Test drive: 2017 Toyota Corolla iM

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 2, 2016

Starting at under $19,000, the 2017 Toyota Corolla iM hatchback is a lot of fun for the money, especially when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. The angular styling looks great, the tight suspension gives it a nimble feel, and the stick shift allows drivers to squeeze every bit of power out of the high-revving 1.8-liter engine.

And the iM has a practical side, with room for five and a decent amount of cargo space under the hatch for a smallish compact. Interior materials are also good for a small, inexpensive, inlcuding the sturdy cloth the covers the well bolstered from sport seats.

It’s also well equipped for the price, including a Toyota Safety Sense safety package, standard 17-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping column with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, a 7-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, a six-speaker stereo with HD radio and a USB interface.

In fact, there are only a few options, like a Continuously Variable Transmission and a navigation system, making the entry level model even more of a bargain.

Those who follow such things know the iM was introduced last year as a Scion, the youth oriented brand owned by Toyota. But when Toyota pulled the plug on Scion a few months ago, it kept and rebranded the car as a Corolla. That make ssense, because the iM actually slots in between the subcompact Yaris hatchback and the larger “regular” Corolla, which is only available as a sedan.

Aside from the name, nothing about the iM changed when it became a Toyota except the badging. It is still only sold in one trim level with the aforementioned options, making shopping for it easier than choosing between the multiple trim levels available for comparable competitors. If you like it, you like it, without having to pick the right selection of features to make sure you really like it. And you can be sure the price will stay in the $20,000 range, instead of creeping up to $25,000 after you’ve given into temptation for just one more option.

Some reviewers have said the iM is not as much fun with the CVT, which is not a new complaint about the gearless transmissions that are designed to maximize mileage. And we found that carrying three or more people put a strain on the small, non-turbocharged engine in our test car. But it got around fine with just one or two people, especially in downtown driving, where it zipped easily into openings between vehicles and small parking spaces.

There are a lot of new and redesigned compacts on the market these days, and some offer more performance or a higher level of refinement than the new Corolla, especially when outfitted with the right option packages. But, after a week of mixed driving, our bright red test iM always looked spunky and was entertaining to drive under most conditions. Check it out before making a final decision.

2017 Toyota Corolla iM

Base price: $18,750

Price as tested: $20,759

Type: Compact hatchback

Engine: 1.8-liter inline 4 (137 hp, 126 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 6-speed manual (as tested); Continuously Variable

EPA estimated mileage: 27/35

Overall length: 170.5 inches

Curb weight: 2,943 to 3,031 pounds

Final assembly: Aichi, Japan