I bought this car back on February of 2020. 41k on the odometer. Car has good pick up, good pep and go, extremely comfortable. Drove from Massachusetts to Maine and not once did I get uncomfortable. Perfect road trip car, perfect daily commuter. I average between 30-40 mpg on a full tank depending on the weather. Cold weather, snow and icy roads gives me lower MPG however the car has handled like a champ in 7 inches of snow and never once have I gotten stuck; turn off the traction control, have decent tires and its given me nothing but confidence when driving through the heaviest of snow storms. The car got ranked to be most reliable compact car of 2016. So I’m hoping to keep this car til the wheels fall off. It’s stylish, fun to drive, and I'm always getting positive compliments. Next to the 2nd gen XB, this is my most favorite car I’ve owned. This little car hauls alot for a little hatchback; I've camped out in the back with the rear seats folded and an full size air mattress blown snuggly up and I was able to fit my 6ft frame along with my gf on many overnight camping trips at the beach. Went on several road trips with a rear facing baby seat, a full size baby stroller, three adults at 6ft tall, and we all fit nicely in the car with no complaints. I just don't understand why Toyota would make the new Corolla hatchback a little less practical by making the cargo area smaller compared to the IM. 20.8 cu ft vs 17.8 cu ft baffles me. I almost want the Corolla hatchback to be my next car when it comes time to get rid of my IM but the deal breaker is the smaller cargo area. Deleting the wheel that they are now offering is ok, however you lose out on the spare tire unlike with the IM, you still have that spare tire. Which the spare has saved my butt on a few occasions.
Thank you so much for your report. I too am on the fence bw the iM and the new 2019+ Corolla hatch. I helped an employee find a 2018 iM 6 speed manual and I like to get my “3-pedal fix” as often as I can in it! I love the looks and the updated interior and available Apple CarPlay of the new hatch but that reduced cargo is crazy to me. Thinking of saving the cash and going with an iM over the new hatch. ****I really want to know which of the two is quieter on the road.****
@@nicholasdupre6916 While I don't know the actual decibel noise level of both cars. I can assure you that the noise is pleasantly quiet in the IM and actually quieter than the Camry. Which is surprising because with a hatchback/SUV, you got that open trunk area that's typically vulnerable to noise where a trunk on a sedan typically drowns out the noise. What it all comes down to is personal choice and I would suggest taking a test drive in both to see what you like best. For me; I prefer the styling of the interior and exterior of the IM. The new Corolla hatch looks too much like a Mazda to me but that wouldn't be a deal breaker to if I had to buy one. What maybe would be the deal breaker would be the decreased cargo area in the Corolla hatchback and the decreased leg room that some owners have reported where the IM has slightly more leg and head room. The Corolla does get a little better MPG numbers, however I would predict that's because of the smaller size of the car itself and the newer engine. What makes the IM better in my opinion is that for my personal preference. Having dual climate zone being standard on all models is a new convenience that I cannot live without in a car. My girlfriend and I are polar opposites. I like having it cold and she likes it hot. So being to drive comfortably without dying of heat stroke is a must for me. The Corolla Hatchback has dual climate zone, however you need the top trim level to have that feature. The lower trim levels have signal zone climate control. I also prefer where the radio/head unit is in the IM over the headunit in the Corolla that's kinda floating/stacked. Again; my own personal preference. If carplay and android auto is that important, then you can find really good aftermarket headunits that are better than what Toyota provides in the Corolla hatchback. So if you went with the IM, you can find a headunit you like at the fraction of the cost. If I were you; I'd get the IM as you can find one easily on the used market with low miles going for decent prices and get a ton of good standard features. Where you have to really dish out money to get the same features in the Corolla hatchback. Like I said; I would suggest taking them both on a test drive and see what you like better. They are both Corolla's underneath; so either way, your going to get the legendary Toyota reliability.
@@EONEILL1987 great details and thoughts, thank you! do you have the CVT or manual? Yes I have concluded that the iM is the better choice. How many miles do you have on yours now and what has it needed?
