My most recent road test was of the Scion iA,, the new-for-2015 compact that is essentially a Mazda2 (the Mazda2 is not sold in America).  Scion is the division of Toyota that has marketed affordable smaller cars since 2002 with the goal of selling them to millennials.  The i in its name stands of individualism and the A is emblematic of accommodation, referencing the ample luggage space in the trunk, which is 13.5 cubic feet.  Interior space is 85.9 cubic feet (five people).

I drove my test iA (2016) to Pirate Radio in Greeley, which is 104.7 on the FM dial.  The DJ’s at the Pirate, George Gray and Matt Arguello, looked over the Scion and sat inside for a feel for the car.  Their impression was favorable, and they commented that the vehicle was the least expensive of any offering that I had showed to them.  We talked about the car on “Stu’s Reviews” at 7:30 am on December 11th, and the positive remarks were voiced on-air that morning.

The M.S.R.P. of my Scion was $17,570.00, including freight of $770.00.  Standard equipment on the car included an air conditioner, AM/FM radio with 6 speakers, 7″ audio touchscreen display, tilt/telescope steering column, push button starter, keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, backup camera, cruise control, and power windows/locks.  Up front were black cloth bucket seats and the rear 60/40 bench seat folded flat for additional cargo capacity.

I drove the Scion iA for a week and the performance was satisfactory in all respects. The power for the car is supplied by a 4-cylinder, 1.5 liter, dual overhead cam, 16-valve engine.  Horsepower is 106 @ 6,000 rpm and torque rating is 103 lb. ft. @ 4,000 rpm.  EPA ratings have been computed at 42 mpg-highway, 33 mpg-city, and 37 mpg-combined, and my result was 40.6 mpg for the week.  Fuel tank capacity is 11.6 gallons, so range is quite good.  Zero to 60 acceleration for the iA is reportedly between 8 and 9 seconds.

With Mazda putting together the styling of the iA, you can expect a good-looking car, which the iA is.  I have my reservations about the grill, but must say that onlookers at my radio station visit seemed OK with it.  It is not a hatchback, just a conventional sedan with trunk, and looks pretty nice with the Pulse red paint and ten spoke alloy wheels (not plastic hub caps).  The car is 171.1″ long and weighs 2,400 lbs.

The Scion iA is good, basic, inexpensive transportation and I enjoyed having it in my possession for a week.  An entry-level automobile shopper would be doing themselves a favor dropping by the dealership to test drive the iA.

Scion automobiles are a product of Toyota (the Scion name means descendant of a family or heir), and were developed for the American market starting in 2002.  Last month I tested a Scion tC 3-door lift back that was delivered to me by Rocky Mountain Redline out of Dacono, Colorado.  Originally, the Scion lineup included the xA hatchback and xB wagon, and in 2004 they introduced the compact tC sports coupe like I drove, and the tC is now in its thirteenth year of production.  The paint was Blue Streak metallic blue, with black cloth bucket seats and five passenger seating.  It is an attractive sport coupe with extensive re-styling that took place two years ago.

My test tC had a 106.3” wheelbase and a chassis that was derived from the European-market Avensis sedan as well as the Lexus HS-250h.  Acceleration (0-60 in 7.5 sec.) is provided by the 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder, DOHC, dual variable valve-timed, in-line powerplant.  Horsepower is 179 and the torque comes in at 171 ft.-lbs.  Fuel economy of the tC with the 6-speed manual transmission computes at 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, with a 14.5 gallon fuel tank.  The front MacPherson strut and double-wishbone rear suspension gave me a sporty ride and smooth handling, and visibility and road noise are fine for a twenty-thousand dollar automobile.

Speaking of which, M.S.R.P. of the Scion was precisely $20,180.00, including all standard equipment and freight of $795.00.  Standard equipment included a glass tilt/slide moon roof, 8-speaker stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, pushbutton starter, power windows/locks, tilt/telescope steering column, remote keyless entry, and cruise control.  The glass that runs the entire span of the roof presents a striking appearance, as it is a hatchback design without a package tray in the rear (you can peek in the 14.7 cubic ft. cargo area from outside).

Turning radius on the Scion is 18.7 ft., and the length is 176.6 in., making the handling and parking of this vehicle quite manageable.  Whenever I took the tC around the community, a lot of looks and questions were presented to me because of the car’s top-notch styling.  Males seemed to pay particular attention, which is good for Toyota because they are striving for 60% male purchasers.  The tC features 18-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels surrounded with 225/45R18 Yokohama all season radials.  Looks are enhanced with the bulging rear wheel-wells and the front grill that has a Lexus look to it, and on balance, the car is a solid alternative for the compact sporty car shopper.