First Impression: Scion IQ

The Scion brand was created by Toyota in 2002 to appear to a younger generation of drivers in North America. Toyota markets the Scion brand with pure price (the price a customer will pay for car including accessories, finance, and insurance), internet advertising, and single trim levels with with a wide range of customization with factory and TRD accessories. The first two Scions were the xA and xB. The tC and xD would later join the Scion lineup. In 2008, Toyota released the iQ, a three-door, four seater, front-engine, front-wheel drive hatchback. In 2011, Toyota brought over the car as the Scion iQ.

I first saw the Scion iQ at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and again at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. The Scion iQ was also available for test drives, but I did not make it over to the Scion iQ test drive area. First thoughts, the iQ is suppose to be a four seater? The car is just slightly bigger than a Smart For-Two. There is no leg room in the back. The iQ is marketed as the world's smallest four seater. That is not something I would focus on. When I hear that, I am thinking there is no leg room for the back seat passengers. Also, the iQ looks weird. There were Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, and Porsches at the event, yet there was a crowd around the iQ.

The iQ is powered by a 1.3L I4 engine, paired with a CVT transmission, that produces 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The iQ goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 100 mph. The iQ starts at $15,995. The iQ is just slow. Anything that takes over 9.0 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph is slow. There are better cars out there for around $14,000 (Ford Fiesta comes to mind). According to people who test drove the iQ at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, the car barely moves when you hit the accelerator.

The Scion/Toyota iQ was featured on Top Gear Series 13, Episode 3, when the guys were trying to find out what the best cheap car. The iQ was also featured on Fifth Gear, Broom, RTL Autowereld, Cars.TV, and Motorweek. The iQ is playable in StreetRally and Virtual Test Drive.

Final Thoughts: The Scion iQ is slow, sluggish, small, and cramp. There is no leg room in the back. I find it to be a slightly bigger Smart For Two. Styling is unappealing. The only thing that I like about the iQ is its 12.9 in turning radius. I cannot think of another car with that tight of a turning radius. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, people were not allowed to take a standard test drive. People drove the iQ around  a small course that involved going around large traffic cones. When I want to drive a car, I want to drive it around neighborhoods and on the highway, not around cones. Also, I think that $16,000 is a bit much for the iQ. The Scion iQ did not deserve the attention it got at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I do not get what people see in the car. Toyota and Scion have to use aggressive marketing for the iQ because this car SUCKS!

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First Impression: Scion FR-S

The Scion brand was created in 2002 by Toyota. All Scions are front-engine, front-wheel drive cars that came in one trim-level and are marketed towards the younger drivers. In 2012, Toyota started producing and selling the Toyota 86, a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car. Toyota collaborated with Subaru on the 86, using Subaru's flat-4 engine and rear-wheel drive system. Subaru has its own version of the car, the Subaru BRZ. The United States version of the car is sold as a Scion, not as a Toyota. The car is called Scion FR-S. The FR-S is the first car in the Scion brand with rear-wheel drive.

I first saw the FR-S at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I was very impressed with the looks of the car. There was a big ring of people around the car. It got the most attention out of all the Scions at the event. The front looks sleek and aggressive. The fastback design adds to the sports car look of the FR-S. It does not look like the average Scion.

The FR-S is powered by a Toyota/Subaru 2.0 L flat-4 engine, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, that produces 200 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 143 miles per hour. The manual FR-S starts at $24,930 and the automatic FR-S starts at $26,030. This is the best performing car to wear the Scion badge. This is also the most expensive Scion, but that is a lot of performance for under $30,000.

The FR-S has been featured in Auto Esporte. The FR-S is playable in Car Town and Gran Turismo 5.

Final Thoughts: The FR-S is the best car to wear the Scion badge. It is the best looking car and best performing car in the entire Scion range. I do not know why Toyota brought the car over to the United States and badged it as Scion. But, this is car gives some much needed performance to the Scion Brand. The Scion TC is good, but the FR-S is better. For about $25,000-$26,000, you get a car that goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.0 seconds, which is quick. It is also the first Scion with rear-wheel drive. The TC is a good coupe, but it is no sports car. The FR-S is a good, affordable sports car. For any driver who wants a good Japanese sports car for under $30,000 should look into the FR-S. This is a quality car.

