Toyota iQ

First Drive: 2009 Toyota iQ

Toyota's 3+1 Isn't That Much Fun, But It's All in the Packaging

text size

By Paul Horrell

CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY

The Toyota iQ has won Car of the Year Japan. It beat out the Nissan GT-R, which we just crowned the 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year. We'd better take it seriously then.

Actually, we already did. In our recent preview of the vehicle, we explained how the iQ is one of a whole new generation of Toyota compacts that utilize six major packaging advantages. It will enable the company to build a seven-seater in the footprint of a Yaris.

But to demonstrate just how remarkable these innovations are, they're launched first in the iQ, a four-seater at an unfeasible 117.5 in. long. It goes on sale in Japan about now, and in Europe in December. While U.S. sales haven't been officially announced yet by Toyota, we recently told you Scion is slated to get a version of the iQ to sell here in America.

more...