The Toyota Corolla is one of the world’s most popular cars. The Japanese carmaker has sold millions of them over the years. The Toyota Corolla is to cars what Mcdonald’s is to burgers — incredibly popular and a go-to option that you can’t go wrong with. Over the years, there have been several generation changes. However, one thing that has remained common for most Corollas in the US is its sedan body style…until now.

The 12th generation is when the company added a hatchback version to the mix. While there has been a Corolla-badged hatchback in the past, they didn’t have as much of an impact as the latest version did, especially the iM version. This model was around for a year, but it made its presence known. The 2018 Toyota Corolla iM has a lot to offer to those who want a reliable people mover and is still fairly popular on the used cars market. Here’s all you need to know about this somewhat obscure Toyota model. 

The Scion iM Connection

In 2016, Toyota announced that its Scion was going to be phased out. The announcement also mentioned that the vehicles sold under the Scion name tag were set to be rebranded to Toyota. One of the offerings that underwent this switch was the iM. Toyota continued to keep the iM designation to simplify things and help people identify it during the transition.

Here’s where things get interesting. As we mentioned earlier, the car started life as a Scion iM and that changed to Toyota Corolla iM. While that might lead you to believe that it doesn’t share much with Corolla, that’s not true. The iM was a Toyota Auris adapted for the North American market. And the Auris is a compact car derived from the Corolla. What that means, is that Scion iM had similarities in terms of its platform with the Corolla.

However, there are some big differences. The Corolla, as we know it, is built in many countries around the globe, while the iM was only made in the United Kingdom and Japan. There are many other differences, both mechanical and cosmetic. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as they are different models wearing completely different badges.

2018 Toyota Corolla iM – Where Does It Stand? 

To better understand the 2018 Toyota Corolla iM, it’s important to get a brief idea of how it compares to the 11th generation Corolla sedan and the 12th gen Corolla hatchback that replaced it.

Toyota Corolla iM VS 11th Gen Corolla Sedan

Scion was the company’s sportier brand whose design language almost always translates to sharp-looking vehicles. This is why the Toyota Corolla iM features aggressive styling cues in comparison to the rather sedate-looking 11th generation Corolla sedan. The 2018 Toyota Corolla iM also made use of independent rear suspension as opposed to the twist-beam setup the sedan was equipped with. The independent rear suspension gave it much better handling characteristics. It also managed to be sporty in the corners without sacrificing in terms of ride quality. 

The 2018 Toyota Corolla iM felt more composed than the 11th gen Corolla sedan over bad patches of road. Where the iM was lacking was in terms of its steering feel. The power steering felt overly assisted resulting in a poor feedback. While this would be useful in city conditions and during low-speed maneuvers like 3-point turns, it feels too light at higher speeds. Many owners go as far as to say that it almost feels disconnected. 

Toyota Corolla iM VS 12th Gen Corolla Hatchback

While the Toyota iM had an edge over the 11th gen Corolla sedan in many ways, the same can’t be said regarding the car that replaced it. The 12th generation Corolla hatchback was based on a new platform and shared underpinnings with the Camry and RAV4. This meant it got independent rear suspension as well. 

Thanks to this change, the 12th gen Corolla is a big improvement over the 11th gen in terms of its chassis. It features a smooth ride quality while also being confidence-inspiring. However, the biggest improvement came in the form of steering feel. The 12th gen Corolla hatchback had comparatively heavier steering. 

This led to a significantly more communicative chassis. While both these cars have their ups and downs, the 2018 Toyota Corolla iM has a big advantage in terms of space. It has more room on the side for the rear passengers and comparatively more boot space as well. That being said, it’s still a compact hatchback. For actual room, you’ll have to enter the Toyota Camry territory. That’s where the big trunks begin. 

How Sporty Is the 2018 Toyota Corolla iM?

The Toyota Corolla iM is quite sporty-looking considering its price point. In terms of styling, it appears to have the elements of a hatchback designed for the European market. The dual-tone wheels, aggressively-raked hood, side skirts, and rear spoiler add to the overall sporty styling of the hatchback. While it’s quite clear that it has sporty design elements, does it have the performance to match?

Powering the Toyota Corolla iM is the same 1.8-liter engine and CVT from the sedan of the time. This engine does get the car moving but is far from quick. And while this engine and gearbox feel adequate in the 11th gen Corolla sedan, it feels underpowered in the iM platform. The independent suspension Toyota installed in this car simply needs something more powerful than the 1.8-liter, 137 HP, 126 lb-ft unit. 

When you pair this engine with the aforementioned light steering, it becomes quite clear that Toyota wasn’t out to make a sporty hatchback. Speaking of sportiness, the 2018 Toyota Corolla iM does have a sports mode, but it doesn’t result in a huge change in performance. The sport mode allows for slightly quicker acceleration, especially with the CVT. However, the difference is only marginal and not enough to call the Toyota Corolla iM a sporty hatchback.

What Features Does The Toyota Corolla iM Get?

In terms of options, Toyota offered a manual and automatic transmission with the Toyota Corolla iM. The car was only available with one engine. The Toyota Corolla iM also didn’t have choices in terms of features. This meant every version got a cloth interior, dual-zone climate control, and a 7-inch infotainment screen paired with six speakers. The Toyota Corolla iM was quite well-equipped in terms of safety equipment. It gets automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warnings, and a system that applies the brakes before it detects a collision. 

2018 Toyota Corolla iM Common Problems

Toyota’s are renowned for their reliability. The company has almost mastered the technique of selling affordable machines that don’t break. However, there are a few small problems owners of the Toyota Corolla iM face.

Cabin Noise

While you would expect a fair amount of cabin noise from any car priced below $20,000, owners believe that the cabin noise in a Corolla iM is simply too loud. Cabin Noise is usually addressed by manufacturers using insulation materials, but it appears as if this car requires some more.

Headlight Beam

Another complaint from owners has to do with the headlights. Some owners of the Toyota Corolla iM believe the projector headlights have a sharp cutoff and the throw, or beam isn’t wide enough. 

Seating Comfort

Some owners of the Toyota Corolla iM also have a problem with the support offered by the seats. Again, you can’t expect to get the most supportive seats on an affordable hatchback, but some owners believe it could do with better lumbar support.

Is the iM Fuel Efficient? 

The Toyota Corolla iM has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 31 MPG combined (27 MPG City and 36 MPG Highway) with the manual gearbox. When equipped with the CVT, the hatchback has an EPA fuel efficiency figure of 32 MPG combined (28 MPG City and 37 MPH highway). While those figures are decent, they are not the highest we’ve heard of, especially from an economical, four-cylinder hatchback. 

Interestingly, multiple reports from owners suggest that they’ve been getting higher figures. Owners claim that they’ve been getting 33-34 MPG combined from the CVT-equipped version.

Is the Corolla iM Reliable?

This car wears not only the Toyota badge but the Corolla one as well. Both these names are most famous for their reliability. The 2018 Toyota Corolla iM lives up to its reputation as it’s almost bulletproof in terms of reliability. While it’s relatively early to make that claim, one has to realize that it has been around as the Scion iM for quite a few years now. It has faced no problems in terms of reliability, meaning you have nothing major to be concerned about.

Make Your 2018 Toyota Corolla iM Even More reliable!

The best way to ensure that your 2018 Toyota Corolla iM is going to stand the test of time is by making sure that you stay on top of your maintenance schedule. Not only that but using quality replacement parts also makes a massif difference. 

We at Newparts.com offer a wide range of genuine, OEM, and quality aftermarket parts for Toyota and many other brands. Head over to our store, select your vehicle using our navigation tool, and you’ll find everything you need for your car!