How Much IQ Does Fox Need?

Ronnie Fox is a good friend who for some time has had the distinction of being Motoring Correspondent of City Solicitor. I have always thought his columns deserved a wider audience.

There are some cars which have an out-of the-ordinary appearance guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of the beholder. The Toyota iQ is in the tradition of the Frog-eye Sprite, the Renault Twingo, the Fiat Multipla and the Nissan Micra. The upswept edges of the headlamp housings and narrow front air intake give the car a faintly surprised look.

An overall length of less than 3 metres and wheelbase of 2 metres adds up to virtually no overhang at either end. Only slightly too big for the lift at 78 Cornhill! Like the G-Wiz, the iQ is a 2 plus 2. The Japanese car is a little longer and a little wider than a G-Wiz but there is a world of difference in terms of interior space. The front seats of the iQ are large and comfortable with ample space for two broad-shouldered men to sit side-by-side. The iQ feels far more spacious than the narrower Smart for the passengers in the front; it’s a bit of a squeeze for those in the back of the Toyota. With the ultra-thin rear seats folded down, there is plenty of room for luggage; with the rear seats in use there is none.

Despite its short wheelbase, the car rides amazingly well. The one litre engine insists on a degree of patience when accelerating hard from rest (0 – 62 m.p.h. takes 15.2 seconds in the automatic version) but cruising on the motorway is comfortable and quiet (the top speed is over 90 m.p.h.) Claimed petrol consumption for the automatic is better than 60 m.p.g.

Equipment levels are high in the standard version and astonishing in the luxury model (intriguingly named iQ_).

Electrically heated and folding door mirrors, rain sensing wipers, dusk sensing headlamps, climate control airconditioning, powered locks and windows, and keyless entry and starting are all included in the iQ_. Prices range from £9,300 for the iQ manual to £11,250 for the iQ_ Automatic – quite expensive but broadly in line with prices for the Fiat 500, the natural competitor of the iQ.

I had three particular dislikes. The rear windows are quite small and all the windows in the iQ_ are glazed with darkened privacy glass. The result is a rather gloomy interior. The interior light is dim, which doesn’t help. A glass sunroof would make the interior a much more cheerful place but unfortunately (as with most Toyota saloons) this is not available, even as an optional extra. Secondly, my view is that all cars with an automatic gear box should have a centre armrest, ideally with some storage spaces for odds and ends. I certainly missed a centre armrest in the iQ; there was plenty of space for one. Finally the colour choice is very limited: only black, white and amethyst are offered. The omission of silver – currently by far the most popular colour – is something of a surprise.

Despite these niggles, I loved the car for its looks and personality. Small car, big heart. With a turning circle of only 3.9 metres (half that of a London taxi) and optional rear parking sensors the iQ is incredibly easy to park. In many ways, the Toyota iQ is the ideal City car.

This article is reproduced courtesy of City Solicitor where it first appeared.