2017 Toyota Corolla iM Review

Name: 2017 Toyota Corolla iM
Brand: Toyota

Price Range: $11,799 - $18,999

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Average price: $15,376

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Appraise My Toyota Corolla iM

Toyota Corolla iM model years

2018
2017
2016

Toyota Corolla iM for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Cameron Rogers

Pros

The list of standard features is generous considering the low price
Ride quality over bumps is comfortable yet composed
Front seats offer plenty of support, even for long drives

Cons

Acceleration is painfully slow, even for this segment
Rivals are more exciting to drive
The thick roof pillars compromise rear visibility

What’s new

The 2017 Toyota iM is new to Toyota this year but is basically the same car as last year's Scion iM. Standard automatic high-beam control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning and mitigation are new for 2017.

Vehicle overview

The 2016 closure of the Scion brand was disappointing for many, but wholly predictable given its recent lack of new vehicles. But two were launched just last year, so it made sense for Toyota to bring them under its umbrella and sell them as Toyotas for 2017. (The sporty FR-S was also carried over.) The Mazda-based iA sedan was renamed the Yaris iA, and the Corolla-derived iM was appropriately rebadged as the Corolla iM. We liked the Scion version enough when it launched last year, and this year's Toyota is no different save for a few new advanced safety features (and a very small price bump).

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

22 listings

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2017 Toyota Corolla iM
Base 4dr Hatchback
$12,995
great price
$2,527 below market
- 91,755 miles
- 28 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- 55 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Multi-Zone Climate C...
Close
Located in Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
*** CLEAN CARFAX REPORT *** ABS Brakes Air Conditioning Alloy Wheels AM/FM Stereo Automatic Transmission Auxiliary Audio Input Bluetooth Technology Cl...
Features and Specs:
31 Combined MPG (28 City/36 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JTNKARJE5HJ551062
Stock:
A6037
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
2017 Toyota Corolla iM
Base 4dr Hatchback
$11,995
great price
$3,295 below market
- 93,509 miles
- 27 City / 35 Hwy MPG, Manual
- 27 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Multi-Zone Climate C...
Close
Located in Takoma Park, MD
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JTNKARJE1HJ531245
Stock:
UAS0308202601
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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One of the Corolla iM's strengths is its ample list of standard features, which is good news because there really aren't any additional options or packages on the order list. And although the Corolla iM is a perfectly acceptable hatchback, it pales in comparison to many of its similarly priced rivals. The Mazda 3 is a perennial favorite thanks to its thrilling driving dynamics, while the all-new Civic hatchback offers a robust and fuel-efficient engine and transmission combination. The Corolla iM isn't a bad choice per se, but it doesn't really bring anything exciting to the table.

Notably, we picked the 2017 Toyota Corolla iM as one of Edmunds' Best Used Cars, Trucks and SUVs.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.5 / 5

If a small hatchback is in your future, you could certainly do worse than the 2017 Toyota Corolla iM. Essentially last year's Scion iM that moved over to Toyota, the Corolla iM is based on the Corolla sedan but offers more cargo space. As with the Corolla, many iM competitors are more exciting to drive.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the identical (except for the name) 2016 Scion iM (1.8L inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Toyota Corolla iM has received some revisions, including standard automatic high-beam control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Corolla iM.

Scorecard

Overall	3.5 / 5
Driving	2.5
Comfort	4.5
Interior	3.5
Utility	3.5

Driving

2.5

The Toyota Corolla iM is noticeably sharper to drive than the Corolla sedan, and although pleasant to drive, it's not as engaging as top competitors. The 137-horsepower iM is underpowered, and it perpetually shows, letting down the entire car. The CVT automatic behaves nicely, however.

Acceleration

2.0

Acceleration is ultra-smooth and quiet with the gas pedal partially pressed down, but at full throttle the 1.8-liter four-cylinder is noisy and totally gutless. A 0-60 mph time of 10 seconds is 1.5 seconds slower than class average and basically tied for class-worst.

Braking

3.5

The iM's brake pedal feels firm and consistent during normal driving. In our simulated panic stop, the iM came to a halt from 60 mph in a class-average 122 feet.

Steering

2.5

Some road feel is transmitted when pushing the Corolla iM hard around a corner, but otherwise the steering is pretty numb and lifeless compared to the segment best. It does not provide you with any extra feel for the road or encourage you to drive with enthusiasm.

Handling

3.0

This lightweight car with small dimensions is reasonably responsive and nimble. It changes directions well, but noticeable amounts of body roll reduce confidence. Though it doesn't encourage one to drive enthusiastically, it doesn't dissuade like the Corolla sedan does.

Drivability

4.5

The CVT is better than most, providing smooth acceleration and simulating shifts under hard acceleration. Engaging Sport mode will cause the engine to hold revs, especially when going up- or downhill. Cruise control does a fine job holding a set speed downhill. This is a very easy car to drive.

Comfort

4.5

For a car that started out as a Scion (not necessarily known for comfort, tranquility and/or general refinement), the iM offers a genuinely comfortable and controlled ride and seats that are impressively supportive and comfortable. A noisy engine is one of the only faults.

