At first glance, the Scion tC comes off as an inviting package for young, first-time new-car buyers. It looks sleek and sporty, and it comes with a generous list of standard features, including a touch-screen audio system and dual-pane sunroof.
But the appeal goes only skin deep. When we got beyond the surface appeal, we found the tC to be a loud, cheap-feeling, uncomfortable car that doesn't really deliver anything notable beyond its convenient hatchback versatility. Add it all up, and the tC scores too low for us to recommend it.
While Scion updated the tC for 2014, the changes were mostly limited to some styling tweaks, changed suspension and steering calibrations, and a new six-speed automatic transmission. Further updates for 2016 included an upgraded audio system and a much-desired rear window wiper.
The tC's sporty looks write a check that the car's performance capabilities just can't cash. Handling is mundane at best and the ride is stiff and jittery. And it's not like Toyota, Scion's parent company, doesn't know how to build a small, fun-to-drive coupe; witness the super-sporty Scion FR-S.
Competitors such as the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Veloster, and Subaru Impreza are less expensive than our tC and way more fun to drive.
Acceleration is pretty quick for the class, but most midsized four-cylinder family sedans would beat the tC in a race. And while fuel economy of 27 mpg overall isn't bad, plenty of those larger sedans are also more efficient.
The transmission is poorly calibrated, forcing the engine to sometimes scream along after you're done accelerating. And it has a rev-matching feature that roars the engine on downshifts. Again, it may seem sporty at first, but it gets as tiresome as a kid endlessly shouting, "Vroom, vroom, VROOM!"
Moreover, its loud exhaust boom also tries to imbue a sporty character, but it ends up creating a constant drone that also gets old quickly.
Despite updates, the tC seems behind the times. Its interior finish looks low-rent, a sea of hard and drab plastics. And features such as a backup camera and seat heaters are unavailable. Most competing small sedans offer more refinement and high-end options.
The rear seats and cargo area are surprisingly accommodating, with the rear able to swallow a bike or other bulky items. But getting in and out of the low-slung car is an ungracious affair, the front seats are low, and the limited view out is like peering from the cockpit of an armored half-track.