The 2012 Scion tC has a foot in both the compact-car and performance-car worlds.
At about $20,000, it competes with very well-equipped versions of the Kia Forte Koup, a good-looking two-door without the kind of performance add-ons offered through Scion.
The Honda Civic's a longtime favorite in the aftermarket, but the latest edition has a thrifty-looking interior and uninspired design.
The Ford Focus doesn't come in two-door form, but the sleek hatchback will be offered with a 240-horsepower turbo four in the coming model year.
New and intriguing this year is the Hyundai Veloster, a four-cylinder four-door with two doors on the passenger side, but just one on the driver side.
It's very dynamic in looks, but performance isn't quite there yet--but there's a turbo version coming in the 2013 model year.
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 2012 Scion tCBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Hyundai VelosterBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Kia ForteBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2012 Scion tC is starting to develop an interesting personality, though it's still not very fast or exceptionally nimble. |
With the 2012 Focus, Ford shows that small cars don't have to feel so banal, with charismatic compacts that are more satisfying to drive, more luxurious, and better-equipped. |
The 2012 Honda Civic is a little more spacious, comfortable, and economical, but it's now one of the blandest of the bunch. |
The 2012 Hyundai Veloster starts with niche appeal, but its impressive handling and strong, high-value feature set should play well to the mainstream. |
The 2012 Kia Forte family of vehicles manages to feel more eager, comfortable, and sophisticated than its sticker price might suggest. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $18,575 | $16,500 | $15,755 | $17,300 | $15,200 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 23 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 26 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 44 MPG Hwy | 27 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Compact Car | Compact | Compact | - TBD - | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 2-Door HB Manual (GS) | 4-Door Sedan S | 2-Door Manual DX | 3-Door Coupe Manual w/Black Int | 4-Door Sedan Manual LX |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| 3 Door Hatchback | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe | 3 Door Coupe | 4 Door Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2012 Scion tC vs. 2012 Ford Focus | 2012 Scion tC vs. 2012 Honda Civic | 2012 Scion tC vs. 2012 Hyundai Veloster | 2012 Scion tC vs. 2012 Kia Forte | |