Seat comfort

4.5

The Corolla iM features some of the most comfortable and supportive front seats in the segment, with ample adjustment even for tall drivers. They remain a nice place to sit even on long drives. The backseat is flat, but a long cushion and suitable height make it comfy enough for adults.

Ride comfort

4.5

Big road undulations give the 2017 iM some trouble, but otherwise the car's impressively controlled suspension soaks up bumps very well. The sophisticated ride is a standout attribute.

Noise & vibration

3.0

There is some noticeable wind noise on each side of the car aft of the rear doors. Beyond that, both wind noise and road noise are kept very nicely quelled. The underpowered engine is noisy and not a pleasure to hear — and you do hear it a lot.

Interior

3.5

For many, the Corolla iM will be a very agreeable daily driver. Its user-friendly controls, abundant features and high-quality cabin materials will certainly be appreciated, while its so-so backward visibility and a lack of backseat room could be cause for concern.

Ease of use

5.0

Controls are well-placed and simple, including those for the standard touchscreen interface. Its menus make sense, its buttons are of a reasonable size, and reactions are very quick. Auto climate controls are a nice touch in this segment.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

The Corolla iM's doors are large and light, making them easy to open. Even with a smallish backseat, getting into the back isn't difficult. The rear roofline isn't aggressively raked, reducing the chances of conking your head.

Roominess

3.0

There is less backseat legroom than in a Kia Forte 5, Mazda 3 or Volkswagen Golf, but it's not cramped. There's a suitable amount of rear legroom and headroom. Even tall folks will find ample space all around in front.

Visibility

3.0

A small rear window and big rear roof pillars diminish the driver's rear visibility. A sharply angled windshield and a high dash don't help, either, but at least the front pillars are thin. A rearview camera is standard, but no other driver aids are even optional.

Quality

4.5

The iM's cabin is mostly monochrome, with ample amounts of black plastic all around, but at least the surfaces you see and touch most often are soft. There's even a padded driver leg rest. The switchgear throughout the cabin, especially climate controls, looks and feels very nice.

Utility

3.5

The Toyota Corolla iM has many small item bins and storage areas throughout its cabin. The cargo area is smaller than those of some competing hatchbacks, but not by a significant amount.

Small-item storage

4.0

There are two cupholders in the front near the shifter, two in the back under the armrest and one in each door. The under-armrest bin is fairly deep, but the cellphone bin under the center stack doesn't allow much room for USB wires.

Cargo space

3.0

Cargo capacity is a bit smaller than other hatchbacks in this class, with only 20.8 cubic feet available behind the rear seats. (For comparison, a Golf measures 22.8 cubes and the Civic hatchback boasts 25.7 cubic feet.) In short, it's more versatile than a sedan but less so than other hatchbacks.

Which Corolla iM does Edmunds recommend?

The 2017 Toyota Corolla iM comes in a single well-equipped model. On top of a lengthy standard features list that includes alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a rearview camera and a central touchscreen, there are several accessories and dealer-installed options worth considering. These include a larger rear spoiler, Toyota Racing Development upgrades and a fob that can help you find misplaced keys. Really, though, our opinion is to just get a base iM and leave it at that.

Compare 2017 Toyota Corolla iM trim levels

2017 Toyota Corolla iM models

The 2017 Toyota Corolla iM is a compact hatchback that is new to Toyota this year. Fans of Toyota's Scion brand will remember that this car debuted last year as the Scion iM. But Toyota shuttered the Scion brand and cherry-picked the iM (along with the iA and FR-S) to move over to the core brand. The iM is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (137 horsepower, 126 pound-feet) that drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It's available in a single trim level, so your only choice will be the transmission type and what color you want.

Standard feature highlights of the 2017 Toyota Corolla iM include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights with auto high-beam control, heated mirrors, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, a driver information display, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker sound system. New standard safety systems for 2017 include lane departure warning and forward collision warning with automatic braking.

The are no factory options available, but notable dealer accessories include interior ambient lighting, various sport body enhancements and performance upgrades from TRD (Toyota Racing Development).

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$158/mo

$221/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2017 Toyota Corolla iM has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #2 out of 46 among Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#2 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$423/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

0.46x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

7.4%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 17V295000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 17R2
Manufactured from:: 2017-03-21 to 2017-03-30
Number of vehicles affected:: 409
Defect Description:: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Defect Consequence:: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 2 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 25,000 miles

Toyota Corolla iM Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

35 reviews

5(51%)

4(26%)

3(11%)

2(9%)

1(3%)

See all 35 reviews of the Toyota Corolla iM

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2017 Corolla iM Features & Specs

Est. Market Value	$11,745
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$158/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Corolla iM models:

Lane Departure Alert: Sensors read lane lines and sound an alert if the Corolla iM is moving outside its lane.
Pre-Collision System: This feature detects if a forward collision is imminent and, if so, automatically applies the brakes to lessen or avoid the impact.
Hill Start Assist: When accelerating up a hill from a stop, the brakes will hold for up to 2 seconds while the driver switches from the brake to gas pedal.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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