2015 Scion TC holds its own among rivals
There’s certainly no shortage of inexpensive compact sport coupes on the market. From the reliable Honda Civic Coupe, to the stylish Kia Forte Koup, to the frugal Hyundai Elantra Coupe, or even the funky Hyundai Veloster ( yes, it’s technically a three- door, but still), buyers looking for style and a dose of performance have a bevy of choices in this segment.
Into this crowded class of frontwheel- drive, wannabe boy racers falls the 2015 Scion tC. It’s the Toyota sub- brand’s direct appeal to the young and young at heart, who don’t have a lot to spend but want something with a little kick, a little practicality, and head- turning looks to back it up.
For the most part, the tC does a good job at fulfilling this particular niche, but it misses the chance to be the clear leader of the pack for a few reasons.
Now in its second generation, the tC received a facelift for the 2014 model year that was largely inspired by the launch of the Scion FR- S, the tC’s more expensive coupe sibling. The revamp saw the tC receive new headlamps, a new grille, LED tail lights, sport- tuned suspension, a new standard 6.1inch touch screen, and some attractive 18- inch alloy wheels.
From the outside, the refreshed tC indeed looks mighty attractive, with a low, muscular profile, and a sloping back end that leads to a hatch opening. The tC comes with a 2.5- litre four- cylinder engine that makes a respectable 179 horsepower at 6,000 r. p. m. and an eager 172 pound- feet of torque at 4,100 r. p. m. On paper, the tC’s 179 hp is not far off the 200 hp the FR- S gets from its 2.0- L boxer engine, and the tC’s torque number bests the rearwheel- drive FR- S’s 151 lb.- ft. figure. But while the rev- happy engine makes an appropriately guttural growl and the car is quick off the line, the tC falls slightly short from a pure driving perspective because of its portly figure.
At 1,377 kg for the manual version and 1,402 kg for the automatic, the tC feels a tad heavy for a sports coupe.
The weight is most noticeable when attempting to pass at highway speeds, with the tC taking a few ( loud) seconds to really get moving. By comparison, the FR- S weighs 1,273 kg for the automatic version and the tC’s more direct competitors, such as the Civic Coupe and Forte Koup, are significantly lighter on the scale.
But that doesn’t mean the tC is devoid of any sporting qualities. Far from it. Our tester came with a six- speed automatic transmission and some fun- to- use paddle shifters.
And while I’d personally opt for the manual six- speed tranny to save weight and dollars ( the base manual tC starts at $ 21,490; our automatic tester retails at $ 22,790), the rev- matching auto gearbox was responsive and held onto gears appropriately when more was asked of the engine.
While weight is an issue, the tC still goes from zero to 100 km/ h in a quick 7.4 seconds, besting the coupe competition in this price class.
Reaching 6,000 r. p. m. is deceptively quick and easy, especially with the car screaming like a banshee- in- training, seemingly urging more liberal prodding of the gas pedal.
Thankfully, the car doesn’t hurt you at the pump for driving like a maniac. The automatic tC is rated at 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.6 on the highway.
More impressive, however, is the tC’s handling. Sure, it doesn’t match the RWD FR- S’s lower centre of gravity and pure driving feedback, but the tC does feel well planted, thanks to its low stance and grippy P225/ 45R18 tires.
The electric power steering, along with the beefy, flat- bottomed steering wheel, feels accurate, live and fun.
Unlike the FR- S, all of this sportiness doesn’t come at the expense of practicality. The tC may not be as performance- oriented as its faster, more flashy sibling, but it does have, for instance, rear seats for two passengers that are actually usable and not just for show.
Sitting in the back, my six- foot frame had decent leg room behind the driver’s seat, although head room was somewhat tight, because of the hatch’s sloping rear window.
There’s lots of cargo space thanks to the tC’s hatchback format. With the rear seats up, there is a very usable 417 L of space, enough to squeeze in two hockey bags. But fold the 60/ 40- split rear seats down, and you open a total of 976 L. Try finding that kind of storage space in an FR- S.
Where the tC noticeably falls short, however, is in its budget- like interior. Here, the tC lives up to its “poor man’s FR- S” billing.
If plastic is your thing, you’ll love being inside the tC. There is nary a soft- touch surface to be found, with cheap- feeling grey and black plastics covering most everything. The driving space also feels rather cramped and the manually adjusted fabric bucket seats are a back-killer on long trips because there’s no lumbar support Wind noise is also audible at higher speeds.
Up front, the Pioneer touch screen looks a little too aftermarket and tacked- on, but the navigation system ( a $ 1,010 option) is excellent and easy to use, as is Bluetooth pairing, which was quick and painless to set up. The standard panoramic glass sunroof is a nice touch, but the sliding ceiling cover hooks into place, which, again, feels kind of cheap. There is no rear- view camera offered in the tC, but I never found myself wishing for one because sightlines on this car are perfectly fine. Elsewhere, certain buttons, like the volume and mode controls on the steering wheel, are hard to find at night and could use some illumination. On the plus side, the eight- speaker audio setup in my tester was loud, bass- filled and rich, thanks in large part to the Bongiovi Acoustics DPS ( a $ 320 option). Drivers who like to play it loud will love this audio setup. For the price you’re paying, the budget- like interior is probably to be expected. And, truthfully, if you’re buying the tC primarily for the fun drive and not necessarily for comfort, you won’t be so concerned about the cabin. The overall layout is simple but functional, as well as driver focused, with the touch screen within easy reaching distance and controls for such things as climate settings, power windows and headlights laid out in a logical, easy- to- use manner.
Which brings us to the value proposition of the tC. At just under $ 21,500 ( for the manual version), the tC is an attractive option for new drivers and those on a budget seeking a daily driver that is both fun and practical. For just over $ 5,000 more, you could spring for sportier options such as the FR- S and Honda Civic Si. Of course, these aren’t as practical or as frugal as the tC, and you’ll most likely be paying higher insurance rates on these, too. If you don’t want to break the bank, and don’t necessarily appreciate the aggressive looks of the FR- S, then the tC is indeed a fair trade- off.