There was no 2020 Toyota Corolla iM. The Corolla iM was sold in North America for the 2017 and 2018 model years only, and it was replaced for 2019 by the all-new Corolla Hatchback. Anyone searching for a 2020 Corolla iM is looking at a car that was never built. This article explains where the iM came from, what the final 2018 model offered, and what Toyota replaced it with.
Where the Corolla iM Came From
The Corolla iM was a rebadged version of the Toyota Auris, a five-door hatchback that Toyota sold in Europe and other markets. The Auris was closely related to the Corolla sedan and shared its platform. In North America the car first appeared as the Scion iM for the 2016 model year. When Toyota shut down the Scion brand in 2016, the iM was folded into the Toyota lineup and renamed the Corolla iM for 2017. Production of the Auris line ended in December 2018, which is why the iM ran for only two model years under the Corolla name.
Engine and Transmission
The Corolla iM used a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (Toyota code 2ZR-FAE) with Valvematic variable valve timing. It produced 137 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 126 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Buyers chose between a six-speed manual transmission and a continuously variable transmission with a seven-speed manual-shift mode. The engine was naturally aspirated and ran on regular gasoline. Its 137-horsepower output was modest compared with some rivals, which was one of the criticisms leveled at the car when it was new.
Fuel Economy
The EPA rated the 2018 Corolla iM at 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined with the six-speed manual. The CVT version was slightly more efficient, at 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. Those figures were competitive for a compact hatchback of its era and were helped by the car’s relatively light curb weight of about 2,943 pounds. With a 14-gallon fuel tank, the manual version had a highway range of roughly 490 miles between fill-ups.
Dimensions and Practicality
The Corolla iM measured 170.5 inches long and rode on a 102.4-inch wheelbase, making it shorter than the Corolla sedan but taller and more versatile. It was 69.3 inches wide and 55.3 inches tall, and it seated five. The hatchback body gave it 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, more than the sedan’s trunk, and the rear seats folded to open up more room. Front legroom measured 41.7 inches, while rear legroom was a tighter 32.7 inches.
Equipment and Safety
Toyota fitted the Corolla iM with its Toyota Safety Sense C (TSS-C) package as standard. That included a pre-collision system with automatic braking, lane departure alert and automatic high beams. A rearview camera was also standard. Inside, the iM came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 4.2-inch instrument display, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and 17-inch alloy wheels. The safety content was strong for the price, which was one of the car’s selling points.
Ride, Handling and Character
The Corolla iM used an independent multi-link rear suspension, which gave it more composure over rough roads than many economy hatchbacks with simpler torsion-beam setups. The steering was light but accurate, and the car felt more engaging to drive than the Corolla sedan of the same period. Body control was decent for the class, though the modest 137-horsepower engine meant acceleration was merely adequate. The manual transmission made the car feel quicker and more responsive than the CVT, and it appealed to buyers who wanted a fun, affordable hatchback.
How the iM Was Received
Reviewers generally praised the iM for its standard safety equipment, its low price and its practical hatchback body. The most common criticism was the small engine, which left the car slower than sporty-looking rivals, and the interior, which used hard plastics and looked dated next to newer competitors. Still, the iM sold into a niche of buyers who wanted Toyota reliability and hatchback utility without paying for a larger SUV, and it remained a value-focused choice throughout its short run.
Price
For 2018, the Corolla iM started at $18,850 with the six-speed manual transmission and $19,590 with the CVT, before a destination charge of about $930. That pricing undercut many compact hatchback rivals and made the iM an affordable way into a Toyota with a full suite of standard driver-assistance features. It also partly explains why Toyota kept the formula when it introduced the Corolla Hatchback. Toyota sold the iM in a single, generously equipped trim rather than a long list of options, so buyers did not have to add packages to get the standard safety features. Ground clearance measured 5.5 inches.
What Replaced It
For 2019 Toyota replaced both the Corolla iM and the older Corolla hatchback with the new Corolla Hatchback, built on the E210 platform. The Corolla Hatchback used a larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 168 horsepower, offered a six-speed manual or a CVT, and came with an updated Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 package. It was longer and more powerful than the iM it replaced. Buyers who liked the iM’s concept can find its direct successor in the Corolla Hatchback rather than in any 2020 Corolla iM.
