Toyota iQ banned from driving tests

The Toyota iQ. You can't take your driving test in it.

It has been revealed that the Driving Standards Agency has banned the Toyota iQ from being used for driving tests because of poor visibility.

The Toyota iQ is a very small – although very cleverly packaged – car. Not even 10 feet long, it manages to pack four people in a space smaller than just about anything on the road. And you would think that driving such a petite car – where you can virtually reach out from the drivers seat and touch each corner – would make it a doddle of a car to learn to drive in. But it would seem not.

It’s been reported that the Driving Standards Agency – which is responsible for running driving tests in the UK – has banned learners from using the iQ for driving tests because of poor visibility. The DSA say that “Significant blind spots to the rear sides make this vehicle unsuitable for a test.” Which doesn’t please Toyota very much. They are apparently querying the decision.

But it would seem that the Toyota iQ is not the only car banned from being used on driving tests in the UK. Also on the banned list are convertible versions of the KA, MINI and Beetle. Which sort of makes sense. They do have pretty poor visibility with the roof up and it would seem you can’t take your test with the roof down.

You learn something every day.