Trunk Card
They say that it’s important to learn the fundamentals of any game first, but Scion has never operated on conventional wisdom. Since launching in 2004 as Toyota’s youth-oriented brand, Scion has offered everything from sports coupes to the unbelievably tiny iQ city car, and the unbelievably boxy xB, but it’s never offered the most popular body style in the car business.
Until now, that is. The 2016 Scion iA is the brand’s first-ever four-door sedan, but the presence of a trunk isn’t the only thing worth noting about this new subcompact car. The iA sports the agility and fuel efficiency you’d expect from a small car, and the straightforward value Scion has become known for.
Powertrain and Performance
The 2016 Scion iA boasts an eager and fuel-efficient powertrain that should make driving pretty enjoyable. The 1.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine produces 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent to the front wheels through either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Either transmission is a good choice. The manual was engineered with an aim toward reducing friction, and has fairly short throws, both of which contribute to nice, crisp shifts. The automatic has a Sport mode that increases responsiveness with the push of a button.
The iA also features MacPherson strut front suspension and a rear torsion beam, which were tuned for sporty handling and feel. The same goes for the brakes and the steering, which features an extra-rigid mounting to eliminate play in the rack. The iA actually shares its chassis with the upcoming 2016 Mazda 2, and Mazda builds some of the best-handling cars in its price segment.
With a small engine and low curb weight (just 2,835 pounds with the manual transmission), it’s not surprising that the iA returns impressive fuel economy. The four-door gets an EPA-rated 37 mpg combined (33 mpg city, 42 mpg highway) with the automatic transmission,* and 35 mpg combined (31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway) with the automatic.*
Features and Trims
The 2016 Scion iA is available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan. Per Scion’s pricing scheme, it’s only sold in one trim level, with all available equipment standard. Pricing starts at $15,700,** but the only option buyers have to choose is the transmission. Other items such as accessories can be ordered a la carte from our dealership.
That list of standard equipment is pretty comprehensive, including pushbutton start, 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome exhaust tip, a rearview camera, 7.0-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, multifunction steering wheel, two USB ports, sport front bucket seats, and a 60/40 split-folding rear bench.
Design
The 2016 Scion iA has vivacious exterior styling that belies its small size. The bold front fascia includes a gaping grille finished in piano black trim with a chrome surround. And to make the iA look like more than a slab-sided sedan, Scion gave it dramatically curved fenders with character lines running into the doors, and some nice body sculpting all around. Standard alloy wheels and a chrome exhaust tip add a touch of sportiness.
Scion tried to give the iA a sporty feel on the inside, too. The front bucket seats feature generous side bolstering and a nifty two-ton pattern, and the sport steering wheel includes secondary controls for audio and Bluetooth® functions.
The iA also features standard Pandora®, Aha®, and Stitcher™ to feed music into the six-speaker audio system. It’s all controlled through a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen mounted atop the dashboard.
The iA may be a small car, but it’s no penalty box. Its compact footprint conceals a decent 85.9 cubic feet of total passenger volume, and the 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat makes hauling larger items easier in a pinch.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2016 Scion iA includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, a low-speed pre-collision system, rearview camera, and a full array of airbags, including front, front-side, and front and rear side-curtain bags.
Bottom Line
The 2016 iA is a stylish and charmingly simple small car that proves a functional yet fun addition to the Scion lineup.
For more information, or to test drive the all-new iA, contact us online or visit 3Birds Template at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
*2016 iA with manual transmission preliminary 32 city/42 highway/37 combined mpg estimates determined by Scion. EPA estimates not available at time of posting. Actual mileage will vary.
**Excludes taxes, license, title and accessories or other optional equipment. Dealer price will vary.
Image: Scion
