The New Honda Element Dog Friendly Package is...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2010 Scion tC Review

September 1, 2009

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

styling has become a bit familiar
Car and Driver

looks more aggressive than its Toyota siblings
Cars.com

At a certain age, you might think the interior is a little too hip
Kelley Blue Book

gets only revised interior fabrics
Motor Trend

Now six years old, the 2010 Scion tC is clearly long in the tooth. Its design is less daring than accepted, and only projector headlamps and a new grille in 2008 have changed it since its 2005 launch.

Still, its styling has won the tC fans over the years. Autoblog, talking about "the snub nose and tear-shaped headlights a la BMW," contends the tC offers, "quite a striking look and [is] unlike anything else in the price range." Car and Driver agrees, complimenting the Scion tC's "sophisticated look and assertive stance." On the negative side, MyRide.com wanted "a more compelling design." And The New York Times grumbled that "fussy diagonal-oval mesh up top that fades to solid at the sides" mixed with "horizontal slats down below" was just "a bit busy to our eyes" and ruins "the simplicity we admired in the previous design."

Last year's changes were limited, notes Cars.com, to the inside, "where the seat fabric is updated." (This year the sole change is one new paint color.) "Overall, the interior has a nice mix of textures and a rich appearance for its price," asserts Cars.com.

But the interior has been appreciated since the launch of the Scion tC. MyRide.com calls the dash and upper door panel textures "inspired by Japanese stationery," which they felt was "different, of good quality, and [brought] strong Scion brand character to the inside of the tC." And Motor Trend calls the tC's insides a "better-conceived, more feature-rich, interior than inside the other Scions." They were particularly struck by the "three-pod instrument panel with attractive, brushed metal faces. The silver center stack reminds of the Infiniti G35," they conclude-high praise indeed for a car at this sticker price.

Finally, those owners who want their tCs to stand out from the crowd will no doubt appreciate that dealers offer "a wide array of...styling upgrades," notes Edmunds.

Conclusion

The 2010 Scion tC's shape is less radical than when it was introduced, but it has aged well. And its highly rated interior design can be personalized with dozens of accessories available from the dealer.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:styling has become a bit familiarCar and Driverlooks more aggressive than its Toyota siblingsCars.comAt a certain age, you might think the interior is a little too hipKelley Blue Bookgets only revised interior fabricsMotor Trend Now six years old, the 2010 Scion tC is clearly long in the tooth. Its design is less daring than accepted, and only projector headlamps and a new grille in 2008 have changed it since its 2005 launch. Still, its styling has won the tC fans over the years. Autoblog, talking about "the snub nose and tear-shaped headlights a la BMW," contends the tC offers, "quite a striking look and [is] unlike anything else in the price range." Car and Driver agrees, complimenting the Scion tC's "sophisticated look and assertive stance." On the negative side, MyRide.com wanted "a more compelling design." And The New York Times grumbled that "fussy diagonal-oval mesh up top that fades to solid at the sides" mixed with "horizontal slats down below" was just "a bit busy to our eyes" and ruins "the simplicity we admired in the previous design." Last year's changes were limited, notes Cars.com, to the inside, "where the seat fabric is updated." (This year the sole change is one new paint color.) "Overall, the interior has a nice mix of textures and a rich appearance for its price," asserts Cars.com. But the interior has been appreciated since the launch of the Scion tC. MyRide.com calls the dash and upper door panel textures "inspired by Japanese stationery," which they felt was "different, of good quality, and [brought] strong Scion brand character to the inside of the tC." And Motor Trend calls the tC's insides a "better-conceived, more feature-rich, interior than inside the other Scions." They were particularly struck by the "three-pod instrument panel with attractive, brushed metal faces. The silver center stack reminds of the Infiniti G35," they conclude-high praise indeed for a car at this sticker price. Finally, those owners who want their tCs to stand out from the crowd will no doubt appreciate that dealers offer "a wide array of...styling upgrades," notes Edmunds. ConclusionThe 2010 Scion tC's shape is less radical than when it was introduced, but it has aged well. And its highly rated interior design can be personalized with dozens of accessories available from the dealer. 2010 SCION TC STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: "styling has become a bit familiar" Cars.com: "looks more aggressive than its Toyota siblings" Kelley Blue Book: "At a certain age, you might think the interior is a little too hip" Motor Trend: "gets only revised interior fabrics" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Two years ago, the Ford Focus came out with a new coupe; it offers a distinctive, and quieter interior than before and many more convenience features, including the wildly popular SYNC communications and entertainment interface. The Focus is an attractive value, even if it isn't that much fun to drive compared to the 2010 Scion tC. The Honda Civic coupe feels sportier than even the tC, let alone the Focus, but its engine isn't as torquey for ordinary driving, and its interior can feel cramped. And just as the tC is, the Civic is loud inside on bad roads. The 2010 Kia Forte Koup is the newest and most refined of all the competitors, and our reviews gave the Forte line good marks for driving satisfaction, refinement, and passenger space. The 2009 Hyundai Tiburon might also have been worth considering, but it is no longer made; it was replaced by the larger, rear-wheel-drive 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe.

Next Steps:

Get a free price quote

for the 2010 Scion tC from a dealer near you

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2010 Scion tC

Check Financing Rates

for the 2010 Scion tC

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2010 Scion tC near you

See the Scion tC in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy