Originally Posted by
Mark
I'd take the powertrain (78 hp) of the larger Mirage (37 city/43 highway mpg) over the powertrain (94 hp) of the smaller Scion iQ (36 city/37 highway mpg).
I am not saying the iQ is a bad car. Looking at the prices of used iQ cars wouldn't pull me away from buying a used Mirage either. The lack of a manual transmission would be the ultimate iQ deal breaker for me, however.
To be fair, the iQ was the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid until the Mirage.
The CVT was actually part of the draw to the iQ for me. The iQ CVT is not geared for freeway driving like the Mirage, but I think it was actually better for in-town driving - more power meant more fuel, but you also could get more acceleration with less throttle, so the iQ was a bit more efficient with streetlight acceleration/deceleration. The iQ CVT is also slightly more refined than the Mirage's.
The iQ has a direct injection engine, and has a service bulletin for basically an engine clean/rebuild with the appropriate ODB2 code, and mine once threw its accessory belt - so the Mirage wins there.
The Mirage is much better on the freeway with its CVT gearing, though I feel like headwinds are more of an issue in the Mirage, because you have to use more throttle to compensate for the lower power.
Even with the CVT, the short wheelbase of the iQ made it a fun little ride. I've enjoyed both cars, really.
...and I've never driven a manual, so okay Boomer :P
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View my fuel log 2018 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 33.6 mpg (US) ... 14.3 km/L ... 7.0 L/100 km ... 40.4 mpg (Imp)