@@nicholasdupre6916 I got mine at 41 thousand miles over a year ago and currently I’m at 68,000 miles and I’ve had zero issues. I do a lot of driving and been on so many road trips with this car. I cannot express enough that I love driving this car. I do have the automatic and I picked the automatic because I wanted the better MPG and my work commutes involves a lot of stop and go. I just wanted to avoid the hassle of shifting while eating my breakfast and drinking my coffee; lol. Plus I have a 1 year old who I’m constantly handing stuff off to in the back seat. The car is extremely easy to modify mechanically and electricly. I’ve added interior led floor lights that change colors, cup holder lights that change color, added carbon fiber interior trim, added fog lights, installed a digital tire pressure monitoring system that sits in the blank slots on the dash. And I tinted the windows.
People complain about this car because they are watching only the video! Go and test drive it and see for yourself! This car is made with MUCH better materials than the Corolla. It has better ride and handling and you can get it with auto transmission for $17500! If you can find a better deal, please send me a message! Alex thanks for the review! Honda Fit is a tiny can, if you compare it to Corolla iM. I test drove it last year, and I had the feeling that I am driving a golf cart. Also, the Corolla iM has 58 cubic feet of space with back seats down! You can put leather seats in this car and call it luxurious. I have had it for almost an year with 0 problems. One more thing - go test drive a Honda CR-V with auto and you will fill a vibration thru the whole car. The Corolla iM doesn't have this problem! If you want to buy a reliable and long lasting car, this is it!
In case it matters, the 2015 and 2016 CR-V has common engine vibration issue at idle: www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/CR-V/2015/ 2017 CR-V should be much better.
teetee tee, you are correct; however, it is not. I checked it out at my local Honda dealership, and when you put it in drive mode you can start feeling the vibration. I checked an EX and Touring model, and vibration was present! I didn't wanna drive it. I guess there is something to do with combination of the engine and CVT transmission....So if it does not bother you, the Honda CR-V is a nice vehicle.
Parnthep Panseetong You shouldn't compare the this to the fit. Although price is compareable. This should be a clear choice in that aspect but Yaris would be a better comp for fit
2018 6-speed owner here. Bought new for under $17k. I like it's made in Japan and manual stick is fun to drive! Average 33mpg in winter and 35mpg in summer. A great purchase.
Just bought this car two months ago 25,000 miles Does everything i need it to It’s reliable fast enough good safety ample storage good looking low maintenance cost and will last me years and years down the road I love it
I bought a Scion iM and almost a year later I still love it .I Installed a Injen cold air intake 10 HP gain and my MPG has gone to 39.3 to 43.1 MPG on long trips . I purchased Auer LED fog lights kit, and installed front Strut brace by Tanabe and TB Performance frame braces handles tighter now.....I know most would not do all this but it is possible to make the iM better 😎 Thanks Matt
Might be interested in getting this aftermarket cold air intake to get slightly better performance & increased MPG but did it make the exhaust or engine louder? Thx
I was offered a left over end of year Manual 17 iM for $15500. I kinda wish I went forward, but then I really lucked out and found a 2015 Scion XB Manual with 30k for $10,500. The extra 5 mpg would have been welcomed, but I do love the extra space and power from the 2.4 liter Camry engine. I was able to pay cash for the XB, a real bonus, too. I liked the handling of the iM pretty equally, but the get up from a stop was a little slow.
I bought a 2017 Corolla iM with only 8,400 miles on it, back in September 2020. Much of what Alex stated in this video is true, although I do think the suspension tuning is just a tad bit too stiff when confronted with poorly maintained roads with choppy pavement. I put about 5,000 miles on a few of the Australian equivalent models (the Corolla Ascent hatch), and while the body and interior are nearly identical, the Australian version rides on slightly different tire sizes (just a bit smaller) which seems to give the Australian version a bit of a softer ride. The slightly larger tires in the US version also seem to worsen the on-center steering feel vs. the Australian counterpart. Weird; not sure what that's about. Other than that, I've been very happy with the car. For those worried about acceleration with the CVT, you can get considerably more acceleration by simply shifting the fake/simulated gears yourself. I have no issues quickly matching up with freeway traffic.
