Scion IQ Slammed in Consumer Reports Ratings
Consumer Reports seems not to enjoy testing sub-compact cars such as the Scion iQ and the Smart ForTwo, or at least that’s how it looks.
Of all the new cars the publication has reviewed, the Smart ForTwo is at the very bottom with a rating of 28 and the Scion iQ is well, not much better at 29. This is a little surprising considering when we reviewed the Scion iQ, we found there was plenty to like about the model and certainly there are things it does well compared to its competitors.
Undoubtedly Consumer Reports didn’t review the Scion iQ with city driving in mind, which is evident when it said the vehicle’s powertrain was “barely enough to stay up with highway traffic.”
There’s a reason the iQ is referred to as a city car for urban environments such as those found in San Francisco, New York, or Boston. Perhaps it would have done a little better if Consumer Reports reviewed the model through the perspective of a city-dweller, and not trying to cruise the highway at 70 mph.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation
I own an IQ and I actually find myself having to throttle back on the highway. Don't tell the cops but I was cruising at 95+. Of course the mileage dropped to 29mpg but I felt in control and the speed was not apparent. I normally don't drive more than 10 to 20 miles either alone or with my son and it's perfect! Overall honest average mpg is 37.
CR has NO credibility. It's an affordable ($16K) commuter car that gets around 40 mpg! NOBODY can come close to that for $16K! (So we iQ owners will just laugh when CR calls the $45,000 beast, Chevy Volt, the greatest thing since sliced bread.)