Overview

The Toyota iQ is a stylish, low-cost, high-quality city car with a difference: it’s the smallest four seater in the UK. Despite being less than three metres long, it’s brimming with space-saving tricks and the cabin is deceptively roomy, particularly for front passengers.

This is a real alternative to the Fiat 500 and Ford Ka, matching both for quirky looks and compactness, and offers Smart Fortwo buyers something more versatile to consider.

Most will find the rear a bit cramped and the iQ’s peculiar seating arrangement renders the seat behind the driver unusable for all but the smallest of kids. This makes the Toyota best suited to couples or used as the runabout in two-car households.

Unique seating arrangement

Toyota describes the iQ as having 3+1 seating, which means two perfectly normal seats in the front as you’d expect, plus a full size rear seat behind the front passenger pew. However, the rear seat nestling behind the driver is much shorter on space and is really only intended for children.

A consequence of this design of seating is the front passenger seat is mounted slightly further forward than the driver’s, helped by the dashboard being heavily scooped away to create sufficient space.

It’s a clever approach, though not one that will suit families with two children larger than toddlers due to the limited space of the fourth seat. It also means the IQ’s boot is miniscule at just 32-litres.

Low running costs

Much of the appeal of the Toyota iQ comes from its low running costs, as well as its quirky looks and decent drive. Despite a higher purchase price than a Toyota Aygo, the iQ balances this out with 64.2mpg average economy from its three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine and the optional Multidrive automatic gearbox also raises emissions to 110g/km.

The iQ emits only 99g/km of carbon dioxide emissions in the more affordable 1 and 2 trim levels, while the more opulent 3 trim has a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that gives 113g/km emissions.

With low insurance ratings and strong used values, the iQ should prove to be a good financial bet over the whole period of ownership, helped by its reliability and good back-up from a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Read on for the full Toyota iQ review.