Alex, I've watched your review dozens of times and I never get tired of it. We considered the iM since last year and we finally bought the Spring Green less than a week ago and we love it. However, because of the cold weather and the fact I do short trips, my MPG sucks. I'm hoping it will only get better.
Hi from Germany, again a great review. You are one of the few channels that reviewed all my favorite cars next to buy: Impreza, Fit/Jazz, iA/Yaris, iM/Corolla/Auris. Though I know cars for US-American market a slightly different than in Europe/Germany, your reviews are very helpful for my final decision which car to buy.
It is a fine car, made in a fine factory by fine people but it saddens a little to think a German will be driving a car with any form of automatic transmission. If the choice was mine I would probably take the 1.2 petrol with the 6 speed as it seems to get generally favorable reviews.
Excellent review. I cross shopped the Civic EX, Subaru Impreza, and the Toyota IM for my 16 year old daughter. The Impreza was boring bland and slow. (and I am a Subie Fanboy) The Civic was a hot little rocket that rode hard and handled nice. I felt the seats were a little low to the floor on the passenger side and there are too many buttons in the interior for a new driver. Then we drove the IM and I was expecting it to suck. WRONG!!! It was good looking, the inside was comfortable, simple and classy. I took it on a back road at 80 mph and threw it into the turns and it stuck nicely. We choose a Blue IM with the CVT and my daughter is thrilled!
Martin, not really. I was going to get a Corolla, because with my commute I wanted something reliable and efficient. The iM looks better in my opinion, and it handles better, and has the same Toyota reliability, so I went with the iM. Other people I know with the regular Corolla also get low 40's on the highway, so it really comes down to looks and handling preference. I have never had any reliability issues with any Toyota I have ever had, and reliability is the top attribute to me. No matter what you like about another car, if its broken down on the side of the road, nothing else matters.
Ron Shaw i have this car and i love it. It may not be as fast as any other car in the market, but the important thing for me is the "Legendary" reliability of toyota. Cheers!
This is a good and accurate review of a very well specified car with terrific safety features and good road handling. We have a 2016 Toyota auris (same car as this one) with 1.2 lit turbo engine with enough power when needed. Then there is the Toyota reliability too. Good value for the money paid.
Nice job Alex, you are so thorough, I've learned a TON watching and reviewing it. I'm torn between the Honda Fit, Corolla iM and Civic Hatchback currently, looking at ~2017 years, ~20K.
The TC is base on the Camry platform , 2.5 liter and six speeds auto. ,exactly the same drivetrain as the Cam & Rav4 . And yes they should keep the Tc . I've got one and is very durable , cheap, full equip ,except for lack of sound deadening .
I have been checking to buy a Toyota and I have a crush on this car. I have so many Corollas and I am so upset at the front grill on most 2017 to 2019 models. They all look like a monster about to eat you. I will either get this one or go with Honda.
Another impeccable review by Alex! I have always had a sweet spot for the iM ever since the Scion model... Your review has proven that this vehicle definitely has its pros, and is possibly worth a look (eventhough it may have some downsides)! 👌🏽 I actually review cars, as well! This video was very informative, and well put together! I cannot wait until I can get my hands on an iM to conduct my full in-depth review of, too! Go, AoA! 👍🏽 -DriveAndBeDriven 🚘 "The Quest To Record The Best!" 📽
Back in 2022 I was looking to replace my 2016 Corolla LE as my commute had turned into a two lane road that varies from 45 MPH to 65MPH. I loved the looks of the Corolla IM. I road in a friends and it had good room in the front seats and was really fun to drive! I was sad to discover the TSS-C didn’t include radar cruise and that was the main feature I was looking for. I also looked up and the Corolla Sedan has 41 inch’s of legroom and the IM had 32 inches. With a car seat in the future I ended up getting a 2017 Corolla SE sedan but I would have defiantly got the IM if it had adaptive cruise and maybe a little more back seat space. Great little car!
