The 2016 Scion iM is an all new model for Toyota’s youth-oriented brand, and TFLcar’s Roman Mica was in California to find out everything important about the latest Scion hatchback.
The iM may be new to the United States, but it’s been sold as the Toyota Auris in other countries since 2012. It shares a platform with the Scion tC coupe, including a double-wishbone independent rear suspension. In its transformation from Auris to iM, the car got an aggressive body kit, a lowered suspension and 19-inch wheels.
Under the hood of the iM is a 1.8-liter four cylinder making 137 horsepower. It can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission that Scion calls the CVT-iS. The CVT has a sport mode that can either be shifted manually between seven shift points, or can be left in CVT mode. In CVT sport mode, the transmission also monitors the car’s yaw rate and if it senses that the driver is going around a corner, it’ll keep the gear lower and the revs higher for quicker corner exit acceleration.
The five-door hatchback is also practical, having a 60/40 split rear seat that can accommodate cargo or people easily.
The iM with the manual transmission is rated at 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, while the iM with the CVT is rated at 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined.
Inside, the iM comes standard with features such as a back up camera, an infotainment system with six speakers and a seven-inch touch screen and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The iM only comes in one model and the only options are color, transmission and navigation, although there are plenty of accessories available to drive up the MSRP of $19,255 for the manual and $19,995 for the CVT.
Check out the full video below to find out everything that’s important about the new 2016 Scion iM: