2005-2006 Scion tC

Pros :
- Smooth engine.
- Lexus-like build quality.
- Loaded with high-value options.
- Stylish interior.
- Toyota reliability.

Cons :
- Exterior styling not everyone's cup of tea.
- Cramped rear headroom.
- Faster cars are available for the price.
- Limited trunk room.
- Too heavy for its size.

Interior :

---

---

Press Coverage :
Scion, the new car marque from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new tC sports coupe at the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The all-new 2005 tC will join the entry-level xA and the urban utility xB, coinciding with Scion's national rollout. The tC was developed specifically for Scion and the U.S. market with an aim to deliver a level of style, performance and value that will be hard to beat.
The design target for the tC was to offer a sporty coupe with sophisticated styling and surprising versatility. The sleek tC sits low and wide. Configured as a three-door hatch with a panorama glass moonroof, the tC has the formal look of a coupe with a trunk. Body panel gaps have been narrowed, as have the pillars, for improved visibility. Further adding to the tC's sleek appearance, the windshield wipers are set low so the driver has an unobstructed view. Outside mirrors have built-in turn signal lights, and the hatch incorporates a power release. Standard keyless entry and remote hatch operation can all be managed from a newly designed gray and black key, unique to Scion.
The tC's sophisticated styling exudes a Scion family identity. Traces of Scion DNA can be found in the interior with use of amber illumination, metal-tone trim and innovative instrumentation panel grains. A material that was inspired by the texture of Japanese paper was developed for the tC dash. Exterior Scion cues include taut, clean lines from front to rear, accentuated rocker panels and wheel arches, and a sporty mesh grille.
Like its Scion siblings, the tC will be equipped with many subtle hints of refinement, such as the use of dampers on interior moving parts, normally found in more upscale vehicles. The temperature control dial is made of genuine cast aluminum. The front-passenger airbag is seamlessly integrated into the dash, and narrowed gaps on interior components measure near those of the all-new Camry Solara coupe.
The tC will offer incredible utility in a very spacious cabin. The driver's seat will have both a height and thigh adjustment, along with a walk-in function with memory. Rear 60/40-split seats will be equipped with three headrests and three-point seat belts in all seating positions. The rear seats will recline 45 degrees and can be adjusted into 10 different positions. Finally, when both the front passenger and rear seats are folded flat, tC will provide more than 8.5 feet of length for cargo.
Performance will match the tC's sleek styling. The tC will be a tenacious road handler as it will be equipped with a double-wishbone rear suspension, front MacPherson struts, 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, and four-wheel disc brakes with an Anti-lock Brakes system.
Power will be delivered through an all-aluminum 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that will produce 160 horsepower. The engine will be mated with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. For added performance, a dealer-installed supercharger package developed by Toyota Racing Development will be offered later in the year. The turn-key performance option with an output of approximately 200 horsepower can be purchased with the vehicle, or added later. And like all things Scion, it will be surprisingly affordable.
Like xA and xB, the sports coupe is available with approximately 40 accessories. Available accessories exclusive to tC include 18-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, carbon fiber engine cover, polished stainless steel muffler, unique grille, color-keyed ground effects and rear lip spoiler. TRD will also offer stiffer/shorter springs, a struts/shocks kit, performance clutch, quick shifter, leather-wrapped shift knob, sequential shift light kit and special wide-lip Racing Hart 19-inch wheels with high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires.
Like the xA and xB, the Scion tC will be offered in mono-spec trim. Standard features will include the panorama moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels with graphite appearance finish, air conditioning, cruise control, a high-output Pioneer sound system, power windows, door locks and mirrors, and a center console with armrest. Sound absorption materials help maintain low NVH levels that are more common in a class-above car.
Toyota USA

The tC's lack of a Subway diet also affects its handling, but more objectively than subjectively. On the skidpad, it had less grip than the Civic Si, Cooper S, and Mazda 3 s, yet on our 10Best handling loop, it gave the impression it could deliver much more than that. From low-speed hairpins to high-speed sweepers, the tC displayed minimal understeer and moderate body roll and an eagerness to be pushed harder. The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering plays a big role here. Its action is light and direct, its sense responsive. The faster you go, the better it feels.
Over Michigan's rough stuff, the tC demonstrated a supple and compliant ride that still felt sporty and firm. The independent suspension soaked up bumps and divots with a level of composure that's rare in the tC's stratum, never crashing and never unsettling the car. In light of its level of amusement through the curves, we can't recall a $16,000 sport hatch that offered such an excellent compromise between ride and handling.
Car and Driver

Inside the Scion tC, there are lots more positive surprises. Materials are first-rate, there aren't a whole lot of different grains and textures, and the swoopy brushed-metal center stack housing vents, sound system and climate control system, is a marvel of modern design. Everything fits together beautifully, works intuitively and looks great.
The front bucket seats look and feel like they were designed for racing, but that doesn't mean to say they're too narrow or too hard. Very comfortable, with enough fore/aft adjustment to suit very tall American drivers regardless of age. The driver's and shotgun seats can be reclined all the way down into what Scion calls a "sleep" position, and the rear seats recline through 10 stops and 45 degrees of recline to convert the interior into a conversation bin. With seats up, there's more than 26 inches of cargo length there; with the second seats dropped, almost 60 inches; and with the front passenger seat folded over, almost 104 inches of cargo length available.
New Car Test Drive

---

---

History:
2004-2005 Scion xA
1,497 cc / 108 hp / 105 lb-ft / 2340-2380 lbs / 0-60 mph 8.8 sec.
1984-1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S AE86
1,600 cc / 112 hp / 97 lb-ft / 2200 lbs / 0-60 mph 9.0 sec.