetooth streaming and steering wheel controls. Can you hear the stereo? Because you have to turn up. Until a little more. The iM allows a little more road noise than it should.

2016 Scion iM (17 of 21)

Other standard features include 17-inch wheels, a rearview camera and the body kit which is undoubtedly the Scion iM certainly not a Toyota Auris.

Certainly not. And the biggest asset of the Scion iM may be his biggest problem as well. It is useful for Scion to have a big parent company like Toyota to pull its international fleet tracking and help sales in the States. But a large parent company like Toyota has all the marks of an automotive juggernaut, especially a solid dealer network still running things decidedly old school.

The iM is a decent hatch itself, but it probably will not save Scion. The exciting, fresh new car does not have many fresh ideas when it comes to streamlining the shopping experience - what they say can be done in less than an hour, as long as you find a participating dealer at a price to a participating market participants.

Cool can not last forever, even if Toyota can.

Photo courtesy of Alex L. Dykes.