Scion iA and iM Press Review
Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to attend the Midwest Press Review in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first wave of folks (about 24 of us) drove the all-new Scion iA and iM. These two new models are long overdue for the Scion brand and while both cars are uniquely different, they will attract new buyers to the brand. I really believe both of these models will bring great success to Scion dealers nationwide.
Couldn’t resist snapping this pic of Wrigley Field as I flew in from St. Louis for my connecting flight.
I’m a fan of architecture and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is really something to appreciate as you exit for ground transportation.
I arrived at the swanky JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids and was met with Scion fanfare featuring tasty lemonade (totally non-alcoholic) served with chips, salsa and guacamole (no peas, please).
Scion is so wonderful and gracious to their guests. I was delighted to find this thoughtful gift in my room. Oh and that JBL Bluetooth speaker can jam!
View from my hotel room included the Grand River and bridges, loved it.
Cocktail hour was met with these 2 lovely models and a unique opportunity to discuss Scion details with lead product engineers and specialists.
After a great presentation on the iA and iM, we walked over to dinner at Cygnus 27 (on the 28th floor, LOL). Really enjoyed the roasted beet salad along with the monkfish. Great food and company where we dined on large round tables allowing us the opportunity to talk about Scion and more.
Couldn’t resist snapping this pic from inside the restaurant, Cygnus 27.
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for some rest. The next morning would have us start early to drive the all-new iA and iM models. I was excited to learn that of the 12 cars, 6 were equipped with a manual transmission.
The next morning, after an excellent breakfast, we headed outside to see (and select) our cars. I got together with Chris from “The Chavez Report” as my driving buddy and we both agreed that manual was the way to go. We also agreed to start with the iA thinking this would give us more time with the iM but unfortunately that didn’t work out (for me, that is), haha!
The iA is based off of the Mazda 2 sedan and while that decision has brought about many questions (and even some criticism), know that Mazda will not have a 2 sedan in the US market. And while a rebadged car isn’t the most exciting news, I can tell you that the iA I drove was a great little car. Little? Well, sure...it is a compact sedan, but the interior certainly doesn’t have you think that.
Every surface you can touch on the iA feels great. I can’t say that anything on the interior of the iA felt “cheap” or looked out of place. The touchscreen looks quite modern with just enough trim bezel to make it look high end. Seriously looks better than a Mercedes-Benz CLA nav screen, that’s for sure. The double-stitched accent on the dash looks great and really elevates the style of this interior. Black piano trim pieces are “just enough” and tastefully compliment the interior and pull it all together nicely.
When it comes to the audio and nav controls, you have a dial and dedicated buttons within the middle console. Makes it a breeze to control and there’s even a small area to allow your palm to rest. I really liked using it because I could see myself using the touchscreen when I’m not driving (like in a parking lot) but would certainly use the dial and dedicated buttons while driving. My only gripe about the interior is with a lack of a center arm rest. On a long drive, that would get mighty uncomfortable (for me, anyway).
When it came to driving the iA, I loved the clutch and short throws of the manual transmission. There’s plenty of power to get the car rolling down the road and with an average of 40 MPG, you know it’s not a horsepower hoarder by any stretch. I don’t mind working the motor for power and I liked that the iA isn’t obnoxiously loud getting up to speed. You quickly forget that you’re driving a $15k-ish car because it doesn’t feel or drive like one.
So let’s talk about the exterior styling of the iA. It’s certainly bold. When’s the last time you remembered the styling of a compact sedan? Exactly. The iA has edgy and bold styling making it stand out...not blend in.
80 miles into our drive, we made it to the half way point where we would switch cars and I gotta tell you I was pretty excited to finally get inside the iM. Luckily, the Spring Green Metallic iM was not only available but it was also sporting a manual transmission. Double WIN.
Do you see that 4Runner TRD Pro in the background? That was our official support vehicle equipped with spare rims/tires just in case we encountered any road hazards. Scion peeps think of everything! This 4Runner is also a new addition to the Midwest region for the press fleet so who knows, maybe I’ll convince Toyota we need a road trip to Moab, Utah. HaHa!
Now that we’ve got the iM, we’re ready to go and lunch is just 43 miles away. This is also the time I realize we spent too much time with the iA and will need to hustle in the iM. Like, seriously HUSTLE. I had an early flight out of Grand Rapids so I had to be back at the hotel for my ride to the airport. With no time to waste, we started the journey to our lunch spot.
Absolutely love the white stitching on this iM steering wheel. The interior is tastefully finished and looks great. The strip of white leatherette sporting some sweet stitching really pulls it all together.
Driving the iM, it was easy to feel (and appreciate) the extra power since we came from the iA but I did miss the short throw of that iA manual. With the iM you gotta ride the clutch a little longer and the shift throws are not so short but you get used to it pretty quick.
This iM in Classic Silver is equipped with TRD springs and TRD intake.
So with that, the iM got us back to the hotel with only a few minutes to spare. I made my flight out of Grand Rapids and headed home to St. Louis. I loved the opportunity to explore both new Scion models and wish I had more time with the iM...but I’ll get one all to myself soon enough, right?
If you or someone you know is looking for a compact sedan, check out the iA. I totally recommend that car over say something like a Versa or Focus. And if you’re a hatch fan, definitely check out the iM. I hear the CVT model in Sport mode is fun too so don’t forget to try it if you’re not a manual transmission fan. Thanks for reading and following along. Til next time... -Raul
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