Zip around the city streets in style with the swanky 2016 Scion iM and it’s bootful of beautiful accessories and features. A highly versatile vehicle at a highly affordable price, not only will this little beauty save you dollars at the dealership, but its highly efficient engine will save you even more at the gas station too.
Though it doesn’t offer the muscle of some of its more established peers such as the VW Golf, Ford Focus or Mazda 3, it offers plenty of other benefits, is certainly kinder to the wallet and provides a much needed boost for the brand. Beneath the hood of this fine-looking hatchback, you’ll find a 1.8-liter engine good for 137-hp and 126-lb-ft of torque that’s mated to a choice of a six-speed manual or a CVT which spits through an exhaust adorned with a rather funky tip, all riding on some elegant 17-inch wheels. Expect to get 27 mpg in the city and 36 with her legs stretched out on the freeway. The CVT fares better at 28/37.
As per usual with Scion, what you see is what you get, and while there are no optional extras, there are plenty of treats thrown in. You can, of course, choose from a range of vibrant hues. There will also be some dealer-installed accessorization if you so desire such as a navigation upgrade, interior accent lighting and body graphics. Each Scion iM will arrive at showrooms kitted out with the likes of dual-zone, automatic climate control, heated power-folding mirrors, auto on-off headlamps and a very decent seven-inch touchscreen display which works a meaty Pioneer six-speaker audio- and Entune-based infotainment system.
There’s plenty of room for four adults – you could squeeze in five if you were desperate – and a generous cargo area too. The dash and steering wheel come decked in attractive faux-leather with a tall center stack and cool cockpit feel. The piano-black interior with cream-accenting is befitting of the car’s modern, sporty feel.
Like we said earlier, while the Scion iM doesn’t provide the grunt of, say, a Golf, it’s pretty responsive, offers superb visibility, corners quite beautifully and is overall an enjoyable urban drive. So if you’re on a budget, looking at spending in the region of $20,000, then this fun and functional vehicle is just the ticket.
