2012 Scion iQ - Real Mom Reviews
Author: Skye
Description: Big is out and small is in. However I never in a million years imagined cars would get as small as they have! Scion’s “premium urban micro-subcompact” iQ stretches a mere 120.1 inches long, just a bit over 10 feet. It is super easy to park and maneuver around town and believe it or not, the […]
Date: 2012-10-01T02:23:51+00:00

Real Mom Reviews

Tried and True Reviews- From a Mother's Point of View

# 2012 Scion iQ

September 30, 2012 by Skye 34 Comments

Big is out and small is in. However I never in a million years imagined cars would get as small as they have! Scion’s “premium urban micro-subcompact” iQ stretches a mere 120.1 inches long, just a bit over 10 feet. It is super easy to park and maneuver around town and believe it or not, the inside is quite roomy! Don’t let size fool you when it comes to the iQ. This little car comes packed loaded with all the big features you want and love, all within a modern and intelligent design!

#### Small On The Outside:

But huge on the inside!! The iQ includes several innovations that help to maximize interior volume, including a fuel tank in the floor under the seats, a more compact differential and a high-mount steering rack with electronic power steering and packaging the air conditioning into the center stack instead of below the glovebox! The iQ is actually wider than any of it’s competitors and has the most room between the driver and passenger seats- which worked great for storing my diaper bag!

Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of room in the back seat as well. The front seat backs are a tad bit slimmer than a normal vehicle (but still oh so comfortable) and the glovebox is located under the passenger’s seat- which allows the passenger seat to be mounted a bit farther forward than the driver’s seat. This allows an adult to sit behind the passenger and a small child to sit behind the driver!

#### Huge In Safety:

One of my biggest concerns with small cars is safety. The Scion IQ some how manages to squeeze in 11 airbags, (2 front passenger, 2 front seat-mounted side, 2 seat cushion, 2 front knee, 2 side curtain, and 1 rear window) including the first-ever rear-window airbag that will protect your precious rear cargo! Both the driver and the passenger are extra protected in a crash with side airbags, knee airbags and seat cushion air bags. Even though the IQ is small in size, it is huge when it comes to safety!

#### True Gas Millage:

The 37 miles per gallon fuel economy rating promises better real mileage during daily use than you’d get from many competitors that boast a 40-mpg-or-better highway-only rating. Which means, even when driving like a normal person- to and from the store, stuck at a red light, etc- 37-mpg is what your gonna get!

#### Car Seat Test:

I had my doubts when I first set eyes on the IQ. My husband and I actually took bets on if a car seat would fit in the back seat at all! However, once we were both in the car, with our seats adjusted where we wanted them- we were pretty amazed at how much room was in the back. We put a Britax Frontier and a Sunshine Radian in the back seat and they fit with room to spare. I do not think a rear facing seat would fit back here- but any two forward facing seats will fit- with room to spare!

#### Fun To Drive:

Seriously- look at this vehicle and tell me you don’t want to at least try it. I guarantee you once you try it, you will never look at a “compact car” again with out dreaming it be a bit more like the iQ! Now that I am back in my full size car I really miss the iQ and how fun it was to whip it around town! Plus it is the only car that I have ever been able to parallel park on my very first try! Plus- everywhere you drive you iQ people will stop, stare and do double takes because it is so unique!

The vehicle I tested has a price of $16,619.00, which included the Pioneer premium audio system, rear speaker package, storage package, power door locks, a rear window wiper, USB port with iPod connectivity, a leather trimmed steering wheel and STAR safety system!

You can find a dealer near you to test drive or purchase a Scion IQ by clicking here.

Special thanks to Scion for letting me test drive the IQ for a week.

Filed Under: Vehicle Review Tagged With: Hatchback, Scion

### Comments

1. Deb says
   October 1, 2012 at 2:27 am

   neat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Reply
2. jamie braun says
   October 1, 2012 at 8:11 am

   So unique & compact, but still big enough to fit the kids!

   Reply
3. Saundra M says
   October 1, 2012 at 8:16 am

   I would love to have one of these. It would be perfect for me.

   Reply
4. Kellie Conklin says
   October 1, 2012 at 11:58 am

   Wow, thanks for the great review! I’m very surprised that two carseats fit that easily in the back and how safe the car seems to be! Very impressive and something that is worth checking out!

   Reply
5. Karen Hand says
   October 1, 2012 at 1:21 pm

   What is impressive about this car is the gas mileage. I haven’t seen 37 miles to a gallon in a long time. This car would be perfect for those short trips around town running errands. Great review. Thanks.

   Reply
6. Victoria M. says
   October 1, 2012 at 3:53 pm

   Wow! I absolutely love this car, especially the design. I would love to buy it!

   Reply
7. Marilee Kutz says
   October 1, 2012 at 5:57 pm

   Omg..This is such an Awesome car!! Unbelieveable cute too!!

   Reply
8. amy v says
   October 1, 2012 at 6:56 pm

   safety is my huge concern with this small car…..it’s a cool little car and i love that it has STAR safety rating.

