2012 Scion iQ vs 2012 smart fortwo

2012 Scion iQ

2012 smart fortwo

Select style

3-Door HB

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
iQ 3-Door HB	36	37	$14,501	$15,265

Select style

2-Door Convertible Passion

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
fortwo 2-Door Convertible Passion	34	38	$16,452	$17,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Passion	34	38	$13,662	$14,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Pure	34	38	$11,616	$12,490

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$14,501

$16,452

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$15,265

$17,690

Monthly Payment Estimate

$254 / month

$295 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.0

Read Our Full Review

6.0

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The appeal of the 2012 Scion iQ minicar is limited; but for parking-challenged urban dwellers, it's charming.

Still stylish and quirky, the 2012 Smart Fortwo can be a fun and useful car for tight urban spaces where its size and maneuverability is an asset; but for even occasional highway driving, nearly any other small car would be a better pick.

TCC Likes

Innovative seating arrangement
Superb interior materials
Tall folks fit!

Nimble and responsive at city speeds
Actually fits tall folks
Can park nearly anywhere

TCC Dislikes

Sub-40-mpg highway rating
Slow acceleration
No available manual gearbox

Busy, jittery ride
Nervous and noisy on the highway
Short on passing power

Fuel Economy

City

36 mpg

34 mpg

Highway

37 mpg

38 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Mini Compact

Minicompact

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

33.8

Front Shoulder Room (in)

53.1

48.0

Second Head Room (in)

35.9

Second Shoulder Room (in)

50.2

Front Leg Room (in)

40.9

41.2

Passenger Volume (ft³)

73.8

45.4

Front Hip Room (in)

53.9

45.4

Second Leg Room (in)

28.6

Front Head Room (in)

37.7

39.7

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)

58.1

50.5

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.3

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

120.1

106.1

Height, Overall (in)

59.1

60.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

57.5

54.5

Wheelbase (in)

78.7

73.5

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

66.1

61.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

16.7

7.8

Brakes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.0 x - TBD -

11.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-wheel

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Brake Type

Electric

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

7.1 x - TBD -

8.0 x - TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

8.5

8.7

Steering

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

13.2

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

12.9

28.7

Steering Type

Electric

Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.9

- TBD -

Tires

Rear Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Front Tire Size

P175/60R16

P155/60R15

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Spare Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Rear Tire Size

P175/60R16

P175/55R15

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2127

1852

Wheels

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

16 x 5.0

15 x 4.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

16 x 5.0

15 x 5.5

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

4.5

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

89 @ 4400

68 @ 4500

Engine Order Code

- TBD -

Displacement

1.3L/81

1.0/61

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

94 @ 6000

70 @ 5800

Engine Type

Gas I4

Gas I3

Fuel System

Direct Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

Transmission

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

3.31

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.26

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

3.23

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

1.91

Trans Order Code

- TBD -

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

4.53

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.94

Trans Description Cont.

Continuously Variable Ratio

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Summary

Body Style

3 Door Hatchback

2 Door Cabriolet

Vehicle Name

Scion iQ

Smart fortwo

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

0.83

Suspension Type - Rear

Torsion beam

DeDion

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

5.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

- TBD -

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

Get FREE Dealer Quotes

From dealers near you

Go!

Compare 2012 Scion iQ vs 2012 smart fortwo

Get FREE Dealer Quotes

Add a Vehicle to Compare