2016 Scion iA Joins 40 MPG Club.
Launched 12 years ago, Toyota’s youth-oriented division found initial success with the offbeat personality of its boxy xB hatchback and the Scion tC coupe’s sporty style. According to a July 4 disclosure by Auto News, one of the standard features of the soon-to-be-launched 2016 Scion iA compact sedan will be an automatic pre-collision braking system.
WASHINGTON — The new 2106 Scion iA sedan is living up to its promise of strong fuel economy with one version achieving 42 mpg on the highway, according to official numbers posted by the EPA. Most car buyers will agree that it is a stunning price for car of this class with power windows a good enough sound system and the pre-collision breaking system topping it all. It sounds like a movie title: “Scion iA and the Affordable Precollision Breaking,” but be ready to be stunned when you hear the price that the nice engineers from Scion, or Mazda, have set for this astonishingly beautiful sedan that won’t just go fast, it will break fast.
The iA is well equipped, fun to drive, and covered by a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty with 2 years or 25,000 miles of free maintenance, and prices ranging from $16,495 and $17,595. Currently, the pre-collision braking system is available on the BMW 3-series and 5-Series, Hyundai Genesis, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Infiniti Q70, Toyota Avalon, and nearly all new Volvos. Earlier this summer, the new Scion iA is going to be on sale at a preliminary price of $16,495 featuring the base version with a six-speed manual transmission. Then there’s the FR-S sports car, developed alongside the nearly identical Subaru BRZ, which has seen a steady drop in sales following an initial frenzy when it hit dealerships in 2012. Toyota and Mazda are partnering up to produce a Mazda2 for the United States – seeing that Mazda’s Mexico-produced Mazda2 sedan never made it here.
The newest edition is a sedan version of the Mazda2, which is not available in the currentmarket in the U.S.The pre-collision system of this new model isn’t something a user wouldn’t expect on a car so affordable. With the official fuel economy numbers in, the Scion iA joins the 40 MPG Club, an elite group of cars aimed at buyers who are concerned about pump prices. Things had gotten so bad by 2013, long after the brand’s sales apex in 2006, that Toyota told its dealers they could walk away from Scion franchises without any penalty. Scion thinks that you shouldn’t have to spend your money on a more expensive vehicle just to enjoy some of the safety luxuries only found on other high-end models. The struggling carmaker hopes to revive its fortunes by attracting a new generation of under-30s with a pair of all-new models for the U.S. market: the iA sedan and iM hatchback.
Now, this approach might seem conventional if the iA and iM were closely related variants built on the same platform, but these cars weren’t even developed by the same manufacturer. Continental AG, a subsidiary of Conti Temic manufactures the pre-collision system that uses an infrared radar to scan the road ahead up to 30 feet while the car moves at speeds between 2 and 18 mph. When a large object is detected by the system in the road in front and the driver does not apply the brakes or steer clear from the object, an audible warning will be heard apart from a flashing light indicator on the dashboard of the car.
The stiff competition that mandatory driver vehicles will receive if Google’s driverless car project goes mainstream within the next 3-5 years has forced the hands of automakers who don’t want to wait until it’s too late to provide some smart car features that just may prevent Google and a few other automakers from disrupting the car industry and costing non-smart car manufacturers billions of dollars. Unlike most compact econoboxes in the sub-$17,000 price range, the iA features a quality interior, sophisticated (but not deep) feature set, and sleek, sporty looks.
It’s also fun behind the wheel — not Fast and Furious fun, but a whole lot more entertaining than simply rolling down the street in a tin can on wheels, as is the case with many of its peers. As someone who has a Mazda3 as a daily driver, I couldn’t help but notice the family resemblance: The steering wheel, instrument panel, and stand-up center display screen all look like they were pulled directly from the Mazda parts bin. Because, the only other cars on the market that give you automatic breaking are the new BMW 3-series, or 5-series, or the new Volvos, maybe a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, or a Toyota Avalon.
