Road Test: 2011 Scion TC

For those of you out there who were bummed when the new Toyota Celica replacement was reportedly pushed back until 2013, you really need to cheer up and have a look at the 2011 Scion tC coupe. The ridiculously affordable 2011 Scion tC ($18,995 to start) is stylish, economical, well built and historically reliable all of which sound like descriptive adjectives used to describe Celicas of yore.

Yes, Scion does have very young buyers so to many of them the 1990's does really qualify as the "days of yore." Wow, that makes me feel really old. I must say, however, that when I was driving the 2011 Scion tC I just felt more youthful. I even found myself driving through a parking lot blasting Eminem from the very impressive standard audio system.

It was all going perfectly until I parked and overheard one teenager on a skateboard say to his friend, "Who's the old bald dude listening to Eminem?" Ouch. On to the review.

Exterior Styling

While some have claimed that Scion played it safe with the restyle of the 2011 tC, I think that it is actually quite a daring visual departure from the agreeably curvy original. In place of the earlier model's flowing lines there are now sharp creases in the bodywork and two angular headlamps that seem to scowl at you.

My favorite part of the design is also its most controversial-on the sides where the greenhouse meets the trunk there is now a very Germanic, squared off Hofmeister Kink. Apparently this is a stylistic ploy to make the 2011 tC appeal more to males but I asked quite a few women which version they preferred and the overwhelming majority preferred the more macho look.

No matter, I liked the 2011 Scion tC's looks well enough that I would actually consider buying one if I needed a new car. And considering the bargain pricing, it probably is the car I would buy.

Interior Design and Build Quality

The first thing you notice when you hop into the 2011 Scion tC is how roomy it is for four people thanks to plenty of shoulder room and surprising amounts of rear legroom. The standard panoramic sunroof also really gives it a very airy and open feel. The glass extends over the rear passengers so they never feel like they are sitting in a dark pit.

Interior storage is also very impressive considering the sporting intentions of this rakish coupe. There are large map pockets in the doors (but who owns a map anymore?) and the glovebox is big enough for more than just your owner's manual (who stores gloves in their glovebox?). The rear seat folds 60/40 offering up 34.5 cubic feet of cargo room.

The thick, squared off C-pillar does hinder over the shoulder visibility but that is the price you pay for looking good. The interior continues the "squared off" design motif with a chunky flat bottom steering wheel and a lot of angular lines across the dashboard. The 6-speed manual in my test model was topped by an expensive feeling metal shift knob that was always cool to the touch.

Scion was very shrewd about making sure all of the essential touch points (steering wheel, shift knob, climate controls, turn signals, power window switches, door handles) in the 2011 Scion tC had that essential "feel good factor." VW specializes in this interior trick but overdoes it to the point that their cars are priced too high. Soft touch plastic isn't cheap.

In the 2011 Scion tC there is hard plastic in certain places but if you are never going to touch it then who cares? It looks durable and hard wearing so that is all that should matter. For $18,995 there really is no better car interior on the market today.

Pricing, Features and Economy

Considering all of the features that come standard with each and every 2011 Scion tC it is an absolute bargain. It is actually one of the few vehicles I have tested where I didn't look at the MSRP and think, "they want that much?"

All 2011 Scion tC models come with air conditioning, power windows, power locks and mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel (rare), a panoramic sunroof, a Pioneer AM/FM/CD audio system with 8-speakers, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a USB port with full iPod connectivity, very cool looking 18-inch alloys and much more. The only thing missing is Bluetooth but it does come with Scion's optional in-dash navigation unit which is listed at $1,999.

Although Scion offers a number of audio system upgrades that are well worth looking into, the standard Pioneer system has better sound quality than any car in its price range. It also has SSP (Scion Sound Processing) which works as a sound equalizer with three distinct settings-normal, hear and feel. During my time with the 2011 Scion tC I found that I preferred the "feel" setting as it adds rich tones and deeper bass to most songs.

The 2011 Scion tC has EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 city and 31 highway. I averaged 25 miles per gallon during my week with the tC and by no means did I drive it lightly. It runs on regular unleaded and the 14.5 gallon fuel tank also ensures decent cruising distances between fill ups.

Driving Experience

The 2.5 liter 180 horsepower/173 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder engine in the 2011 tC is all new this year and it is the smoothest 4-cylinder I have ever tested. Floor the throttle and you get more accelerative thrust as the revs rise but there is no corresponding increase in noise or vibration. It is kind of spooky.

The tC is a quick car with the slick shifting six-speed manual gearbox that, in traditional Scion fashion, has a clutch that makes this vehicle nearly impossible to stall. I think the best way to describe it is "idiot proof." The clutch is also light enough that stop and go traffic is no real hassle. There is a six-speed automatic available but I am quite sure that it must reduce the tC's zippy, fun to drive quotient considerably.

I took my pre-production tC for a drive across the treacherous and winding Ortega Highway in Southern California and it performed almost as well as the rear drive Nissan 370Z I tested earlier this year. It blew a Hyundai Genesis coupe I also tested clear out of the water. And yes, the tC is front wheel drive.

During that driving trip the tC's steering felt lighter than the rack in the 370Z but it still offered up sufficient feel for corner carving duties at less than legal speeds. The ride is also impressively smooth for a sport coupe.

I would comment on the amount of wind and road noise but I never turned off the stereo so I honestly don't know. Whatever noise there may be, however, is easily drowned out by the sound system.

How Dog Friendly is It?

Surprisingly enough, the 2011 Scion tC is the most dog friendly coupe I have ever driven. If you have kids in car seats you might want to think about a four door vehicle, however. But if you only have dogs it is very easy to get them into the back seat as both of the front seats slide forward leaving a wide space for them to climb in.

Both of the front seats also return to their original position after you slide them forward. I have driven coupes that cost twice as much as the 2011 Scion tC that don't do that. I have a large breed dog and whenever I get a coupe to test she turns around and glares at me when I try to force her into the back seat. With the 2011 Scion tC she just hopped right in with no problem.

I guess you could say my dog gave the Scion tC two paws up.

Final Thoughts

It is easy to see why Scion has been so successful with the tC because it is a brilliantly conceived overall package. It is fun to drive, it looks cool, is affordable, economical and even remarkably practical. If you are in your twenties it the perfect car to see you through that tumultuous life stage all the while still helping to maintain your hipster street cred.

Also, if you are a little older (like me) it can accommodate your responsibilities and your desire to still have fun. Now, if you are not in your twenties you may want to reconsider listening to Eminem in your 2011 Scion tC for fear of being mocked by teenagers. Just consider yourself warned.

Vehicle Tested: 2011 Scion tC

Base Price: $18,995

Engine: 2.5 liter 4-cylinder

Power: 180 horsepower/173 lb. feet of torque

Transmission: 6-speed manual

0-60 : 7.9 seconds (estimated)

Fuel Economy (EPA): 23 city/31 highway

Fuel Economy as Tested: 25 miles per gallon (estimated)

Fuel Tank Size: 14.5 gallons

Runs on: Regular Unleaded

Cargo Capacity: 34.5 cubic feet

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 mile bumper to bumper

5 years/60,000 mile powertrain

Free maintenance at 5,000 and 10,000 miles

Crash Test Ratings: (not yet tested)

Vehicle Provided by: Scion

(Note: Tester was a pre-production model)

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