Toyota iQ (2008 – 2014) Review

Toyota iQ (2008 – 2014) At A Glance

3/5

+Triumph of 4-seater packaging that still earned 5 NCAP stars. Most models 99g/km so VED free. Better to drive than a Smart or a Fiat 500.

-Quite wide for a city car. Not cheap. CVT auto over 100g/km.

Insurance Groups are between 3–6
On average it achieves 85% of the official MPG figure

I-Cute doesn't quite ring true. Pretty, it isn't. This is a little car for the head, not the heart. A Fiat 500 is cute. A Hyundai i10 1.2 is a brilliant suburban buy. A Toyota iQ is probably the most sensible, practical city car on the planet.

In a length of less than 10 feet, it packs in five star NCAP crash safety, four adult size seats and a turning circle of just 3.9 metres.

Now ten feet is one foot longer than a Smart ForTwo, but the iQ is For Four, occasionally, when it needs to be, and two or three plus their clobber when it doesn't.

Toyota very wisely held the launch in Milan, which is infested with cars parked haphazardly anywhere the owners can squeeze them in. Unsurprisingly, a lot of these cars are Smart ForTwos that command a practical kind of urban chic. And there are growing numbers of Fiat 500s that are actually less practical and more expensive then the Pandas they are based on, but are bought on looks and looks alone.

Real MPG average for a Toyota iQ (2008 – 2014)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

85%

Real MPG

35–65 mpg

MPGs submitted

207

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

We need your help with our latest Satisfaction Index, so that we can help others make a smarter car buying decision. What's it like to live with your car? Love it? Loath it? We want to know. Let us know about your car - it will only take a few minutes and you could be helping thousands of others.

Help us with the Honest John Satisfaction Index now

Ask Honest John

Should I take my used Toyota iQ to a main dealer for servicing?

"I've bought a 10-year-old Toyota iQ. Is it worth servicing it at Toyota or my good local garage? "
Keeping your service history up to date is a good thing to do for two reasons. Firstly it ensures your vehicle is kept in good condition, which will help it last longer. Secondly it helps to maintain the value of the vehicle - a complete service history can add several hundred pounds to the value of your car when you come to sell. Where you get it serviced now depends on the current service history. If it has been maintained at a Toyota dealer since new, then there is potentially some value in keeping this going. However, if in the past it has been serviced at an independent dealer or even has some service history missing, there's not much to be gained by going back to a Toyota dealership for servicing. Take it to a good independent specialist (you can find one near you in the Honest John Good Garage Guide) and you'll save money.
Answered by David Ross

How can I find out about buying a used Toyota IQ?

"I am looking for a second hand Toyota IQ car in good condition. Where is a trustworthy place in the UK to enquire about that particular car?"
I haven't driven one myself, but they're well regarded by reviewers: highly manoeuvrable, cheap to run, should be reliable and are roomy for their tiny size. You can read our review here – https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/toyota/iq/ – but I would advise asking this question in a Toyota forum where you'll more likely find someone who has experience of owning the car.
Answered by Russell Campbell

What small car for £5000 do you recommend?

"I want to replace my old 2003 Smart as a runaround. I need two doors, preferably four seats which when not used gives me a good space for a load. An automatic would be good if possible. The car needs to be small as parking is restricted but slightly bigger than the Smart. I have up to £5000 to spend. What would you recommend?"
If it were a manual, we'd be looking for a Skoda Citigo/SEAT Mii/Volkswagen Up. They have compact dimensions but are surprisingly practical with the rear seats dropped. However, the ASG automated manual gearbox isn't the best, unfortunately. Instead look at a Toyota IQ which could be an interesting alternative.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What is the best product to to re-inflate a punctured tyre?

"Yesterday my wife's Toyota iQ got a puncture, fortunately I was in the car with her. The car has no spare wheel so I tried to use the Toyota-supplied mini compressor which injects a sealant into the tyre as it is inflating it. It didn't work. A rescue service took us to a tyre specialist where I bought a new tyre and the fitter told me that Holts Tyreweld is a much more effective way to try and re-inflate a punctured tyre. Not only that, but the tyre is not ruined by the injected foam. Do you have any view on the best 'rescue' product to use in such circumstances? "
Yes. The AA. Don't ever squirt anything into a tyre expecting it to seal a puncture. In 99 per cent of cases it doesn't work. Best to join the AA that now carries universal emergency wheels to get you to a tyre depot.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions