Scion a chip off the old Toyota block

Toyota will discontinue its Scion division in August. It was bound to happen. It has nothing to do with bad product, lousy marketing or any other classic form of failure. It has everything to do with reality.

To wit: Toyota never needed a Scion division, a special unit to appeal to youth. I always thought that a silly idea.

Toyota needed to do only what it has almost always done — make excellent cars and small trucks, models such as this week's subject vehicle, the 2016 Scion iM hatchback, which will be rolled into the Toyota lineup in one form or another in 2017.

That is a good thing because the Scion iM, all new for 2016, is a good little car. But, first, let's put some clothes on “good.”

It is reliable, starting every time without fail or fuss. It is safe, equipped with all of the standard safety features and many of the advanced electronic safety items available in more expensive cars. It is reasonably fuel efficient at 27 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg highway using a standard six-speed manual transmission and 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway using a seven-speed automatic continuously variable transmission.

Why is the manual marginally less efficient than the automatic? Get over it. The automatic is smarter (thanks to software) and saves more fuel.

OK, now for the complaints, which I find nutty, considering that you are paying for a sub-$20,000 economy car that is safe, comfortable and appealing inside and out and that runs on regular gasoline.

Complaint one: It looks sporty, hot. But it's slow, barely moves from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds. Question: Why must you get to 60 miles per hour so fast, assuming you are driving in a regulated city or suburban community?

Complaint two: It is a hatchback but does not have as much carrying space as a small station wagon or sport-utility vehicle. Really? Did you not know you were buying a small, city-efficient hatchback? It saves fuel, parks easily almost anywhere in the city and easily can carry a week's worth of groceries for a family of four. Did you really need or want a truck or a van?

Complaint three: The 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (137 horsepower, 126 pound-feet of torque) is anemic. Really? You want to enter a race with a 137-horsepower, four-cylinder engine? Again, did you not know what you were buying? Or, did you fall for the same silliness that led the people at Toyota to establish the now-fading Scion division in the first place?

Youth is exciting, rip-roaring, although most youths drive on the same roads under the same rules as the rest of us. We all, somehow, have a pressing need to move from 0 to 60 miles per hour in five seconds or less. Really? In what community? I've been driving since 1964 an average 40,000 miles annually all over the world. Except for occasional stints on a racetrack, or for insanely exhilarating runs on Germany's pre-strictly regulated Autobahn, I've never been able to drive that fast.

It comes down to this: Most of us just need a good, safe, reliable, comfortable, fuel-efficient car. The 2016 Scion iM is a good, safe, reliable, comfortable, affordable, fuel-efficient car. I am happy that Toyota plans to keep it after it discontinues the Scion brand. It is a good little car for buyers of any age.

Bottom line

The 2016 Scion iM is a good little car, all new for 2016, probably to be continued in 2017 under the Toyota brand. Toyota might do some price-reduction marketing moves to push sales of the iM model. Be on the lookout for that.

Ride, acceleration and handling: It gets decent marks in all three — quite acceptable for most of us.

Head-turning quotient: Cute.

Body style/layout: The iM is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact hatchback largely based on the Toyota Corolla. There, sensibly, is one available trim level.

Engine/transmissions: The iM comes with a 1.8-liter, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder gasoline engine with variable valve operation (137 horsepower, 126 pound-feet of torque). The standard transmission is a six-speed manual. A seven-speed automatic continuously variable transmission is available.

Capacities: Seating is for five people. Cargo capacity with all seats in place is 20.8 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 14 gallons of gasoline. Regular grade is fine.

Actual mileage with six-speed manual: With snow and traffic jams everywhere, I got 24 miles per gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the highway.

Safety: Standard equipment includes four-wheel disc brakes (ventilated front, solid rear); four-wheel anti-lock brake protection; emergency braking assistance; stability and traction control; daytime running lights; side and head air bags.

Recommended: Rear backup camera and rear cross-traffic alert.

Pricing: The 2016 Scion iM starts at $18,460 with a dealer's invoice price of $17,537. Price as tested is $19,642, including $387 in options (sway bars) and a $795 factory-to-dealer destination fee. Dealer's price as tested is $18,603.