Toyota iQ 1.0 VVT-i Multidrive 3dr Car Review - February 2012

The light handling around the city streets is one of the main reasons that many people will want the iQ, and the tight turning circle means it is easy to park. The ride is a little bit too bumpy, which is a particular problem on the poorly maintained British roads, and when it comes to cornering the little car does suffer from quite a lot of body roll. The front visibility is very good, but the adjustable driving position isn't as good as in larger cars, and the rear window doesn't offer enough rear visibility.

The engine performance of the iQ is very much aimed at fuel efficiency and slower journeys rather than acceleration and straight line speed, and this is demonstrated by the slow acceleration from 0-62mph, which takes 15.3 seconds. The top speed of 93mph isn't the fastest, but it is more than enough to cope with the occasional trip away from the city.

The iQ 1.0 VVT-i Multidrive 3dr is one of the smallest cars on the market, and the front end barely stretches out over the front wheels. The tiny bonnet is complemented by headlights which seem slightly oversized because it is such a small car. The rear end is very similar to the Toyota Aygo, but the bumper is slightly smaller and understated. Outside and inside the iQ is very bold and attractive. The large speedometer dominates the dashboard, and the centre console is attractive and well designed.

In terms of equipment this version of the iQ isn't the most luxurious, but electric windows and air conditioning are welcome in such a small car. It also has a CD stereo and alloy wheels included as standard.

With only two seats and a minuscule boot, it would be hard to recommend the iQ as a family car, but it is practical in terms of being able to help one or two people commute to a role in the city. The small stature means that it is easy to park, and in areas where small fuel efficient cars are given discounts on tax, the iQ benefits here too. People who own the iQ and have a family will probably have another car too, but for its purpose the iQ is very good.

It has been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, and the number of airbags crammed into this tiny car is one of the reasons for this success. It also has traction control, ABS and ESP included as standard, which helps to keep the car firmly on the road.

One area in which many people will be disappointed with the iQ is the list price, and although this level of trim is the most basic, the £11,705 price tag is fairly hefty for this car. There are a number of larger cars which are much cheaper, meaning that those who do go for an iQ will have to sacrifice a lot.

It is well known that automatic gearboxes will also reduce the efficiency of the car, and this version with the Multidrive gearbox is still able to achieve an average 58.9mpg, which is only a drop of six from the manual gearbox. There is no tax to pay on the car, and the insurance group is also very low. The iQ is supplied with the excellent Toyota five year warranty, and has a year's AA membership included too.