Toyota ups the small car score with the iQ3 (iQ cubed)
Toyota iQ3 - Click above for high-res image gallery
While the original iQ is apparently a museum piece, the new iQ3, which Toyota announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, is now on sale in the UK. The iQ cubed adds a 98 bhp 1.33-liter engine with Toyota Optimal Drive to the diminutive Smart competitor and the start-stop system helps the iQ3 get CO2 emissions down to 113g/km. On the UK's combined cycle, the most efficient iQ3, the manual with a six-speed gearbox, gets 49 mpg (U.S.). Even with a Multidrive CVT transmission, the iQ3 can achieve 46 mpg (U.S.) and CO2 emissions of just 120 g/km. Both models qualify for the UK's Band B road tax, which is just £35 a year. The manual starts at £11,495 while the Multidrive begins at £12,495. If you have more money to spend, four trims are offered that add everything from chrome trim to Bluetooth connectivity. Make the jump for all the details.
Gallery: Toyota iQ3
PRESS RELEASE:
CLEVERER THAN EVER: INTRODUCING THE NEW TOYOTA iQ3
- New iQ3 (iQ cubed) powered by 98bhp 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine with Toyota Optimal Drive
- Toyota Stop & Start system increases fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions
- Class-leading fuel economy and emissions – 58.9mpg and 113g/km (six-speed manual)
- Also available with Multidrive CVT transmission – 55.4mpg and 120g/km
- Exclusive iQ3 equipment features, including 16-inch dual five-spoke alloy wheels and chrome door mirror housings
- On sale now, price £11,495 (manual) and £12,495 (Multidrive)
- Four accessory packs available – iStyle, iUrban, iSports and iConnect
- Optional Leather seat trim and Satellite Navigation
Benefiting from Toyota Optimal Drive technology for a class-leading combination of power, fuel economy and low emissions, it uses Dual VVT-i control of both intake and exhaust valves to deliver strong torque at low to medium engine speeds and achieve maximum efficiency.
The headline figures broadcast the exceptional customer benefits in terms of running costs. With manual transmission, iQ3 returns an official 58.9mpg in combined cycle driving, and 113g/km of CO2 – Band B for road tax (£35 annual charge) – both of which are best-in-class figures. Equipped with Toyota's new Multidrive CVT system, fuel economy is just as good, while emissions rise slightly to 120g/km, but remain within Band B.
This achievement is not at the expense of performance. The engine develops a maximum 98bhp at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 125Nm at 4,400rpm. Nought to 62mph can be achieved in 11.8 seconds (11.6 with Multidrive) and top speed is 106mph. This underlines the fact that iQ is more than just a city runabout, giving a strong, stable and enjoyable drive at motorway speeds.
Matched to a compact, lightweight six-speed manual gearbox, the engine features Toyota's Stop & Start system. This automatically cuts the engine when the car comes to a stop and the gear shift is moved to neutral; when a gear is selected, the engine restarts quickly (in just 0.4 seconds) and seamlessly, thanks to the use of a permanently engaged gear mechanism. In urban driving – iQ's natural environment – Stop & Start can yield fuel consumption savings of up to 15 per cent.
iQ3 is also available with Multidrive, Toyota's new stepless CVT (continuously variable transmission).
One of the key elements of the 1.33-litre engine is its piston design. Smaller and lighter than on the previous 1.3 unit, they are designed with a smaller contact area and use carbon ceramide, an advanced material more commonly used in Formula One engineering, to reduce friction.
iQ3 carries forward the premium specification of iQ2 but with some additional, exclusive features: the door mirrors have chrome-finished housings and the car rides on larger, 16-inch dual five-spoke alloy wheels. The choice of six paint finishes includes Decuma Grey metallic, which is also exclusive to iQ3.
The standard equipment features include automatic headlights and wipers, climate control, electric folding and heated door mirrors, Smart Entry and Start, auto-dimming rear view mirror, six-speaker sound system, front fog lights and a leather trimmed steering wheel. Nine airbags are fitted, including the world's first rear window airbag, and the active safety package includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRC).
iQ3 is on sale now. On-the-road prices are £11,495 for the six-speed manual version and £12,495 with Multidrive.
iQ Accessory Packs and Options
Four themed accessory packs have been assembled for iQ, giving owners an easy way to give their car that something extra.
- iStyle (£295) adds chrome surrounds to the front fog lights, chrome side sills, a chrome strip on the tailgate and aluminium scuff plates.
