The Toyota iQ stands out from the supermini crowd in a pretty big way. At just short of 10ft long, it occupies less road space than a Mini and with a kerb weight of a mere 845kg for the base model it is also about 300kg lighter.

Yet it can carry four people at a ­pinch — though it’s more comfortable as a three-seater — offers front-seat comfort on a par with a Ford Focus and comes equipped with such luxuries as air-conditioning, alloy wheels and elec­tric windows.

To understand how Toyota has achieved all this, you need to look beneath the skin of this intriguing little car. Its secret lies in the principle followed by the company’s engineers that no component was too small to be shrunk. All the elements of the air-­conditioning were reduced in size, the fuel tank was flattened and located ­under the vehicle’s floor, and the overhangs at the front and rear of the car were pared back to the minimum to shave precious millimetres off its length. Even the steering rack was positioned so as to free up a little more space.


The cleverness continues inside. Com­­pared with the iQ’s tiny exterior, the interior feels cavernous — at least up front. A wide cabin, plenty of glass and big doors give the feeling of a people carrier rather than a supermini. The deeply sculpted passenger-side dashboard creates extra space while slimmer seats help generate more rear legroom.

Toyota hasn’t skimped on materials either, with high-quality fabrics and a solid feel to the cabin. The company’s idea was to attract drivers needing a small vehicle but wanting to retain the quality of a larger one. For used-car ­buyers this has the advantage of ensuring that the interior wears well, long into the iQ’s life.


There is a choice of two engines and two gearboxes. The 1-litre unit produces 67bhp from its three cylinders while the larger, four-cylinder 1.33-litre motor yields 97bhp. With more power, the ­latter looks like a better proposition but in truth it feels only slightly more potent, and with a premium of around £1,000 on the used market, it barely seems worth the extra expense. The iQ’s five-speed manual is light and slick to use, though the optional automatic is even easier and is available for both ­engines.

On the road, the iQ is a hoot to drive, and its incredibly tight turning circle makes it the ideal city car, though it can run out of puff on the motorway if you ask too much of it.

Reliability and servicing

The iQ has been the subject of two re­calls (one for its brakes and one for the power steering) but affected vehicles should have already visited a dealer to be updated. It is worth checking about both these problems, however.

Running costs are appealingly low, thanks to good fuel economy and fixed-price service and repair deals. Franchised dealers offer annual services for as little as £119 on any iQ.

Residuals

A reasonable price when new, low running costs and limited discounts make the Toyota iQ one of the lowest-depreciating superminis on the market. With the car’s free road tax and promise of more than 50mpg, its popularity looks set to continue, so bargains are likely to remain rare.

Need to know

Alloys: Standard on all UK-supplied cars but check for parking damage, and uneven wear on the tyres
Boot: It’s tiny, but rear seats split-fold so with three people on board you can liberate backseat space for luggage
Gearbox: Five-speed manual is a sweet- changing unit but for lots of driving in traffic the optional multidrive auto is a popular choice
Handling: Despite their modest power, all iQs come with a vehicle stability control system
Satellite navigation: An option on all models, it also provides Bluetooth connectivity
Weight: At less than 850kg for the base model, the iQ is a masterpiece of lightweight engineering and component miniaturisation


 

The one to buy

A 2009 58-registered Toyota iQ 1.0 VVT-i with 40,000 miles on the clock. Pay £6,750 at a dealer or £6,200 in a private sale

or for similar money

2010 10 Ford Ka 1.2 Style
2010 10 Vauxhall Agila 1.0 ecoFlex Club
2010 10 Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort
2010 60 Nissan Micra 1.2 Visia
2011 60 Citroën C1 VTR+

Figures based on CAP January 2012 edition

 © Bumper Media Limited January 2012 - Jason Dawe