At first glance, the 2016 Scion iM may not seem like a new idea. However, even though Scion has long been noted for taking aim at younger car buyers, and a sporty-looking 5-door hatchback might seem a natural fit, the brand has actually never had one in its lineup.

This is actually new, uncharted territory for Scion.

Related: Watch the 2016 Scion iM in action

Walkaround: 7.9/10

It’s not, however, uncharted territory for parent company Toyota. And in a properly backwards way, it’s not uncharted territory for Scion’s luxury cousin Lexus, either. It’s hard not to see a little Lexus CT 200h in the iM’s profile.

As far as Toyota’s concerned though, the iM is a replacement for the hot selling Matrix hatch, which bowed out after the 2014 model year. This means it has some pretty big shoes to fill.

If you like your cars flashy, than the iM has the Matrix beat, hands-down. Just look at the front and rear fender extensions, the two-tone wheels, or the squinting headlamp lenses. Scion went all out with this car’s exterior design, and, to be perfectly honest, I like it.

Granted, it may be a little much for some—especially those who really loved the ultra-conservative styling of the Matrix—but these days, as so many cars are so good, styling is becoming evermore important.

Interior: 6.8/10

While the car's outward looks catch the eye, the inside is not so brash, which could help assuage the reservations of those put off by the exterior. There are stylistic flourishes here and there; the massive door pulls that bisect the whole door card, or the blue-lit gauges for example. Otherwise, the iM interior is a mix of purposeful, straight edges and broad surfaces.

It's also roomy. Front seat occupants should have no concern thanks to seats that adjust three ways for the driver, and two for the passenger. It’s all done manually, though as power seats aren’t an option.

For rear passengers, there is a little less room here than you'll in a Mazda3 Sport—a car Scion lists as one of the main competitors for the iM—but we’re talking a few millimetres, so it’s nothing to be too concerned with. Plus, the iM’s overall shorter length gives it a better stance than the 3. The iM also has more cargo capacity behind the rear seats than does the 3 -- with rear seats folded, the iM will accomodate an adult-sized hockey bag—filled with adult-sized goalie gear—inside without too much trouble.

Technology: 7.5/10

Scion doesn’t really bother with trim packages, so the tech you see in the base model is pretty much what you’re going to get. In that light, the iM includes a seven-inch touchscreen display with Aha internet radio, Bluetooth, six speakers and steering wheel controls.

That’s good stuff, but the omission of even an option for heated seats is a shortcoming that many Canadian buyers will have a tough time with.

If you want navigation, there are two routes available: you can go the manufacturer installed route, which will run you $1,088, or the dealer-installed route, which adds about another $100 to that total.

Driving: 6.8/10

The only “option” you can really get with your iM is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that will run you $825 over the base manual. The CVT is great if most of your driving happens at slow ‘round town speeds, and not so great if you plan on spending more time on the highway.

In that environment, the CVT takes longer than you'd like to reach proper overtaking speeds as the 137 horsepower, 126 lb.-ft. engine seems to have trouble getting on-board with the CVT. There is a manual-shift feature, and while it does more than other transmissions of this ilk, it’s not a perfect solution. My advice? I’d seriously consider sticking with the manual, and save yourself a few bucks.

Having said that, the benefit of a CVT is that you get smooth progress from start, and it doesn’t feel like the engine has to wind itself up as much to get you going. It also helps with fuel economy; we saw 8.4L/100 km during our time with the car, most of which was spent in the city environment it’s made for.

The car’s handling does well to make the little Scion hatch cut a confident swathe through traffic thanks to some properly-assisted steering that’s also surprisingly direct. And while the suspension tuning does well to help the body keep up with quick steering inputs, the dampers are such that you won’t be rattling your fillings over everyday bumps. The powertrain does leave something to be desired, but there’s no doubt the iM has learned from its sporty FR-S sibling a thing or two about how a car should handle.

Value: 8.3/10

The best part about the iM when it comes to a value proposition is Scion’s sales model makes the buying process so much easier. There’s less for buyers to get hung up on; you’ve got colour, automatic or manual transmission, and that’s about it.

Yes, there are dealer-installed accessories like navigation to think about, but stuff like protective side mouldings and bumper protectors really are just icing on the cake. Otherwise, you’re looking at just over $21,000 for a well-equipped, good-looking car; a similarly-equipped Mazda3 Sport, for example, will run you just over $22,000 which, of course, is also not a huge amount for a new car, even at the compact hatchback level.

Conclusion

If you are going to consider the Scion, then those funky looks, go-fast wheels and quality interior are going to have to be big selling points. Especially if the iM is going to topple the compact hatch behemoth that is the Mazda3.

Give it a shot, though. It’s worth it.