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2006 Scion tC Full Review
Date Published: 7/31/08
Also in the 2006 Scion tC Review:
2006 Scion tC Review
Freshened audio systems that include steering-wheel controls mark the 2006 tC. This 2-dr hatchback coupe comes from Toyota's youth-oriented Scion division. It has a 160-hp 4-cyl engine and a 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and a driver knee airbag are standard. An option includes front side airbags and curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows. Traction/antiskid control is unavailable. The tC's front-passenger seatback reclines to form a long surface in tandem with a split folding rear seat. Newly available are audio systems that connect with and can control digital media players. Dealer-installed options include 18-inch wheels 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 Ford Mustang Mazda Miata, and Scion tC. Our Recommended picks are Acura RSX, Honda S2000, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z, and Pontiac GTO.
New or significantly redesigned models include Mitsubishi Eclipse and Pontiac Solstice.
Our Best Buys include Ford Mustang Mazda Miata, and Scion tC. Our Recommended picks are Acura RSX, Honda S2000, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z, and Pontiac GTO.
New or significantly redesigned models include Mitsubishi Eclipse and Pontiac Solstice.
News
We hear the tC could be dropped by mid-2008 in deference to the ever-changing tastes of Scion's young, trendsetting target buyers. One rumored replacement would deck out parent Toyota's Matrix compact wagon with "rally car" styling and perhaps a hot engine and all-wheel drive to go with it. Still, this so-called "xR" is just one of many possibilities that Toyota could brew from its many worldwide platforms and powertrains. Meantime, the tC shouldn't change much except for trim packages and maybe a few new functional features.
2006 Scion tC Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Maneuverability | Rear-seat room |
| Fuel economy | Rear-seat entry/exit |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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 |
2006 Scion tC Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 02/14/2006
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| Base 2-door hatchback coupe, manual | $16,300 | $15,485 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Base 2-door hatchback coupe, automatic | $17,100 | $16,245 | $540 |
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 knee airbag, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, tire-pressure monitor.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel w/radio controls, 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
Safety |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
Curtain side airbags
|
||
|
Base
|
$650
|
$559
|
|
Includes front side airbags.
|
||
|
|
||
Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
|
Pioneer sound system w/iPod connector
|
||
|
Base
|
$260
|
$183
|
|
Bazooka subwoofer
|
||
|
Base
|
$449
|
$325
|
|
Satellite radio
|
||
|
Base
|
$449
|
$359
|
|
Automatic day/night rearview mirror
|
||
|
Base
|
$310
|
$225
|
|
NA w/curtain side airbags.
|
||
|
Rubber floormats
|
||
|
Base
|
$145
|
$100
|
|
Includes cargo mat.
|
||
|
|
||
Appearance and Miscellaneous |
||
|
Fog lights
|
||
|
Base
|
$425
|
$320
|
|
Rear spoiler
|
||
|
Base
|
$385
|
$285
|
|
18-inch wheels
|
||
|
Base
|
$1,565
|
$1,250
|
|
|
||
2006 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
Also in the 2006 Scion tC Review:
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