Please do a review of the 2017 subaru impreza! I would like to see a comparison of these two. Also maybe compare this to the impreza to the vw gold. appreciated. Or just give your thought on the 2017 impreza.
I've driven this car over the course of a week and it is a good car, but the power is a huge drawback. I wonder if they're able to fit a camry engine in there? Great review Alex.
I'm in Florida and I've seen dealers jack up the price of the iM 2-3K so the value pricing depends on where you are. I mentioned this to a dealer in another state and at first they didn't believe it but in short order they did their homework and promptly refused to talk about it anymore. It's not a huge deal as I'm not going to pay 22K for an iM anyway thankfully my 06 xB still runs like a champ lol.
I had this car as a rental overseas for a week. It's pretty decent, but has a smaller interior (much less rear legroom) than the Matrix that preceded it in the US.
According to Edmunds' specs, the iM (20.8 cu ft) is slightly bigger in cargo than the late model Matrix/Vibe (20.1 cu ft), but having owned a late model Vibe previously, I had a hard time believing that to be true. The iM felt smaller in every way except that I did think the iM was a bit more comfy up front.
The iM is definitely an upgrade in 'luxury' but a downgrade in utility. The Matrix/Vibe has a tow capacity of 1,500 lbs where the iM has a tow capacity of 0. My Vibe is 12 years old but I have no intention of 'upgrading' it anytime soon. Finally, there is far less headroom in the iM than there was in the Matrix which is a very practical concern for anyone over 6 feet.
Your 09 Vibe is due for replacement around 2029. By that time we'll all be driving cars that are powered by photosynthesis. They will absorb C02 from the atmosphere and emit oxygen ;)
"I would definitely take the automatic" -- Manual in a compact hatch often increases the fun quotient, so I must assume, Alex, that you had a bad experience with the manual version? Can you comment on that?
Since acceleration is an issue in the iM and the CVT yields better 0-60 times in real world driving, it "helps" things out a little as far as that goes. In addition the fuel economy is better. Since 0-60 is never going to be that thrilling, you might as well be efficient.
Thanks. When I think manual, I don't really think fuel economy, but rather driving on SF Bay Area mountain twisties. I have never driven an auto that approaches a manual in that experience.
I actually own the 2016 Scion iM as a manual. While I don't regret getting the manual, i still find it more fun than not having it, it isn't the best manual around. Shifting is like rowing a boat, so you're not going to get that satisfying snappy feel like some other cars have. The clutch is also a little vague and its really hard to heel toe shift in it. So if you enjoy driving manuals for the extra engagement, its still worth it there. But its not a sporty feeling manual transmission
Also smaller tires on the Australian version. I bought a 2017 Corolla iM with 8,400 miles on it back in September of 2020, and it comes with 17 inch, P225/45R17 tires. The Australian version I believe has 15 or 16 inch tires...for whatever reasons, the Australian version has a softer, more compliant ride vs. the US version. It's almost as if Toyota didn't fine-tune the suspension in the US version to account for the larger tires and heavier wheels, so the ride quality isn't as compliant as the Australian version, despite having the same suspension setup. That's my impression after I rented 3 separate Corolla hatchbacks in Australia between 2016-2018 and did about 5,000 miles. In short, the Australian version rides a bit better. I'm still happy with my purchase.
I know the spec purists get outraged when one compares across categories, but since I am 6'3", and I find Honda Fit to be quite comfortable (more so up front than Corolla), and the cargo space in the Fit is amazing, I am curious if you could briefly comment on such a comparison.
