2010 Scion tC Review and Prices
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Price: $17,770 - $18,675
MPG: 21 / 29 / 24
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2010 Scion tC Buying Advice
The 2010 Scion tC is the best car for you if you’re looking for a small, affordable sporty coupe that delivers lively performance and encourages customization.
The 2010 Scion tC is a compact sports coupe aimed at youthful urban audience, especially the “tuner” buyer who likes to customize with all manner of appearance accessories and performance-oriented modifications. The tC has front-wheel drive and shares its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with the Scion xB wagon, though here it generates a slightly more-powerful 161 horses. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with a four-speed automatic gearbox optional. The Scion tC carries over for 2010 virtually unchanged.
Should you buy a 2010 Scion tC or wait for the 2011 Scion tC? The current-generation tC has continued more or less unchanged since its introduction for the 2005 model year and is due to be replaced by a new model for 2011. Nothing concrete has been announced as of this writing, but a rear-drive coupe Toyota is developing in conjunction with Subaru could be a possibility as a replacement for the tC or as a showroom companion to a redesigned version.
2010 Scion tC Test Drive back to top
Interior: The 2010 Scion tC’s compact cabin is uncluttered and attractive. The well-finished cockpit features silver accents and orange-backlit gauges. The front seats are fairly comfortable, but as is the case in most small coupes of this kind, rear-seat space is at a premium. Access to the rear is made a bit easier thanks to a walk-in function on the driver’s side. The 60/40-split rear seats fold forward to create a nearly flat cargo floor.
A generous assortment of standard features on the 2010 Scion tC includes front-side and side-curtain airbags, a 160-watt Pioneer audio system with steering-wheel controls and full iPod integration, and a panoramic moonroof. The only factory option is an automatic transmission, but a long list of dealer-installed accessories allows tC buyers to customize their ride. Most are just for show, but functional items include a GPS navigation system and an upgraded audio system that has ability to store digital images as custom “skins” for the LCD display.
Exterior: The 2010 Scion tC comes wrapped in curvy, tastefully sculpted sheetmetal. It’s far from being the flashiest ride on the road, however, and begs for more expressive styling. That’s where Scion-approved, dealer-installed alloy wheels, fog lights, spoilers, and ground-effects body kits comes in to play.
Driving: The 2010 Scion tC’s only engine is a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder that until recently was the base engine in the midsize Toyota Camry. It provides reasonably smooth acceleration that’s more than adequate for a vehicle of tC’s size and weight, with decent fuel economy.
A five-speed manual transmission is the Scion tC’s standard gearbox and it works well enough to encourage spirited driving, An automatic is available, but with only four speeds, it’s dated compared to the five- and six-speed automatics offered on many rivals.
While it’s far from being a hard-core sports car, a four-wheel independent suspension combines with specially calibrated steering and braking systems and 17-inch wheels and performance tires to deliver reasonably good handling. The standard antilock brakes include Electronic Brakeforce Distribution to maintain proper brake pressure between the front and rear wheels. Unfortunately, stability control for added safety in emergency handling maneuvers is not offered on the 2010 Scion tC.
2010 Scion tC Prices back to top
The 2010 Scion tC price range is $17,770-$18,570 (prices in this review include the manufacturer’s destination fee; Scion’s fee for the 2010 tC is $670).
The only factory option is the automatic transmission, which adds $800 to the MSRP.
2010 Scion tC Fuel Economy back to top
The 2010 Scion tC is rated at 20/27 mpg (city/highway) with manual transmission and 21/29 with the optional automatic. It runs on regular-grade gasoline.
2010 Scion tC Safety and Reliability back to top
In government crash testing, the 2010 Scion tC rates the maximum five stars for driver protection in frontal impacts and side-impact protection for both the driver and passengers; it receives four out of five stars for passenger protection in frontal impacts and rollover protection.
The 2010 Scion tC received “about average” ratings for initial quality and a “below average” score for expected reliability by J.D. Power and Associates, the leading automotive consumer survey firm.
2010 Scion tC Competition back to top
Honda Civic Si Coupe: Honda’s “pocket rocket” may look much like an ordinary Civic, but it can run with some stalwart sports coupes thanks to its 197-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. A slick-shifting six-speed manual is the only available gearbox and is well suited to the Si. It rides on 17-inch tires and an independent suspension at all four corners delivers crisp handling. Plus it gives up nothing in terms of fuel economy. The Si comes well equipped with a navigation system and summer tires the only factory options. Base price is roughly $23,000.
Mitsubishi Eclipse: Once ruler of the compact sports coupe segment, Eclipse has faded into the background, though remains a worthy contender in terms of performance. The coupe’s formerly bulbous exterior styling has been freshened for 2010 and it’s more aggressive looking in the process. It also comes as a convertible. A peppy 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine is standard. A quicker and smoother 265-horsepower V-6 is also available. Base price range is roughly $21,000-$29,000.