Hot hatches are happening. Little sedans, not so much.

So Scion is confident it will sell more copies of its new iM hatchback than of its also-new sibling, the iA sedan.

Both cars will debut in a tandem launch on September 1. We tested them in June at a press preview held in San Francisco. 

Scion’s enthusiasm for the iM is not misplaced. Young Americans have twigged to the hatchback format, with its roomy and versatile interiors and funky styling cues. Kia’s Soul and Nissan’s Versa Note are the current class leaders but Scion aims to nudge a few buyers in the direction of the iM ($19,225, including destination).

Based on a hatch Toyota sells in Europe as the Auris, the iM dresses up with a body kit, directional 17-inch wheels and a bright exhaust tip. 

Standard gear includes cruise control, dual-zone automatic A/C, Pioneer audio with 7-inch touchscreen, backup camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel and power windows and locks.

The interior is nicely finished, with soft-touch surfaces, contrast stitching and high-quality materials. Four adults fit here nicely, and folding the rear seatbacks creates a generous cargo area.

The iM is sold “mono spec,” as a well-equipped single trim, but with a wide array of dealer-installed options, including lowering springs and anti-roll bars from Toyota’s TRD performance division.

The iM’s 137-horsepower four-cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. The “intelligent” CVT has seven pre-programmed ratios and a Sport mode. “Yaw rate” sensors read cornering forces and, when appropriate, elevate engine RPMs to deliver extra power when exiting the corner. 

On the performance front, the iA ($16,495) is the real surprise. A four-door iteration of Mazda’s Mazda2 hatchback (which isn’t sold in the States), the iA is a driver’s car writ small. Balanced and responsive, it’s also the most fuel efficient of the entry-level sedans.
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Standard on the iA are side-mirror turn-signal repeaters, cruise control, air conditioning, keyless entry, push-button ignition, a backup camera, and Mazda’s excellent 7-inch infotainment system interface and console-mounted control knob. 

It also includes a safety feature unique in the entry-level category; a low-speed forward-collision system. A rear view back-up camera is also standard. 

Scion didn’t scrimp on cabin finishes, either. Like the iM, the iA wears “above-class” finery; loads of soft-touch surfaces, top-shelf materials and excellent fit and finish.

The snug rear-seating area may discourage double-dating, but works to the benefit of an oversized trunk.

The iA’s engine is a direct-injected, 1.5-liter four that makes 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to give the 2,400-pound sedan some zip. 

The standard six-speed manual transmission offers short throws, crisp gates and smooth-as-butter clutch take-up. Brake and throttle pedals are set up to allow enthusiasts to throw the heel-and-toe maneuver entering quick corners.

A six-speed automatic with Sport mode is optional.

In both instances, styling is a matter of personal preference. Let it be said, however, that neither of these adoptees bear much similarity to their stablemates. 

2016 Scion iM hatchback
Priced from $19,225
EPA ratings: 
27 combined/36 highway/31 city (manual)
30 combined/37 highway/32 city (CVT)

2016 Scion iA sedan 
Priced from $16,495
EPA ratings: 
37 combined/33 city/42 highway (automatic)
35 combined/31 city/41 highway (standard)

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