I'm coming from a Scion XD. I was looking to stay in the Toyota family & with the hatchback design in mind my focus was the prius series but my heart screamed iM and won. I have 2 cons and plenty of pros. And a couple of questions for you iM owners. Pros: Personally, I enjoyed the XD so I felt back at home in this model. Of course I love all the stock options. I never felt so spoiled in my life. Cons: 1.) The deep bucket seating is too deep. I'm 5'9" and still haven't found a sweet spot yet. This seems to be the consensus on most reviews. 2.) Acceleration, especially on inclines, is loud. Questions: Do all your iM's sound loud on climbs or any time you speed up? I haven't played with the manual yet. I'm afraid of killing the tranny. What are some tips?
Very late reply. But yes they all rev up pretty high when pushed. It's a small engine tho, makes sense. You won't hurt the engine or transmission. That's how the CVT is designed to be (to keep peak torque) the manual mode is not very useful imo. It's a cvt it simulates gears. You'll actually be slower using the "manual" in CVT.
Wait this handles superior than the new Impreza? I thought the new one has the same steering ratio as the BRZ and AWD, dang Toyota still beats Subaru after all that?
I'd seriously consider this if there were more features avaliable. As well a sport trim with maybe the 2.5L from the Rav4 and a LSD. More power on 87 octane while not being a pig on gas for a car that size would be adequate. A reliable warm hatch!
Great value hatchback! I really wish they offer a more "premium version" - leather seating and a bigger engine. Along with the Toyota reputation, it could be a serious contender.
Alex, would you say the Honda Fit is a better value than the iM? To me it has a lot more features most notably the cargo space. I currently drive 2010 FIT and can't find anything in that segment with similar cargo capacity and comfort.
Strack9421 I think the Toyota safety package makes the iM a much better value then any economy car under 20,000 for value. The fit is a good car but I think the Toyota will have more safety but less tech (Android auto, Apple car play)
The iM and the CH-R could be a great recipe for bringing back the spirit of the 1980's Corolla AE86 hatchback, aka SR5 & GTS. If only Toyota would take a moment from spoiling their Prius! Of course, those old Corollas were RWD.
I need a replacement for my 09 Vibe GT. It's had many issues that I know is unusual for these cars. I'm wondering if this is a good alternative, definitely want a hatch or wagon with typical Toyota reliability.
Miguel Angel Medina Rise I vastly prefer hatchbacks but I think most people are just raised on sedan's in the US and don't really know that hatchbacks are better.
How would you compare the iM against the Honda Fit? To me this car seems to slide in between the Fit and Civic in terms of size and hp. It's bigger than the FIT and smaller than the Civic. I'm currently car shopping and comparing this car to the Honda Civic LX and Fit LX. in 6MT. What I've discovered is the iM includes the safety features like Lane Assist, collision warning, etc that is ONLY available on the CIVIC and FIT if you get the CVT. It's not available with the 6MT. And nice rims are included. These are all extra (or not available with the 6MT) Civic/Fit LX. The Civic has a more powerful engine w/ 2.0L @ 158hp The Fit has a 1.5L @ 130hp The iM has a 1.8L @ 137hp
Hold on 21:41 If toyota was still making the matrix you get get and all wheel drive system and I know that the matrix 2007 is higher off the ground than the impreza but just and inch shorter than the crosstec and the matrix xrs gave you a 2.3 liter engine and all wheel drive. An over all jack of all trades with some limited sporty looks. Add in an after market radio and its awesome.
Better looking that the regular Corolla sedan. However the powertrain (1.8L & CVT) combo is still boring. The rear independent suspension is nice, but without the go to back it up, it is still a B-list car. Likely more reliable than a Cruze, Golf or Civic hatchback, but I prefer them over the iM.
Trades46 yup, this car's Achilles heel is the weak engine. If they sent them out at 165hp, this car would've been a blast, and a good starting point for modding
Using the "Build and Price" features available on manufacturer websites, this car is about the same price as top-of-the-line Honda Fit. The Fit is nice, but for the same money, I'd definitely rather get this Corolla iM. I'm just not sure if I should get the CVT or the manual transmission. I'm leaning towards the manual, but I guess when the time comes, I'll simply have to test drive them both to see which I like better.
