2005 Scion tC Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Toyota's youth-oriented brand adds a third car to its line for 2005. The tC, a 2-dr hatchback coupe, joins the xA 4-dr hatchback and xB wagon under the Scion banner. It's longer and wider than those cars, and also larger than Toyota's Celica sporty coupe. The tC has a 160-hp 2.4-liter 4-cyl engine and a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch wheels, and a driver knee airbag are standard. Optional are front side airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags covering both seating rows. Included in the base price are air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, sunroof, and cruise control. Also standard are a height-adjustable driver seat, split folding rear seatback, and front seatbacks that recline to form a flat load floor with the folded rear seatbacks. Dealer-installed options include 18- and 19-inch wheels, satellite radio, and special trim items.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. The Sporty/Performance Car class consists of two-seat roadsters, 4-cyl hatchbacks, and V8 muscle cars. Regardless of configuration, all have an emphasis on affordable performance.

Our Best Buys include the Mazda Miata, and Pontiac GTO. Our Recommended picks are the Acura RSX, Ford Mustang, Honda S2000, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z, and Scion tC.

News

The tC is just out, so major near-term design changes are unlikely. Instead, Scion will aim to keep the car looking fresh in the eyes of fickle, fashion-conscious youth. No firm word yet on what may be in store, but we'd expect a parade of trim packages and functional features, with some offered on a limited-time-only basis.

2005 Scion tC Road Test

Pros	Cons

Maneuverability	Rear-seat room

Fuel economy	Rear-seat entry/exit

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5	6.3

With either transmission, tC lively enough off the line. Feels quickest with manual transmission, though highway-speed passing power mediocre. Automatic versions adequately responsive in 50-65-mph range, requires a deep push of the throttle to trigger a downshift. Test tC with automatic did 8.4 sec 0-60 mph. No opportunity to time manual.

Fuel Economy

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	5.8

Averaged 25.4 mpg with manual transmission in test that included mostly highway driving. Averaged 21.7 mpg with automatic in test that included gas-eating performance runs. Scion recommends regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	4

Compliant for a sporty small car, with firm feel but little impact harshness over bumps when equipped with standard 17-inch tires, though wide pavement seams taken at highway speed send a shudder though the structure. Ride quality diminishes only slightly with 18s. No opportunity to test with 19s.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7	8.1

Not as sharp as class-standard Acura RSX or Mini Cooper, but entertaining and confident. Good steering feel, weight. Well-checked body lean in fast turns. Impressive cornering grip. Firm, progressive brake-pedal feel.

Quietness

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	3.2

Quiet around town. But engine loud under acceleration, wind rush intrudes at highway speeds, and road roar pronounced on rough surfaces. Open sunroof generates lots of turbulence; it's even too much when tilted open for ventilation.

Controls

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	6.1

Simple, well-marked controls fall readily to hand, though audio buttons are small. Some testers find heavily shrouded instruments difficult to see in some daylight conditions. Automatic-transmission-position readout displays with tachometer--a nice plus--but fades out in sunlight. Cabin materials impressive for the price, if not quite on par with class-leading Volkswagens. Smooth switchgear action.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	5	5	5.1

Firm seats with snug side bolsters offer good support in fast turns. Driver seat adjustable for height and thigh support--a nice feature. Leg room adequate. Head room tight for taller adults. Low stance forces deep drop into seats. Rear visibility not blocked by bodywork, but sloped hatch window likely to collect snow, dust, salt, and tC doesn't offer a rear wiper or washer.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	1.4

Better than most small coupes. Tight leg room unless front seats are well forward. Surprisingly good head room for those under 6-ft, helped by seatbacks that recline a few inches. Cushion shaped into deeply contoured buckets for a sporty-but-cramped feel. Crouch-and-crawl entry/exit made slightly easier by front seats that slide well forward.

Cargo Room

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	3.2

Space beneath hatch is shallow, but split folding rear seatbacks team with reclining front seatbacks to create long, nearly flat load floor. Plenty of cockpit storage: spacious glovebox, small map pockets, console box, dashboard cubby, grocery-bag hooks in rear-seat area.

Value within Class

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
8	8	8	6.7

The tC qualifies as a solid Recommended pick. It combines sporty performance, surprising space, Toyota quality, and a generous list of standard equipment at a bargain price. A smorgasbord of dealer-installed accessories allows an impressive degree of customization--though they quickly drive up the cost.

Total Score

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. wheels, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
57	56	55	49.9

Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score		37
Average Score		49
High Score		58

2005 Scion tC Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 02/14/2005

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base 2-door hatchback coupe, manual	$16,000	$15,200	$515

Base 2-door hatchback coupe, automatic	$16,800	$15,960	$515

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Base

Powertrain

2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, driver-side knee airbag, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, tire-pressure monitor.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, fold-flat front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, power mirrors w/turn signals, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, power sunroof, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, digital clock, tachometer, outside-temperature indicator, visor mirrors, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, cargo cover, automatic-off headlights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, 215/45ZR17 tires, alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Release Series 1.0
Base	$1,775	$1,669
Unique interior and exterior trim, badging, 225/40ZR18 tires.

Safety
Curtain side airbags
Base	$650	$559
Includes front side airbags.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Pioneer AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer
Base	$395	$305


Bazooka subwoofer
Base	$449	$325


Satellite radio
Base	$695	$600


Automatic day/night rearview mirror
Base	$310	$225
Includes universal garage-door opener.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
18-inch wheels
Base	$	$


19-inch wheels
Base	$	$

2005 Scion tC Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Scion tC 2-door hatchback

Wheelbase, in.	106.3

Overall Length, in.	174.0

Overall Width, in.	69.1

Overall Height, in.	55.7

Curb Weight, lbs.	2905

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	12.8

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	14.5

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	37.6

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.6

Rear Head Room, in.	36.6

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	33.6

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.4 /144

Horsepower @ rpm.	160 @ 5700

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	163 @ 4000

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	22/29

4-speed automatic	23/30

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Scion tC 2-door hatchback

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	4

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	4

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	--

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	--/--	--

Free scheduled maintenance	--/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Japan

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2005 Scion tC Photos

Also in the 2005 Scion tC Review:

Scion tC

Scion tC Road Test

Scion tC Prices & Equipment

Scion tC Specs & Safety

Scion tC Photos

Scion tC Full Review

All Scion tCs

All Scions