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First Drive: Scion FR-S

The Toyota FT-86 Concept was first introduced at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. The car was a joint project between Toyota and Subaru. The car went into production and would be sold under three brands: the Toyota FT-86/GT-86, Subaru BR-Z, and the Scion FR-S. Production for the cars started in March 16, 2012. The Toyota GT-86 is available for the European market. The Toyota FT-86 is available for the Asian, South African, and Australian markets. The Scion FR-S is available for the North American market. I first saw the Scion FR-S at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, but I did not test drive the car at the event. I have seen the Subaru BR-Z and the Scion FR-S at Houston Cars and Coffee events. I went down to the local Toyota/Scion dealership and I was allowed to test drive the Scion FR-S.

The Scion FR-S is available as a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, 2+2 fastback coupe. The FR-S comes with a 2.0L flat-4 engine that produces 200 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The FR-S is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The version I drove had the automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The FR-S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 143 mph. Prices for the FR-S with the manual transmission start at $24,200. Prices for the FR-S with the automatic transmission start at  $25,300.

The FR-S has a sporty interior. The FR-S is a 2+2, which means that the rear seats are designed for small bodies, not for full grown adults. The driver and front passenger seats take a while to get use to. They are racing bucket seats, not the typical seats found in most cars. The longer I drove, my body got use to the seat. I like the dashboard and the gauges. The gauges are a mixture of analog gauges and digital gauges, which is a nice touch. The FR-S has a sporty exterior with an aggressive stance.

The FR-S was fun to drive. The car was quick. It took a couple seconds to get up to highway speeds. I had no issues with breaks. The ride was more comfortable than the Chevrolet Volt. The car is very sporty, but it was smooth on the road. The Buick Regal that I drove at the 2012 Houston Auto Show had a sporty feel, but it was very uncomfortable to drive. The FR-S I drove had paddle shifters, but I did not use them. I kept the car in automatic. If I was in an empty parking lot, then I might try use the shifters. But since I was diving on Houston roads and a small stretch of a freeway, I kept the car in automatic. The FR-S was an enjoyable car to drive.

The FR-S was just a concept car at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. It was roped off so people could only look at the car and not get into the car. I am glad that the FR-S is being produced since it is a good sport car. The Scion brand is known for making box cars (Scion xA, xB, and xD). The Scion brand also has the tC. All four of those cars were front-engine cars. The FR-S brings a new dynamic to the brand. It is sporty and is rear-wheel drive. The FR-S also has great performance for around $25,000. Few cars can perform like the FR-S for about the same price. If you are looking for a sporty car with good performance for around $25,000, you should test drive the Scion FR-S.

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First Drive: 2013 Scion iQ

The Toyota iQ was revealed in March 2008 at the Geneva Auto Show. In October 2011, iQ was released to the United States and Canada, but wearing a Scion badge instead of Toyota badge. The Scion iQ is a front engine, front-wheel drive, three door hatchback with seating for four. The iQ is classified as a supermini and a city car. The iQ is the world's smallest four seater. I first saw the Scion iQ at the 2011 Houston Auto. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive.

The Scion iQ is very small. It is only 120.1 inches long and has a 78.7 inch wheelbase. It is also 66.1 inches wide and 59.1 inches high. It has cubic shape. The iQ has a bland styling with no characteristic lines. It is quite small on the interior. There are two seats in the back, but the front seats have to be pushed forwards all the way in order to have some room in the rear for adult passengers. The center is simple, but it works. There are three knobs stacked above each other that operate the air condition/heater. I had some leg room and head room behind the wheel of the iQ, but not much.

