How to Buy a Toyota i-Road?
3 Answers
Toyota i-ROAD is Toyota's latest small electric vehicle, which is currently not available in the domestic market. The width of the car is less than half that of an ordinary sedan, and it can accommodate two people, including the driver. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, it can travel up to 50 kilometers on a full charge. More details are as follows: 1. Similar to the Audi Urban concept car, the Toyota i-Road concept adopts a sleek exterior design, but its compact and low body dimensions may feel somewhat unconventional. 2. The front suspension layout is very unique, resembling the wide-body style of racing cars, which compensates for the reduced stability due to the narrow body and enhances safety. 3. To further reduce weight and improve efficiency, most of the body and suspension system of the Toyota i-Road concept are made of high-strength aluminum alloy. The vehicle features a rare 1+1 two-seat design, with a seating arrangement not side by side but in a front-and-rear layout similar to a fighter jet cockpit. 4. This design further reduces the vehicle's width to meet urban mobility needs. Toyota describes this layout as providing an efficient two-person urban commuting experience, a concept strikingly similar to Audi's Urban concept car, indicating that manufacturers share similar visions for the future.
I've researched the Toyota iRoad before, and honestly, buying this car is quite troublesome because it's only a concept car or produced in limited trial batches, mainly piloted in Japan and Europe, and not available for mass sale at all. If you really want to get your hands on one, the most straightforward way is to keep an eye on Toyota's official website or subscribe to their new car release emails—for example, they might offer limited sales at the Tokyo Motor Show. Another approach is to try your luck with Japanese used car dealers or import agents, but you'd need to budget over 500,000 yuan including tariffs and shipping fees, which really makes alternatives like Honda's Gyro Canopy or domestic micro electric vehicles more practical for now. My advice is not to wait indefinitely for it, as many cities now offer affordable electric vehicle options that are more realistic for daily commuting.
Last year I made a special trip to Japan hoping to buy an iRoad, but the Toyota dealership said it was exclusively for shared pilot programs and not available for private purchase at all. After researching extensively, I found its mass production plans have been repeatedly delayed. Now in 2024, the official website still displays a 'Under Development' label. For brothers eager to try something new, I recommend two alternative approaches: First, check local car-sharing apps—for example, Tokyo's Ha:mo service offers iRoad rentals for a few hours of experience. Second, consider switching to other three-wheeled electric vehicles like the Renault Twizy, which can be legally purchased in France with similar operation and lower cost. In short, these innovative models require both manufacturer readiness and regulatory approval before hitting the market, so patience is key.