Those who opt for the manual will, however, find a slick-shifting gearbox that’s truly enjoyable to operate and still returns an estimated 31/41/35 mpg. I also liked the three-dimensional net-pattern fabric on the seats, though I have to wonder if a few years of catching on buttons, rivets and belt loops won’t have it looking pretty ratty.
The front seats are fairly comfortable, though the driving position feels high, even with the height-adjustable seat cranked down to its lowest level. Oddly, the iM’s CVT is the transmission of choice for performance-oriented driving, keeping revs in the sweet spot for spirited maneuvers while mimicking the natural feel of a traditional automatic. Other internals consist of a Bluetooth phone and audio music streaming experience with voice command ability, 10-inch slide seat adjustment, a tilting and sliding steering wheel, a 7-inch multitouch display and six speakers for an excellent audio listening encounter, two USB ports and auxiliary input, push-button start, air conditioning, keyless entry, a 60/40-split rear backseat fold, halogen headlamps, power-folding mirrors, and a backup camera. But here’s what you get besides the breaking system, for just 17 hundred dollars: 106 horsepower delivered by an inline four 1.5 liter engine, which makes accelerating a dream. Scion expects its 2016 cost-friendly, futuristic vehicle to have the right balance of “sporty handling and comfortable ride not normally associated with this segment,” the company says.
I could almost reach the passenger door from the driver’s seat without stretching, and my knees banged up against the center stack and driver’s side door. On the road, the iA belies its bargain pricing with good feel from its electric power steering, confident handling characteristics, and a compliant ride that absorbs imperfections.
But the menu-driven infotainment system—similar to other Mazdas and completely different from other Scions—is complicated, and simple tasks like changing the station require hunting through a series of menus, and there’s no way to do it without taking your eyes off the road. Yes, you also get power exterior mirrors, a 7-inch touchscreen display in the car, and bonus, a rear-view backup camera, so you don’t hit your neighbor’s dog while backing into your garage.
For reasons I can’t quite comprehend, the iA’s stereo doesn’t have satellite radio, though it does support Bluetooth audio streaming and Aha internet radio. According to their official declaration, young clients are also interested in safety measures, even though the majority of the market studies prove the opposite.
Though the iM handles well enough, uncommunicative steering makes it difficult to identify limits; there’s also a fairly jittery ride that can feel unsettled even on smooth pavement. The seat itself is comfortable enough, and the headrests drop down when not in use as an aid to rear visibility—a nice touch that every car should have.
Though there are some criticisms, including the car’s wide-mouthed grille, the split-second lag of the transmission when turning tight corners, and its “Mazda2” resemblance that gives away the idea that imitation is the highest form of flattery, it just may reinvigorate the 12-year Scion brand that has struggled in the face of Nissan, Hyundai, Ford, Chevrolet, and other high-end, sports vehicles. The iM has style, versatility, and the allure of Corolla-like reliability; the fact that there isn’t an equivalent Toyota hatchback might also steer buyers to Scion’s side of the showroom.
Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers’ own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. The optional six-speed automatic jerks a bit under gentle acceleration; that’s the fancy lock-up torque converter doing its best to keep the iA’s fuel economy respectable. But give it the beans (or press the “Sport” button below the shifter) and the automatic does a great job of keeping the engine at high revs, which is where the power is. Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” tagline is truth in advertising, and that character translates to the iA: It responds sharply to the steering, grips the pavement tightly, and darts into the corners with verve. Those are respectable numbers, if not best in class, though we’ll have to wait for a longer test drive to see if they can be achieved in the real world.
A similarly-equipped Nissan Versa sedan (2015 model year) lists for $18,415, while a Ford Fiesta SE with an automatic transmission and similar features (less keyless ignition) lists for $18,160. My favorite inexpensive car is the Nissan Versa; it’s got a roomy back seat, delivers great fuel-economy, and you can buy a new one for well under $13,000. Since the two cars are virtually identical, we can assume they’ll have most of the same upsides and downsides, and if Mazda offers a lower-spec model, that’d give it a serious advantage over the Scion.