1.0 VVT-i 3dr Hatchback

Brilliant city car - and also surprisingly competent on the motorway

Great car. Faultlessly reliable. A little slower than my other cars (a 4.3L V8 Lexus LS430 and a Skoda Fabia VRS 180 DSG) but very economical, easy to park, surprisingly comfortable for a 6'4" frame (though make sure you get the updated model with the height adjustable driver's seat). Servicing is cheap though dealer could be better. Any warranty issues (again, benefiting from the later-introduced 5 year warranty) cleared up without question as well as the Toyota recalls. Something from the rear squeaks when the car is cold (sounding like brake discs or handbrake adjustment or something) but dealer could find no evidence of this. Other than that, though, it's almost impossible to fault!

The gearshift indicator is a bit annoying as if you change when indicated, the car feels very laboured and a lot of vibration is felt through the drivetrain. It's best to keep the car 'on song' by keeping the revs up a bit (though this is to the detriment of fuel consumption). The stereo control is slightly frustrating as it's all on the steering wheel. Stations cannot be retuned whilst on the move (I think). This would be fine if all you're doing is driving the car in the city as the radio frequency shouldn't change, but if you're on a longer journey (and the IQ is perfectly competent on the open road so why should you not drive it greater distances?) it then becomes a problem as you have to stop the car and retune the radio on the fiddly steering wheel mounted joystick. That said, the sound quality from the stereo is great.

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