The Scion iQ is powered by a 1.3L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The iQ goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph. The Scion iQ is very slow. It did not feel zippy. The engine felt underpowered. Yet somehow, I caught up to a Hyundai Veloster Turbo. The ride quality is okay. The iQ responds when I turn the wheel. One issue is noise. It was very noisy behind the wheel of the iQ. I could hear the engine the entire time. This made it hard to hear the Scion representative  when he was explaining the details of the iQ. This issue can be solved by adding sound dampening material inside the car. Also, the iQ's ride is bumpy. Prices for the iQ start at $15,995, and you do not get a lot of value for what you get with the iQ.

It is very hard for me to recommend the Scion iQ. It does not have a pleasant drive quality. The ride is bumpy, noisy, and slow. I did not have much room behind the wheel. The front seats have to been pushed all the way forward for rear passengers to have adequate leg room. The iQ should have been designed as a two-seater and not a four-seater. There is no point to sacrifice leg room and comfort in order to make the world's smallest four-seater. I have been in a very small car that has good leg room for rear passengers. The Scion iQ is too small to accommodate rear passengers. If the iQ was three inches longer, then there would be good leg room for rear passengers. One positive for the iQ is the center console. I really like how the climate control knobs are stacked above each other and are nicely spaced out. I like that the gear shifter is on the floor between the driver and front passenger and not on the dashboard. The iQ does not deserve the $16,000, especially when there are other superminis that offer a better driving experience than the iQ does for around the same price.

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First Drive: 2013 Scion xD

In 2002, Toyota created the Scion brand. The Scion brand consists of vehicles targeted towards young buyers in the United States. In 2004, two Scions made their debuts, the Scion xA, a rebadged Toyota ist, and the Scion xB, a rebadged Toyota bB. Both the xA and the xB are five-door hatchbacks.In 2007, the production runs of the xA and the first generation xB ended. In 2007, the second generation Scion xB went into production. The xA was replaced by the xD. The Scion xD is a rebadged second generation Toyota ist. The Scion xD is a subcompact front engine, front-wheel drive, five door hatchback. I have seen several xDs on the road. They have made appearances at the Houston Auto Show. While Scion did have a Ride and Drive booth at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, the xD was not available for test drives. During one Saturday in August, I took a Scion xD out for a test drive when my car was having its state inspection and oil change at the local Toyota/Scion dealership. The version I drove came with a four-speed automatic transmission. The Scion xD comes with a five-speed manual transmission as standard.

The Scion xD has a above average styling for a subcompact hatchbac The styling is bold and aggressive when compared to other subcompact hatchbacks.The front facial extends beyond the hood. This gives it an bold look. The rear hatch has a slight curve to it. The version I drove came with a rear spoiler. What hurts the appearance is the five-spoke wheel cover. I do not like wheel covers. They look cheap. I prefer actual wheels, which give cars a more appealing look. The xD is available with 16" five-spoke wheels as a $795 option. For a brand that focuses on younger drivers, the interior is nothing special. The standard pioneer radio system is nothing special. The driver seat was comfortable. I had good head room, but the legroom was barely adequate.

The Scion xD is powered by a 1.8L I4 engine that produces 128 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 118 mph. The xD felt slower than the 0-60 mph time suggests. The ride quality of the subpar. The xD blocks out all noises except for the engine. The engine is quite loud. Also the xD is rough when traveling along bumpy roads. The xD is boring to drive. Not much excitement behind the wheel. Steering is responsive if a little bit numb. Prices for the Scion xD start at $16,550, including an $805 destination fee. The version I drove with the automatic transmission starts at $17,350, including an $805 destination fee. For that price, you do not get a lot of car. Scions come with lttle standard, but Scion buyers are encouraged to customize their vehicles with aftermarket parts.

Overall, I was not impressed with the Scion xD. I found the car to be lacking. I know Scion encourages customization, but the xD should come with more toys as standard. The standard interior for the xD is just bland. The four-speed automatic transmission feels outdated. The xD comes with a five-speed manual transmission and is the preferred transmission. The 0-60 mph times are under 8.0 seconds for the manual. The automatic version I drove felt sluggish in the acceleration department. The xD also has a boring driving experience and an unnecessarily noisy engine. It is hard for me to recommend this car. There are better subcompact hatchbacks available. As far as the Scion brand goes, only the Scion FR-S has impressed me.

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