What does the iM stand for in Corolla?
The iM name is not an officially defined acronym; Toyota has not published a meaning for the letters.
To understand the term's origins and what it signified in practice, it's helpful to trace the model's history from Scion to Toyota and the subsequent branding shifts within the Corolla family.
Origins of the iM name
The following points map the evolution of the iM designation from its Scion days through its rebranding under Toyota.
- Scion introduced the iM as a five-door hatchback positioned to appeal to younger buyers; it shared a platform with Toyota’s Auris (the European hatchback).
- After Scion was discontinued in 2016, the iM carried over into Toyota’s lineup as the Toyota Corolla iM for the 2017 model year, aligning the hatchback with the Corolla family.
- In subsequent years, particularly around 2019, Toyota transitioned the model to the Corolla Hatchback nomenclature in many markets, and the iM suffix was largely phased out in marketing.
- Throughout these changes, Toyota did not publish an official expansion or meaning for the letters iM; the designation acted primarily as branding rather than a defined acronym.
These points show that the iM label functioned as branding rather than a descriptive acronym.
Current positioning and meaning
In official materials over the years, Toyota has not provided a formal meaning for iM. The Corolla iM was essentially the hatchback version of the Corolla lineup, and in many markets the model transitioned to the Corolla Hatchback name, with the iM suffix largely removed from contemporary branding.
Frequently asked questions about the iM name
Does "iM" stand for something? Not officially. Is it still used? The suffix was largely phased out as the model was folded into the Corolla Hatchback branding in newer markets. In some used-car listings or older brochures, you may still see Corolla iM referenced, but it is not the current branding for new Toyota models.
In practice, the iM designation served as a badge within Scion’s lineup and later as a transitional tag under Toyota’s umbrella. It did not signal a defined feature set or concept beyond its role as a model name.
Summary
There is no official expansion for iM; Toyota never published a defined meaning for the letters. The iM originated with Scion as the hatchback variant and was carried into Toyota’s lineup as Corolla iM, before most markets shifted to Corolla Hatchback branding. For buyers and observers, iM is best understood as a branding badge rather than a specific acronym with a stated meaning.
