The Scion brand is supposed to be focused on the younger generation that is just getting started. With that in mind many of the models come in forms that are versatile, inexpensive, but do pack a nice menu of features that can be enjoyed. Mostly this means these cars have come in hatchback forms except for those that were built for performance such as the FR-S. Scion has caught on to the fact that hatchback sales are becoming stagnant in the US and for 2016 has come up with a pair of sedans to flood the market in an affordable manner, one of which is the iA.
When you have a small budget of $18,000 or less the iA should be high on your list of cars to take for a ride. This new little sedan offers a value in the price, fuel efficiency and standard equipment that you don’t get in many places. The iA even has a good amount of trunk space for you to add a few items and take a road trip in this new small offering that is a great value for any driver to enjoy.
Because it’s a new entry, let’s look at the standard features first. The iA will come standard with cruise control, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, LED turn signals, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a six-speaker audio system with a seven-inch display, two USB ports, six airbags, a low-speed pre collision system and a rearview camera. For a car that comes in at the low price that the iA does, that is certainly a great menu of amazing features to enjoy.
If you have ever shopped for a Scion model you will note that the sales experience is much different than most. The iA adheres to the mono-spec packaging structure built by Scion, which helps to keep the prices down and the only real add-ons or optional equipment come is as dealer installed features. These can include center armrests, a front doorsill applique, and a plug and play navigation system. Because the Scion lineup is targeted at younger, more inexperienced shoppers, the overall thought is to keep the pricing and shopping experience simple to make it much easier for these new car buyers.
Another money saving feature is the single engine offering which for the iA is a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that reaches 106 horsepower and 103 lb.-ft. of torque. There is a surprising option of the transmissions you can choose which are either a six-speed manual or automatic. The manual is standard with the automatic costing an additional $1,100 and the fuel numbers show up at 31 city/41 hwy mpg for the manual and 33 city/42 hwy mpg for the automatic.
At the price the iA comes in at you would expect it to be a cheaply made offering, but the interior looks and feels elegant. The seats are supportive and there is actually some good leg room in the rear seats. As mentioned it even has a decent sized trunk to enjoy, which gives you a great place to store anything you need to. The inclusion of keyless entry and push button starting and an infotainment screen that looks huge inside this vehicle make for some features that give you the feeling of an upgraded model at a great price.
The outside of this car offers a sweet and sweeping look that is dynamic and exciting. the piano-black accents and character lines look great sitting on top of the 16-inch alloy wheels. The iA is attractive and makes you quickly forget the fact that this is an entry level model that you paid much less than $20,000 to purchase.
The drive in this new car is easy to enjoy and straightforward. The controls are easy to find and the obvious infusion of Mazda technology make this car one of the most fun to drive cars that we will see for 2016, especially at the low price it carries. There is no sluggish nature to its small engine, instead you get a lot of pep as it gives you everything you want to have from this nice little sedan. Starting out at $16,500 and topping the scales at $18,000 you know you will love this little car and make some great memories of driving it.
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