Toyota IST (Scion) – Prices, Engine, and Fuel Consumption

Price

2005	US$ 2,290 – US$ 2,760
2019	US$ 2,580 – US$ 7,040
2010	US$ 3,500 – US$ 3,500
2011	US$ 2,760 – US$ 4,230

History

The Toyota IST is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota. It is sold to the United States as the Scion xD and Scion xA, the Middle East as the Toyota xA, and to Europe and Latin America as the Toyota Urban Cruiser for the 2nd generation.

The IST, the 6th brand to use the Vitz as the standard model, was regarded as a high-end multi-use compact car with an SUV-like design and wagon-like spaciousness.

The IST name is derived from the suffix “-ist,” the name points to a person who is passionate about something (artist, stylist, specialist, and so on).

Toyota IST is classified as a supermini in England, B-segment in Europe, sub-compact in the USA. It’s a 5-door hatchback that is manufactured by Toyota, a Japanese automaker.

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Does It have other names?

Companies have a reputation for rebranding their cars to a specific market. This is what Toyota did to the car known as the Toyota IST in Japan, whereby it is named differently in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. In the USA the IST was known as the Toyota Scion xA (2004 – 2006) and Scion xD (2007 – 2016). In Europe, the second-generation IST was known as the Toyota Urban Cruiser sold from 2008 to 2016.

The Engine and Transmission

1NZ Engine Fuel Consumption

The Toyota 1NZ is a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter (1497 cc) inline-four petrol engine with an output of 108 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque and an average fuel consumption of 17 km/L. It belongs to the Toyota NZ-series engines with production beginning in 1999 and ending in 2014. The engine has been widely used on various cars from Toyota and other companies like Allion, Axio, Fielder, Sienta, Probox, Ractis, Platz, and more. If you want a small, reliable, and efficient engine look no further.

2NZ Engine Fuel Consumption

The Toyota 2NZ engine is a naturally aspirated 1.3-liter (1,298 cc) inline-four petrol engine with an output of 87 hp and 91 lb-ft of torque and an average fuel consumption of 15km/L. 2NZ is the smallest engine in Toyota’s NZ series with its production beginning in 1999 and ending in 2020.
This engine is widely used, mostly in Toyota’s subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris/Echo, Toyota Porte, etc.
For anyone looking for a car with a small tested and capable engine, then any with the 2NZ engine will be a great choice.

• The 1NZ (1.5 liters) has a displacement of 1497 cc with a maximum power output of 109 hp. Its fuel consumption is approximately 23 km/L.
• The 2NZ (1.3 liters) has a displacement of 1298 cc with a maximum power output of 87 hp. Its fuel consumption is approximately 16 km/L.
• The 2ZR (1.8 liters) has a displacement of 1797 cc with a maximum power output of 132 hp. Its fuel consumption is approximately 15 km/L.

The 1NZ, 2NZ, and 2ZR are 4-cylinder engines with VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) Toyota technology which improves fuel consumption. 

These engines are reliable and clock 100,000 km and 150,000km without requiring any major maintenance for the 1NZ/2NZ and 2ZR respectively. Their recommended oil weights are 5W-30 or 10W-30 with 0W-20 and 5W-20 also suitable for the 2ZR engine. The recommended oil change interval is every 5,000 kilometers. These engines are paired with a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, or a 6-speed manual transmission (Europe market).

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Interior/Exterior

Toyota IST is a car that was built with the economic qualities of small Toyota cars, but also with the flexibility of SUV cars. The Toyota IST has some good sporty looks that appeal to the young and the old as well. It has some spacious and comfortable seating for five passengers, enough legroom, and a nice dashboard but when all seats are occupied, not much room is left for luggage. However, if the rear seats are not occupied, they can fold it flat creating more space for luggage. 

There are storage compartments in the cabin that are valuable for keeping items such as documents, smartphones, and cups. At the front, there are door pockets, 2 cup-holders, a glovebox, and a center tray that reaches the back. The rear passenger’s storage options include door pockets and the front seat jacket pockets. 

The exterior design combined the components of an SUV, like a wide fender aluminum arch and a large front grille. Moreover, by conquering a design that was uniform to the back windows, an advanced exterior was achieved. For sub-compact, the cargo space is somehow large and can carry medium-sized luggage. If extra space is required, the back seats must be folded flat. The boot space is sufficient for a family of 5 people.

The interior is expedient with a temperature control system that is centralized in many cases, though the modern models have individual temperature regulators on each seat. The power steering and power window further make small input produce a smooth and greater output. Hence the steering wheel and glass on the car door work to perfection in such a case.

A wide front grille containing 2 thick horizontal bars, large 15-inch tires, and extended wheel arches gave the car its dynamic and unique exterior styling. The body sizes were a notch above those of the Vitz, giving more space to the trunk and cabin. The solid body structure was appreciated through the advanced GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment) process, which enhanced safety in collisions with heavier vehicles.

The IST comes with steel or alloy wheels to support the tires with an image-boosting mechanism in hand. Another optional item is the roof rail that gives the car a tough look enhancement and luggage carriage ease. The taillight and headlight illuminate the road with LED effect in multiple trims so whether it is foggy and/or night drive the experience is never low grade.

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Other Features

Interior and Comfort:

• Leather steering wheel
  As standard most steering wheels come covered by a highly durable, soft foam. This foam is covered with leather to improve its looks and add some padded placement to create a softer touch to prevent hands from developing calluses and relieve stress on the hands, wrists, arms, and back.
• Leather seats (for some models)
  Leather seats improve the aesthetic appeal, are easy to wash, durable, and hypoallergenic. 

Automatic Functions:

• Automatic mirrors and windows
  simplify operation as the driver can adjust and control the mirrors and close and open the windows in the comfort of his seat by just pressing the available buttons on the door and dash.
• Auto-climate air conditioner
  Boosts comfort effortlessly, maintains the set temperature throughout, and eliminates the need for frequent human intervention. The driver is less distracted as the AC setting task is attended to.

Safety and Storage:

• 6 airbags
  Passive safety is guaranteed by 6 airbags that lessen the chances of injury or death to all occupants.
• Several cabin storage options
  With several storage options within the cabin, the handling of items such as tissues, cups, bottles, keys, phones, and glasses is guaranteed. Storage options include a glove box, cup holders, front seat jacket pockets, and door pockets.

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Writer’s Perspective

The IST has been the most-bought car in East Africa and neighboring countries for three to four years This trend was mainly driven by its low initial price, reliability, efficiency, and robustness. It is also versatile, an easy-to-maneuver car in tiny urban spaces, its interior is spacious enough to accommodate five adults comfortably with several days of groceries in its small boot. Although demand and supply, and global supply chain issues have affected its price, the IST remains a good investment.

Final Verdict

The Toyota IST is a good car, a good choice for first-time buyers as it is reliable, dependable, cheap to run, cheap to maintain, and frugal. It is also very comfortable, easy to negotiate in tiny spaces, drives well, a great value for money, and has a good resale value. Its engine is not the most powerful, but it is enough to handle even the most arduous daily tasks. The IST is a good investment.

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