Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The tC preceded Toyoda’s six-year legacy, if you can call half a dozen years of leadership a legacy. Either way, one of his crowning achievements thus far is the brilliant FR-S sports coupe that wears the Scion nameplate here in North America. Neither the FR-S or this tC is an all-out success story when it comes to sales, but both have boosted the image of Toyota’s global operations and morale within Scion, while the result of Toyoda-san’s focus on aspirational design and overall refinement
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That’s the tC news this year, its styling, performance and the majority of its interior carrying over. I’m ok with styling staying just the way it is, as the previous update made it much more aggressive looking thanks to FR-S influences nose
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Interior
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Just the same, a number of the tC’s interior details are very nice indeed, including a cast-aluminum HVAC interface-housing that supports three large rotating dials with backlit buttoned inserts that only need a gentle touch to actuate. It’s a simple system, not featuring automatic climate control or any advanced smart technologies that let you preset temperatures from your smartphone, but it’s well designed to use with gloves during winter’s colder months and looks superb.
I
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Speaking of features, like all Scions the tC only comes in one single trim level, and for a base model starting at $22,285 for the manual and $23,585 for the auto, plus $1,695 for freight and pre-delivery prep, it’s extremely well outfitted. Everything I’ve mentioned so far is standard, as is remote entry, powered windows,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Some Scions offer zero factory-installed options (transmissions aside) but the tC let’s you upgrade to a premium audio system with navigation along with leather upholstery for $3,388, leather upholstery and heatable front seats for $2,300, and/or standalone navigation for $1,088, while dealer-installed upgrades include a Bongiovi Acoustics DPS enhanced audio upgrade with real-time digital audio streaming and four-channel digital amplification, metal doorsill plates, a security system,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
This is all very impressive equipment that won’t void your warranty, but the tC’s one major drawback is Scion’s one-trim-fits-all marketing approach, not allowing upgrades to options offered by other brands such as auto on/off headlamps, passive access with pushbutton start, more steering wheel controls, a high-resolution colour TFT multi-information display, a powered driver’s seat, auto-dimming rearview mirrors,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While this may be a problem for some, most will appreciate the tC’s well-bolstered and extremely comfortable front seats, complete with excellent lower back and lateral support, while those strapped into the rear seats get much more room than most compact coupes allow. Both rows are finished in high-grade fabric upholstery comprised of black bolsters and grey inserts, the latter featuring a subtle stripe that looks really attractive. The rear seats recline 60/40, but more importantly they fold almost completely flat in that same configuration
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
On your way to the slopes or beach you’ll appreciate a car that was designed to take on winding mountainside roads and serpentine coastline curves. It all starts off with a 179 horsepower 2.5-litre four that spins freely to about 6,200 rpm, while power comes on strongly in higher rpms and all of its 173 lb-ft of torque can be felt much lower down the rev range. My tester’s six-speed manual shifter snapped into each gear accurately, but I wouldn’t put it into a “best of” category. Clutch take-up is light and positive, although there’s more travel than I like. I’m sure the latter can be adjusted for quicker, easier actuation, but I’d probably get used
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While the big four is certainly powerful it’s a bit heavy on fuel with a five-cycle EnerGuide rating of 10.2 L/100km city, 7.7 highway and 9.0 combined when fitted with the as-tested manual, or 10.2 city, 7.6 highway and 9.0 combined with the auto, although its requirement for less expensive regular fuel is a blessing even with today’s slightly lower gas prices.
The tC’s ride is firm yet should be compliant enough for most, while its handling is impressive
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Also important, the tC’s brakes are four-wheel discs and capable of managing repeatedly aggressive stomps without being overcome by fade. Scion equips them with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist, critical when needing fast results, while the standard safety list also includes traction and stability control, Toyota’s Smart Stop Technology (SST) that limits engine power while
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Also of note, the tC placed first in its Compact Sporty Car category in the latest JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study while Scion was one of the highest ranked mainstream volume auto brands, only behind Toyota and Honda, placing 9th out of 33 total brands including premium marques. What’s more, in the latest JD Power
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That last paragraph kind of sums up the Scion tC: it’s mostly good. It’s a cool looking compact sports coupe with a comfortable, upright driving position and more than enough room in back for passengers and cargo, plus great power off the line, even more enjoyable handling, some nice interior detailing and a great new infotainment system, and while it lacks some refinements and key features others in the segment offer in their pricier trim levels, the tC hits the market well loaded up for a great price. The icing on the cake is that all this Scion goodness is backed up by Toyota reliability and found at your local Toyota dealer. All in all the tC is an easy car to recommend.
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