   Reply
9. Michelle F says
   October 1, 2012 at 11:05 pm

   Such a cute little car.

   Reply
10. Lily Kwan says
    October 1, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    The Scion IQ looks very nice. Thanks for the interesting and informative review!

    Reply
11. Judy Lipcsak says
    October 3, 2012 at 12:56 am

    It’s so cute!

    Reply
12. Sarah Davis says
    October 3, 2012 at 7:30 am

    That was cool how you showed the booster seat fitting, answered my question.

    Reply
13. kelly willis says
    October 3, 2012 at 7:30 am

    neat but my family will not fit

    Reply
14. jamie tucker says
    October 3, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    `looks like a neat little car but our family is waaay to big for it

    Reply
15. Patricia Williams says
    October 3, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    I thought these cars would be tiny on the inside. I can’t believe there are 11 airbus in that small space. I wouldn’t expect one carseat to fit. My oldest loves these cars. He thinks they were made for kids to drive.

    Reply
16. marthalynn says
    October 3, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    Wow! This thing is tiny! But sounds like they’ve made some very clever adjustments to maximize space. This would have been perfect before I had kids.

    Reply
17. Melanie says
    October 3, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    What a cute little car! Looks a little too small for me with my whole family, but cute nonetheless!

    Reply
18. Sue Hull says
    October 4, 2012 at 1:31 am

    I’ve actually seen one of these little cars the other day when I was out doing errands. I was thinking my neice who is 8 yrs old could drive this car. Lol! It is cute but to small for me. It’s so cool though! My 4 yr old niece says it looks like a play car.Lol!

    Reply
19. Kevin Linkie says
    October 4, 2012 at 8:46 am

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the Scion. Safety is #1 in my books for a vehicle… my biggest fear on the road is an accident as I was in one as a young child and remember it well.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
20. Deb says
    October 4, 2012 at 11:39 am

    neat vehicle

    Reply
21. Kara Teel says
    October 4, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    This car is so awesome. The biggest plus for me is that you could fit your two car seats. I also have two little ones who are still in carseats so this is ESSENTIAL! I am incredibly curious to drive this car.

    Reply
22. Amber Nara says
    October 4, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    WOW…This is sorta Cute! I would never ever put a kid in that car with me or drive on the freeway in it. If by chance something happen I don’t see much safty. It would be a moment of Phew I am so small I missed out on that one ;-). However I would use this to bee bop all around town to go couponing and run my errands. I have to go see one of these in person now!! ..LOL Looks like a road trip for us this weekend! Thsnkd s bunch for sharing this!

    Reply
23. Bethany Fields says
    October 4, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Every time I see spa scion, it makes me giggle. My husband and I have an inside joke about trying to say silver scion, it is easy to mess up, lol.

    Reply
24. Jennifer Mae Hiles says
    October 4, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    WOW! 11 airbags in that lil thing! That’s amazing. My first thought also was “Can that be safe?” Knee air bags would have been great. I got into an accident once while driving a geo tracker and my knees got smashed (I’m fine -they were just really bruised and beat up). But the gas mileage is what I love the most!

    Reply
25. Mike Davis says
    October 5, 2012 at 12:18 am

    Wow that is some car–Won’t work for my 7 kids– but I wouldn’t mind having it– thanks for the review

    Reply
26. Carolyn Ann Colley (Griffith, Smith) says
    October 5, 2012 at 1:18 am

    Wow it looks so small on the outside, I can’t believe it has so much room inside.

    Reply
27. Liz Ticona says
    October 5, 2012 at 1:52 am

    wow that is a small car but i love that it ‘s very safe and the prize can’t be beat, especially with all those added features to be under 17K is amazing!. i really need to start looking for an economic car like this one and stop wanting an SUV…thanks for the great review! 🙂

    Reply
28. Leslie G. says
    October 5, 2012 at 9:28 am

    Wow, I can’t believe that’s a four-seater. I didn’t expect to see two carseats in the back! I love it. Also like the control panel .. it’s cute.

    Reply
29. Nina says
    October 10, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    Wow, I can’t believe you could fit two carseats in there, looks great!

    Reply
30. Marcie W. says
    October 12, 2012 at 10:58 am

    Scion’s are technically Toyota’s so you know you’re getting quality. I think the IQ is adorable and I would adore that kind of gas mileage.

    Reply
31. Rust says
    May 12, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    They look so fun to drive! We have a few around town (college town) and I’ve always wondered what the gas mileage was and how easiiy they handled on the highway. I think I’d enjoy driving it!

    Reply
32. Sandy VanHoey says
    August 14, 2013 at 8:04 am

    I’m glad to see they included so many safety features in this car. That to me is one thing I worry about. Gas mileage is great and it really is a cute car

    Reply
33. Karen Glatt says
    August 17, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Boy this car is very small and I can see why it gets 40 miles to the gallon, but it has a nice color and a lot of features for this car and it looks very fun to drive!

    Reply
34. Sarah L says
    October 13, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    I like the small size. I don’t carry passengers or big loads very often (and can borrow a truck from a friend) so this would be great for me. Thanks for the review.

    Reply

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