2016 Scion iA Review

***Disclosure-I got to test drive the New 2016 Scion iA for a week to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

My family and I attended the Houston Auto Show 2 weeks ago.  A brand that really stood out was Scion.  You have seen those box looking cars out on the road, right?  If you are not familiar with the Scion brand, the original “box,” the xB and the FR-S sports car are all part of this brand. 

Scion iA is the brand’s first-ever sedan with a sporty look.

It is newly designed for the savvy generation of drivers like you and me.  It comes complete with so many features, lots of space, new technology and cool styling to fit any lifestyle. 

It is up to whatever challenge or opportunity comes your way.  This week I put it up to the challenge of my family, schedule, and it showed us it's true colors.

Challenge #1-Trunk Space

Trunk space is very important to every family.  Latinos have big families.  One meal together could mean lots of extra food and drinks needed.  We don't even need to be celebrating anything.  We love to host all of our family which in our family includes grandma, grandpa, their kids, and their kids' kids.  When we went grocery shopping this week, we did a double take.  We weren't sure all of the groceries would fit.  Was the Scion iA trunk big enough?

It was up to the challenge!  We fit every single item in the trunk, everything.  It passed our test.

Challenge #2-Tech Savvy

The HD Radio Traffic helped me check traffic on every trip.  I normally use my phone to guide me through traffic.  This way I was able to get in the iA and no matter where I went, I knew where not to go.

The Rear-view backup camera was impressive.  It has a wide view.  I have driven cars before and have not felt the rear view camera to be this awesome.  Check out my view-all clear for take off.

Challenge #3 Safety-

How fast is your reaction time?  On pretty days my husband takes my daughter outside to play.  When I get home, I am always on the look out for all the kids on my street, especially my little one.  A normal routine is to open the garage, drive in, and close the garage, right.  My son and I were driving into the garage, as we drove in the iA came to a complete stop.  The car alerted we had hit something.  What was it?  The low-speed pre-collision system is designed to detect objects on the road ahead of you and can, under certain conditions, apply the brakes to help avoid a collision.  We did not hit anything but it was good to know that the car would come to a complete stop.  This time it was a bouncy ball the toddler lost control of as she opened the garage door. 

For drivers who think they live the fast and furious lifestyle, Sport Mode is available with the flip of a switch.  I like the Sport Mode.  But what I liked the most was the affordable price.  Price tag is $15,700 for the 6-speed manual transmission and $16,800 for the 6-speed automatic, redefining “entry level.”

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New Driver-Car Tips

***Disclosure-I was allowed to test drive the new 2016 Scion tC for a week.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

As a new driver, what did you learn about your car?  I remember not learning anything about my car but learning about the road.  I wanted to pass my driving test so bad, I studied my book front to back.  But I did not study or learn about my car like that.  Now as a mom of an almost driver, I wanted to go over some car tips that I learned later on in my life.

Do you know what side your gas tank is on?  Have you ever driven someone else's car and needed to pump gas? 

Look in the picture, do you see the little arrow on the gas pump?  Whatever side it points to is the side that your gas tank is on.  Easy, right?  Did you know that? 
Also, some cars have a lever near the driver's side door to pull for the gas tank door to open.

Do you know how to use cruise control?  I never did.  I travel a lot and refused to use it.  I was so scared to try it.  I was afraid it would be stuck and I could not get out of the speed I was on.  Some cars are different but the same concept.

The Scion tC has a button that needs to be pushed in to set cruise control on.  Check that the icon comes on when you hit the button.

 Next, learn how to use your cruise control.  How do you set it?  Is it by a pull down of the lever or a push up?  How do you release cruise control? 

 A new driver may not need to learn how to do this just yet but it may cause a panic attack is they accidentally hit the button on.  I freak out when any light comes on in my vehicle.  Go over the different lights that can come on in the car, so that the driver will know what is going on.  A distraction can cause an accident.  In some vehicles when a warning light comes on, the vehicle can start making a dinging sound alerting the driver, and this could distract the driver.  It is better to know what to expect.

The first car I drove around was my dad's hand-me down used car.  It had many miles on it and it was a vehicle taking to and from school.  I was not complaining.  But again, I never inspected the vehicle and one day when I got a flat I was stuck on the road.  This was way back when not everyone had a cell phone, omg, yes there was a time.  So I was stuck on the road alone.  Someone stopped to helped me and asked if I had a spare?  I didn't know.  Yes, naïve.  Did I have a jack?  IDK...So now any vehicle I get into, I always check to see if I have a spare and a jack, just in case.

Do you know where to look?  Do you know how to use a jack or change a tire?  My name says it all, but it was not always like this.  I learned to become independent.  So in case I am ever stranded with a flat, I know what to do, do you?  Don't be the damsel in distress.  Or at least know if you have the right tools for someone to help you change your flat.  Remember to always be safe.  We once got a flat in my mom's old station wagon.  It sounded like a helicopter was following us.  But it was not, it was a flat.  My mom ended up getting stuck at the entrance of the freeway.  Luckily some good Samaritans stopped to help get us off the freeway and to a safe place for the tire to be changed.  I have heard too many horror stories of people getting hit on the freeway after getting a flat. 

Be safe.
If your car will make it, get off the road.
If you are on the freeway, head for the shoulder.
If your tire will make it, try to get off the freeway and head to a safe place to change the flat.
If you have roadside assistance, call them.
I always call a family member and tell them where I am, and my plan of action.

Tips like this can help when driving a new car, driving someone else's car, or being a new driver.

Recently driving the new 2016 Scion tC, I was able to check all of it's features out.  For this car being a 2-door vehicle, it has a lot of space.  Check out the truck space:

It fit my family of 4 comfortably.  My husband was skeptical at first but I think he is now looking at the Scions totally different.  My son and I even cruised down to San Antonio.  We had a smooth drive to and from.  And that truck space even allowed me to do all of my holiday shopping.

Stylish and sporty.  One of our favorite features was the panoramic moon roof.  But the feature that everyone loved the most was the interior floor lights that you can control by the push of a button.  My daughter wanted it pink when she was in the car.  My son picked blue.  My husband wanted it green.  I just agreed with whoever was riding with me.