- iUrban (£345) provides rear parking sensors, a reversible rubber/velour boot liner (for use when the rear seats are folded flat) and carpet mats.
- iSports (£495) focuses on style with a neat roof spoiler, deep rear skirt and inverted delta-shape chrome exhaust tailpipe finisher.
- iConnect (£375) keeps you in touch on the move with Bluetooth, plus the neat detachable Glovebag to store documents and small personal items.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SVTCobra 4:05PM (6/18/2009)
smart car knock-off
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Mike P. 4:08PM (6/18/2009)
I'd take this "knock-off" over the Smart any day. The automated manual in the Smart just kills it for me. Plus, the iQ has better packaging (>2 occupants).
James 4:58PM (6/18/2009)
iQ3 vs Smart...methinks a "brilliant" choice would be the Toyota.
Farmboy 5:02PM (6/18/2009)
Smart and iQ...haha
Noidor 5:03PM (6/18/2009)
I think this particular model is going to be a bigger seller rather than the original spec by time it comes to US as a Scion. I think for $14k-$17k price range, people will buy it purely because of its identity.
Temple 5:12PM (6/18/2009)
Except that the Smart can only seat two, the Toyota seats four, and is 46 mpg(us)/59 mpg(imperial).
zamafir 5:36PM (6/18/2009)
"I'd take this "knock-off" over the Smart any day"
If you're in the US, that's good news for toyota. In the iQ3's current markets customers are choosing the SMART over the iQ in droves, so here's to hoping it's more successful if/when it comes to the US.
tuxchown 6:51PM (6/18/2009)
Not even a Smart car looks this bad.
LMBVette 4:13PM (6/18/2009)
£12,495 British pounds is equivalent to around $20,451. YIKES!!!!!!!!
Reply
adam1drift 4:25PM (6/18/2009)
well... my exchange rate calculator showed $17393...but still YIKES!
that just cant be right... they cant price it higher than the carolla....
Yaroukh 4:27PM (6/18/2009)
wow, so actually there ARE still people who try to figure out price using exchange-ratios
Bloke 4:36PM (6/18/2009)
That's the forex rate - so if you're an American, carry your greenbacks to the UK and convert them to UK sterling to buy one, that's what you'll pay.
However, in real terms (purchasing power parity), the cost to the British is the equivalent of roughly $14K or so.
Even at that, it remains a premium for the clever packaging, because it is more expensive than both the larger A-segment Aygo and most B-segment Yaris models.
David 4:44PM (6/18/2009)
UK->US prices are never straight comparisons of exchange rates. Try your conversion on a Honda Civic Hybrid (which we both have) and see what you get LOL.
Furthermore, EU taxes Asian imports WAY more than we do, if at all. THAT is the price you're seeing.
Farmboy 5:00PM (6/18/2009)
WOW! That is steep. For that, I would rather buy the Ford Ka for a lot less.
Andrew 5:04PM (6/18/2009)
@David
You don't have the right picture of the tax situation.
European countries, *not* the EU in any way, tax cars *in general* not just cars produced outside of Europe!!! It has NOTHING to do with nationalism and everything to do with financing road maintenance, environmentalism and simply generating tax revenue.
The EU is not synonymous with Europe, it is not a federal government and it does not speak for Europe in general. Taxes are still decided by each country!
In the Nordic countries taxes are especially high due to a socialist anti-consumption view. Ironically this leads to older and more polluting cars staying on the road longer. Our socialist leaders love environmentalism, but those car taxes are starting to "hurt" their other goals.
Temple 5:27PM (6/18/2009)
That price includes VAT. All EU countries are required by law to advertise with VAT included. Comparing US prices and UK prices is plain silly.
For reference, the comparable petrol 98hp Smart ForTwo is £15,307. Which is over $25,000.
Bloke 9:07AM (6/19/2009)
David: the EU issues import duty of 10% on all goods brought in from outside the EU. That's common practice in virtually all trading blocs and countries alike.
SumideXE 4:16PM (6/18/2009)
We don't have this in america WHY?
I would practically fork over for a smart car right now but it's very unimpressive..
I don't see why we don't have the iQ here.. even the basic model without the fuel saving coolness.
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Mehdi Cheddadi 4:16PM (6/18/2009)
http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=238620&CT=V
nice compare between the smart and IQ
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Kooshball 4:18PM (6/18/2009)
ditto what Mike said, that and the iq3 looks way better than the smart. not to mention that it'd probably end up having a broader dealer network and fewer technical issues.
that said, i'd still rather buy a used civic but whatevs.
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