Acceleration

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5	6.4

Quick enough on takeoff with either transmission. Manual version feels livelier, but needs downshifting for decent midrange passing power. Test automatic tC did 8.4 sec 0-60 mph, showed adequate muscle at 50-65 mph, but wouldn't make a kickdown shift without flooring the gas pedal.

Fuel Economy

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	5.5

Test manual-transmission tC averaged 25.4 mpg in mostly highway driving. Test automatic averaged 21.7 including gas-eating performance runs. The tC uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	3.9

Compliant for a sporty small car. Firm feel, but impact harshness low on 17-inch tires, little worse on available 18s. Still, some structural shudder evident over patchy surfaces and sharp pavement breaks at highway speed.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7	8

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. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	3.2

Quiet around town. But engine loud at high rpm. Wind rush intrudes at highway speeds, and tire roar pronounced on rough surfaces. Sunroof generates lots of noisy turbulence when tilted or fully open.

Controls

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	5.5

Controls mostly simple, handy, well-marked, have smooth action. Some testers find shrouded instruments hard to see in certain light conditions. Ditto the automatic-transmission-position readout in tachometer face. Cabin materials impressive for the price.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	5	5	5.2

Firm seats with snug side bolsters offer good support in fast turns. Driver seat adjusts for height and thigh support--a nice touch--but leg room only adequate, head room tight for taller adults. Low stance forces deep drop into seats, hampering entry/exit. Visibility good, but sloped hatch window easily soils, and no wiper/washer is available.

Room/Comfort (rear)

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

More habitable than most small coupes, though seat shaped only for two and leg room is tight without front seats well forward. Surprisingly good head room for those under 6-ft, helped by seatbacks that recline a few inches. Entry/exit is coupe-typical crouch and crawl, but front seats slide well forward to leave reasonably wide passages.

Cargo Room

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.2

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

Value within Class

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
8	8	8	6.6

The tC is a solid Best Buy that combines sporty performance, surprising space, lots of standard features--all at bargain prices. Dealer-installed accessories provide ample scope for personalizing, but can fast inflate delivered prices.

Total Score

Base, man.	Base w/18-in. whls., man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
54	53	52	48.9

Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score		40
Average Score		48
High Score		58