10 Things You Need to Know About the 2016 Scion tC

2016 Scion tC gray street ・ Photo by Scion

The 2016 Scion tC is a compact coupe with a hatchback. It used to be Scion’s only coupe, until the arrival of the rear-drive Scion FR-S. Even so, the front-drive tC has a charm of its own. As we all know, Scion is made by Toyota but meant to have more youth appeal than the mainstream company’s products, which are often perceived as the automotive equivalent of sensible shoes. However, the tC has also caught the eye of older couples whose children have left the nest, leaving them at liberty to purchase something that’s a bit different, yet still affordable, functional and reliable. Sensible shoes with a bit of style, in other words. The moral of the story is: if you build a decent product, the buyers will come. Here are 10 things about the tC that could sway you.

1) The 2016 Scion tC has been updated for this model year

With the exception of a rear windshield wiper as standard, the changes to the 2016 Scion tC are mainly in the cabin. A redesigned center console houses a new seven-inch touchscreen, while somewhere behind it there’s a new standard audio system, plus a new phonebook feature that holds up to 2,500 contacts (with four numbers each). The door handles receive silver accents and the gearshift knob now comes wrapped in leather. A smart key also brings keyless entry and an engine start/stop button for the dash.

2) The 2016 Scion tC has a useful amount of standard equipment

For a starting price in the low 20ks, the 2016 Scion tC comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front accent lights, LED tail lights, a panoramic moonroof, air conditioning, a chrome exhaust tip, keyless entry, power accessories, cruise control, a leather-wrapped and flat-bottomed steering wheel, sporty bolstered front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, an eight-speaker Pioneer audio system with HD radio, a touchscreen, voice-activated controls, Aha integration (which uses a smartphone to stream internet radio, accesses apps like Yelp and brings Scion’s own station with 17 music channels), an auxiliary audio jack, and a USB port. That’s a lot of equipment.

3) The 2016 Scion tC offers a wide array of accessories

To list just a few of the accessories available with the 2016 Scion tC: BeSpoke upgraded audio system with touchscreen and navigation (worth going for if possible), 19-inch alloy wheels, TRD (Toyota Racing Development, the company’s go-faster division) performance parts, aerodynamic additions, air intake and exhaust systems, lowering springs, anti-roll bars and brake upgrades. Since these can all be installed by the dealer, they come under the standard warranty and can be factored into the monthly payments, making personalization a lot easier to afford. There’s also a huge aftermarket serving the tC.

4) The 2016 Scion tC is based on a Toyota sedan

Although the 2016 Scion tC is a compact coupe with two doors, it’s based on a sedan that Toyota sells in other parts of the world called the Avensis. But that’s no bad thing. The Avensis is not as big as the midsize Camry with which we’re all familiar, but it is quite refined, has safe and predictable front-drive handling, and comes with an excellent drivetrain. The tC isn’t as quiet (in fact, road noise is an oft-stated gripe) but considering Scion’s cars are aimed mainly at younger drivers, safe and predictable handling is a definite plus. It also means a well-tuned suspension. The tC uses MacPherson struts up front (in common with about 95 percent of cars), but its double-wishbone rear suspension is more unusual. Many smaller cars have simpler, less expensive setups, but double wishbones bring a greater degree of tuning ability.

Photo by Scion

5) The 2016 Scion tC has decent rear passenger and cargo space

Yet another benefit of a sedan platform, the 2016 Scion tC offers generous proportions. We normally assume coupes are only for the two people who sit in the front and the rear seats are for coats, bags or giving the occasional lift to someone in an emergency. But the tC is more accommodating than that, offering a decent amount of legroom. Accessing the rear quarters is achieved with a handy one-touch track function that slides the front seat forward yet remembers its original position and seatback angle. The rear seat backs recline (up to 10 degrees), which is unusual for this class. They also split and fold in 60/40 fashion. And when they’re completely folded, total cargo space is a generous 34.5 cubic feet.

6) The 2016 Scion tC runs a 2.5-liter engine

Yes, the 2016 Scion tC's powerplant is the same engine found in lower trims of the Camry (and other Toyota vehicles), but the tC is smaller and lighter, so the power-to-weight ratio here is more advantageous. This four-cylinder unit develops a healthy 179 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. That’s good enough to hit 60 mph from standstill in 7.3 seconds, when equipped with the standard-issue six-speed manual transmission. With the optional six-speed automatic transmission, it’s half a second slower. One cool feature of the automatic transmission (which also comes with paddle shifters) is its Dynamic Rev Management. It blips the throttle on downshifts to match engine speed to road speed. Old-school drivers using a manual gearbox, especially racers, employ a heel-and-toe technique with the brake and accelerator pedals to achieve the same thing. Fuel consumption with either transmission is estimated at 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. Not exactly earth-shattering, but a little common sense could easily improve on those EPA figures.

7) The 2016 Scion tC has a five-star crash test rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given this generation of tC five stars out of five for overall protection. It took four stars for front impacts and five for side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the tC its highest rating of Good for moderate-overlap frontal offset impacts, side impacts, whiplash protection and roof strength. Small-overlap frontal impact protection took the institute’s second-highest score of Acceptable. In addition to the usual anti-lock brakes and traction/stability controls, the 2016 Scion tC comes with front knee airbags as well as front, side and side curtain airbags. It also has Toyota’s proprietary Smart Stop system that ensures the brakes will always override the accelerator in the event of both pedals being pressed at the same time.

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8) The 2016 Scion tC isn’t all roses

Nothing is perfect in this world and, despite the 2016 Scion tC’s many positive attributes, there are a few things to bear in mind. As well as the aforementioned road noise, the exhaust system has a tendency to drone. One place where Scion skimps is in sound insulation. The suspension is on the firm side, which some people will like but others, not so much. Cabin materials are on the cheap side. Also, rear visibility is not great and there isn’t even the option of a rearview camera.

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9) The 2016 Scion tC is an award winner

In 2015, the tC was named Most Dependable Compact Sporty Car by J.D. Power and Associates, an organization that ranks automotive reliablity and satisfaction. The car has also been recognized for its strong resale values. The Toyota and Lexus brands usually dominate such “best resale value” lists, so it’s reassuring to know that Scion comes under this same umbrella.

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11) The 2016 Scion tC comes with free scheduled maintenance

For the first two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, the 2016 Scion tC is eligible for free factory scheduled maintenance. The standard warranty is three years/36,000 miles with a five-year/60,000-mile warranty on the drivetrain. The warranty also includes two years of 24-hour roadside assistance. Scion also adopts a “no-haggle” pricing approach, which is music to the ears of anyone who dislikes negotiating with car salesmen.

Photo by Scion