We take a look at the Toyota IQ, At under 3 meters long with a turning circle of just 3.9 meters, we came to the conclusion that the IQs proportions and maneuverability would probably render him more at home in congested Tokyo than in the sparsely populated Scottish Highlands, but nevertheless, he did cope with the traffic and with a fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km, this little puppy didn’t cost a fortune to feed.Touted as the world’s smallest 4 seater car, it has to be said that the rear seats have such minimal legroom that it’s not really practical for any more than 2 people. With its 9 airbags, including the world’s first center rear airbag to reduce injury in a side impact, Electronic Stability Control, ABS brakes and Electronic Brake force Distribution, Toyota has proved that small can still be safe.
Powering the iQ is a 1 liter, 3 cylinder petrol engine robbed from Daihatsu. Producing 50kW at 6,000 rpm and 90Nm of torque 4,800 rpm, the motor is mated to a CVT automatic transmission with 5 simulated stepped ratios.We found some characteristics of the CVT trans leaving the engine hunting at low speeds as if the wrong gear had been selected,Maximum use of space has been achieved by repositioning the differential in front of the transmission, enabling the front wheels to be pushed forward and with the use of a specially designed flat fuel tank mounted under the floor. Seat backs have been made thinner to maximize space too.Radio controls are mounted on the steering wheel only, with a small display screen located next to the main instrument cluster telling you what station you are tuned to. As New Zealand iQ’s are domestic Japanese models, a band expander is installed meaning you have to decipher the display of frequencies near the top of the dial.
The market for micro-cars here has never been huge and the hefty price tag will deter some buyers.Due to the price, it’s more likely that iQ’s will find homes here for promotional use rather than the intended purpose of reducing city congestion and lowering emissions. Search Buy Used Audi Cars in Leitrim for the car you desire.