We say Quirky and funky but with just three realistic seats, it comes at a hefty premium when compared to some of its rivals.Performance Both engines are in their element around town, but only the 1.33-litre 98bhp diesel will suffice for motorway trips.Emissions 99g/km is great, but 120g/km for the more powerful engines is too much for its compact size. A maximum combined fuel consumption of 64mpg would be excellent on a supermini but for a car of this size and one dedicated to city driving, it’s actually quite disappointing.Driving Fantastic in the city as it’s really grippy and nimble. The unresponsive steering and bumpy ride may be a deal-breaker though if you’re going to drive it for longer than a daily commute.Feel No issues regarding noise from the engine or road but a fair bit of wind-noise accumulates around the door mirrors at speeds. If you’re overworking the smaller engine you’re also likely to make a bit of a racket.Space As you’d imagine of a car with such compact dimensions, space is at a premium throughout the iQ. Two passengers sit comfortably, three do ok but four is unrealistic. The boot is also ridiculously small at 32-litres with all ‘four’ seats in use and it’s best served as a two-seater. But what did you expect?Equipment Alloy wheels, MP3 compatibility and a great stereo system come as standardPrice It’s priced quite high at as much as £16,000 but residuals and running costs are more appealing. Entry-level versions start from almost £11,000.Quality For the price, you’d expect more; plastics are hard and the fit and finish isn’t up to par for what is essentially a premium city car given its quickly-escalating list price. It’s very reliable though, and is backed by a five-year warranty.Safety The standard nine airbags and stability control are backed by a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating.Pros The iQ is brilliant if you keep your driving to urban areas and never try and get more than two people – including the driver – inside. The engines are perky and the car agile, making it excellent for nipping around the city. It’s also extremely reliableCons It’s difficult to justify the iQ’s pricetag given its tiny size, poor interior and disappointing CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures which fall short of figures set by much larger hatchbacks.Alternatives Ford Ka, Smart ForTwo.
