Scion iM

Scion iM: which version to buy — 1.8 MT vs 1.8 CVT

The Scion iM was sold in one generation (2015–2016) as a Hatchback 5-door with two versions that share the same engine and differ on gearbox, kerb weight, and fuel use. If the choice is “which iM,” it is not a choice of power or body: both 1.8 MT and 1.8 CVT make 137 hp and 171 Nm from 1798 cm³ Gasoline, both are FWD, both sit at 140 mm ground clearance with a 64 L tank.

The Scion iM was sold in one generation (2015–2016) as a Hatchback 5-door with two versions that share the same engine and differ on gearbox, kerb weight, and fuel use. If the choice is “which iM,” it is not a choice of power or body: both 1.8 MT and 1.8 CVT make 137 hp and 171 Nm from 1798 cm³ Gasoline, both are FWD, both sit at 140 mm ground clearance with a 64 L tank. The numbers that actually move are 40 kg of kerb weight and 0.2 L/100 km of mixed consumption.

Specs that are the same on both versions

The 1.8-litre unit is identical in the data for 1.8 MT and 1.8 CVT: 137 hp (101 kW) at 6100 rpm, 171 Nm at 4000 rpm, 1798 cm³, Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, front transverse, distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.6, bore × stroke 80.5 × 88.3, fuel 95.

Power per litre is 137 ÷ 1.798 ≈ 76.2 hp per litre on both cars. Drive is FWD on both. Front brakes are Ventilated disc, rear brakes are Disc. Front and rear suspension are Independent, spring. Ground clearance is 140 mm. Fuel tank is 64 L. Wheel sizes are not measured. 0–100 km/h is not measured. Top speed is not measured. Gross weight is not measured. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

Nothing in the data says one generation restyled the engine or added a second body. There is 1 generation and 2 versions.

Engine and gearbox: what actually differs

1.8 MT is the 6-speed Manual. 1.8 CVT is Variable; number of gears is not measured.

The engine does not buy you a second iM. The gearbox does. Peak power and torque sit at the same 6100 and 4000 rpm, so the CVT is not a higher-output calibration in this dataset. Choosing 1.8 CVT is choosing Variable and 40 kg more kerb mass. Choosing 1.8 MT is choosing 6 Manual gears and the lighter kerb figure.

Weight per horsepower

Kerb weight: 1.8 MT 1335 kg, 1.8 CVT 1375 kg. Difference: 40 kg, or about 3.0% more on the CVT.

Weight per horsepower: 1.8 MT 1335 ÷ 137 ≈ 9.74 kg/hp. 1.8 CVT 1375 ÷ 137 ≈ 10.04 kg/hp. The Manual carries about 0.29 kg less per horsepower.

Gross weight is not measured on either version, so payload cannot be compared.

If the question is “which is the lighter iM per unit of 137 hp,” the answer in the data is 1.8 MT. If the question is “which is heavier,” it is 1.8 CVT by 40 kg. Acceleration to 100 km/h is not measured, so that 40 kg cannot be turned into a claimed 0–100 time.

MPG and fuel: city, highway, mixed

Consumption (L/100 km):

• 1.8 MT: city 8.7, highway 6.5, mixed 7.6
• 1.8 CVT: city 8.4, highway 6.4, mixed 7.4

City: Manual uses 0.3 L/100 km more (8.7 − 8.4). Highway: Manual uses 0.1 L/100 km more (6.5 − 6.4). Mixed: Manual uses 0.2 L/100 km more (7.6 − 7.4).

On a 100 km mixed trip that is 0.2 L. On 10 000 km mixed that is 20 L more for 1.8 MT. Tank is 64 L on both.

Range from tank and mixed figure (arithmetic only): 1.8 MT 64 ÷ 7.6 × 100 ≈ 842 km. 1.8 CVT 64 ÷ 7.4 × 100 ≈ 865 km. Difference ≈ 23 km per tank on mixed numbers.

City-heavy use widens the gap: 64 ÷ 8.7 × 100 ≈ 736 km (1.8 MT) vs 64 ÷ 8.4 × 100 ≈ 762 km (1.8 CVT). Highway: 64 ÷ 6.5 × 100 ≈ 985 km vs 64 ÷ 6.4 × 100 ≈ 1000 km.

The CVT is the lower-consumption iM in every published cycle. The gaps are small (0.1–0.3 L/100 km). They still all point the same way: Variable uses less fuel than 6-speed Manual in this pair.

Dimensions, clearance, tank

Both versions: Hatchback 5-door, 140 mm clearance, 64 L tank, wheels not measured, gross weight not measured.

The only dimension-like figure that splits them is kerb weight (1335 vs 1375 kg). Ground clearance does not change with gearbox. The tank does not change. There is no second generation to compare for a longer wheelbase or a different body.

Generations: there is nothing later to “wait for”

1 generation, 2015-01-01 to 2016-12-31, Hatchback 5-door, 2 versions, both listed for the full span. No restyling row exists in the data. No second generation exists to pick for more power, AWD, or a different body.

“Which generation” is not a real fork for the iM: production years are the same for 1.8 MT and 1.8 CVT. Buy on gearbox, weight, and L/100 km, not on model year family.

Which version to choose

Choose 1.8 MT if you want the 6-speed Manual, the 1335 kg kerb weight, and 9.74 kg per horsepower. You accept 8.7 / 6.5 / 7.6 L/100 km (city / highway / mixed) and about 842 km mixed range from 64 L. Power is still 137 hp and 171 Nm. FWD, 140 mm, Ventilated disc front, Disc rear, Independent spring suspension front and rear — same as the other car.

Choose 1.8 CVT if you want Variable, 8.4 / 6.4 / 7.4 L/100 km, and about 865 km mixed from the same 64 L. You accept 1375 kg kerb weight and 10.04 kg/hp. Engine, fuel 95, 4 Inline, boost No, FWD, 140 mm clearance are the same. Gears for the Variable unit are not measured.

Do not choose on 0–100 or top speed. Both are not measured. Do not choose on wheel size: not measured. Do not choose on gross weight, CO2, or eco class: not measured. Do not choose on cylinder count or boost: both are 4 Inline, boost No.

What the “other” version buys in numbers (no prices in the data): moving from 1.8 MT to 1.8 CVT buys Variable instead of 6 Manual, −0.3 city / −0.1 highway / −0.2 mixed L/100 km, +40 kg kerb, +0.29 kg/hp. Moving the other way buys 6 Manual, −40 kg, and the higher consumption figures above. There is no third engine, no AWD, and no second generation in this catalogue.

Reliability and typical faults are not measured in the supplied data; they are not a basis for ranking 1.8 MT against 1.8 CVT here.

For a Scion iM Hatchback 5-door 2015–2016, the buying fork is Manual-and-lighter versus Variable-and-thriftier, both at 137 hp from 1798 cm³ Gasoline FWD.