Scion Reveals The Adorable iA Sedan

2016 Scion iA (Credit: Scion)

Scion has finally revealed the iA sedan, and it’s downright adorable. When compared to the growling, shouting, aggressive designs that’ve been rolling out of the Toyota and Lexus lines lately, the iA has a more childlike look to it. The front fascia still has a crazy number of angles, but the effect is more akin to a pug’s mug than a screaming banshee or growling tiger.

One of the best details about the new model is the price. It starts “in the $16,000-range” according to Scion. That’s great news at a time when people are constantly complaining that vehicles are just getting more and more expensive, making them unaffordable for a growing chunk of the population. That price includes a seven-inch infotainment screen with voice commands, plus the Low-speed Pre-collision safety system.

2016 Scion iA (Credit: Scion)

Sitting under the curvaceous hood is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pushes out 106 horsepower. It’s paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission that features short throws and buttery smooth gear transitions. People who can’t or don’t want to row gears can go for the six-speed automatic, which uses a torque converter for smooth launches, then it locks as the car cruises, boosting fuel economy.

2016 Scion iA interior (Credit: Scion)

According to Scion’s marketing department, the iA “shouts success.” Usually such claims are reserved for luxury or ultra-luxury models. Certainly the Scion iA constitutes a great value, which alone should be appealing enough to anyone who wants an economical yet somewhat fun way to get from point A to point B. Be prepared for plenty of marketing hustle swirling around the new sedan, because Toyota is pouring a fair amount of its considerable resources behind the car. It could be just what the flat Scion brand has needed to get sales thumping.

The Scion brand has done a good job of stirring up interest in its first-ever sedan. While getting everyone excited to see the car hasn’t been much of an issue, the question of whether the actual thing is good enough to draw in droves of car shoppers remains to be seen.