I really like this a lot, I own a Fit and this has better features for the price... not a huge fan of how the back hatch looks though. The way they integrate the handle looks cheap. I never even considered a Scion when I purchased the Fit in 2015... maybe these will sell better. I don't think this is comparable to a Civic though... the Civic is much nicer IMO.
It looks like they changed a few things for the US still. The Euro version has an additional LED strip in the rear lights that split apart from one line. Hmmm....
Imo, this model is vastly superior to the. sedan version, in all aspects. As i spend a great deal of time in europe, i can tell you the Auris is quite common. For me, tho the two biggest drawbacks are, a. Toyota,s insistence in not making apple car play or android auto available and b. The underpowered engine. Really! under one hundred forty ponies in this day and age!
0-60 time of mazda3 seems to be for 2.0 ... infact even that seems incorrect. i think its closer to 7 seconds for 2.5 or 6.6 seconds based on which source you trust. 2.5 in my CX-5 is 7.7 seconds or so
So I bought the 2018 version, and although my sticker says that there's a spoiler, as does every spec sheet in my area, buy its NOT the one you have on this one. Anyone know why ???
8:41 Seriously, only 1 USB port? It should come with at least 2 USB ports (and an HDMI port) instead of leaving those two in the middle blank! I've got an impression that Toyota is always at least one generation behind other auto manufacturers in term of technology/design.
What a real baller would do is go and get a well-kept version of the 200 HP 1991-1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo engine for about $1500 and slam that sumbitch in here. Then you'll have a party!
The Corolla is due for a redesign in about 18 months. Who says Toyota will not move this suspension over to the sedan in the redesign? I expect a more powerful and sportier Corolla, much like the more radical 2018 Toyota Camry is offering.
Update: Toyota announced yesterday that they will not be building Corollas in Mexico after all but will keep production in the USA. The new Toyota factory in Mexico will instead produce Tacoma pickups which will be renamed Toyota Toluca in honor of their new Mexican heritage.
Alex, what is it with Toyota/Lexus and their not willing to incorporate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in any of their models? This is the major reason why I will no longer be leasing or purchasing any Toyota product.
David Wolf yes this seems to be a very odd decision by Toyota. Many millennials and younger folks prefer Android Auto / Apple CarPlay. Toyota seems to be stuck in the old mindset and don't understand what young people want.
Yeah, I'm an old guy, but use the Apple iPhone. The system Toyota/Lexus uses is just plain troublesome. The only part of it that isn't a problem is the sirrius satelite system, which fortunately, doesn't depend on anything else to operate very nicely.
I don't understand why toyota doesn't just base the sedan on this platform as well. Why stick to the horrible torsion beam rear suspension in the corolla sedan. That whole platform is nearly 2 decades old now.
Corolla is the bread and butter for Toyota. Without it, the company would be doomed. They need to build the Corolla as cheap as possible to keep it competitively priced. Torsion beam is the way to do it.
So I typed corolla im into google and the top autocomplete was turbo kit... Buyers who want more horses should spec the six speed and keep pestering turbo kit makers until they get one
True, I've owned 8 cars, and only 1 of them was new. However, when it comes to cars with good resale value, the price delta & value gained can be very small. Plus, owning a new model with potentially good resale allows for greater trade value later.
I drove one today. Throws are long. But it feels strong and the shifts are Light. I thought I was driving a modern Volvo 240 DL. This car feels heavy and sturdy. But Dull. Simply feels unbreakable, though. I could not STAND the lack of rear vision through that little window. Most Toyotas suck like this. I found a new 17 left over for only $15,700.
Throws are a little long, but it is still better with a manual. cheaper, I was quoted $15,700 end of year. 6 speed should mean better MPG too. Throws can be shortened with a TRD shift kit.
