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2016 Scion iM exudes funky practicality (pictures)

Toyota seeks to jumpstart its Scion sub-brand with the iM's affordable style and utility.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
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The iM looks particularly racy when viewed from the front three-quarter aspect.

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While the Toyota Auris, on which the iM is based, can look a lot more ordinary, a standard aero kit and larger wheels really amp up this Scion's curb appeal.

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Chris Paukert/CNET

The iM's two-box profile recalls the similar-of-mission Toyota Matrix that is no longer on sale.

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The iM's hood hides a decidedly ordinary 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.

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The iM's large hatch opening and low liftover height make for easy loading and unloading.

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While this iM is featured in Classic Silver Metallic, a range of more daring colors is also available.

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Note how aggressively the window line appears to slant forward from this angle.

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Unlike its Toyota Corolla sibling, LED headlamps are not available on the iM, nor is any other type of HID illumination.

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The wraparound tail lamps have a uniquely three-dimensional quality to them.

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Large lower air intakes suggest bigger performance potential than the iM is capable of delivering.

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The iM's exhaust is a single-sided, single-pipe affair that is faired in nicely by the standard ground effects package.

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Swanky 17-inch directional alloys incorporate a mix of painted and machine-faced surfacing.

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The iM and its iA stablemate are part of a two-pronged attack to make this badge relevant again.

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The iM's interior feels both racier and better finished than Toyota's own Corolla.

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Deeply hooded analog gauges help keep glare to a minimum.

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The iM's available CVT mimics a seven-speed automatic in behavior and has a dedicated sport mode.

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You're looking at one of the simplest, most intuitive HVAC control panels in the industry. Note the dual-zone switchgear.

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Front seats offer good comfort and are wrapped in a hard-wearing, sporty fabric.

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There's more room than you'd think in the second row thanks to a flat floor and formal roofline.

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Rotary-style air vents and prominent door grab handles are simple yet effective interior fixtures.

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There's plenty of room for storage in the iM, including this center console pocket with power outlet, USB input and mini headphone jack.

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The Scion iM delivers 20.8 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats in place, and more than double that with the seatbacks folded.

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This iM test model featured optional navigation, but the head unit is the same regardless of whether GPS is optioned or not.

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This touchscreen Pioneer head unit features Bluetooth audio integration, as well as apps for functions such as Pandora streaming audio.

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