Scion Tc Release Series 9.0
HIGHLIGHTS
TORQUE
172 lb.-ft. @ 4,100RPM
2015 Scion tC RS 9.0 at a glance
BODY STYLE: two-door compact coupe
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel-drive
ENGINE: 2.5 Litre, DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinder (179 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque)
CARGO: 417 litres
FUEL ECONOMY: (six-speed manual) 10.2/7.6/9.0 litres/100 km (city/hwy/combined)
PRICE: (with six-speed manual) base: $21,710; (with RS 9.0 pkg, as tested) $25,980
Some would call it a poor man's sports coupe.
I'd say the Scion tC is one sweet-looking ride – and a fair bit of fun – starting just under $22K.
I've reviewed it a couple of times, and have appreciated the gritty exhaust note and reasonably robust 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, not to mention a lengthy content list for its all-in base price.
And like all Scions, the tC can be personalized with no shortage of accessories, although thrifty buyers can still be content without upgrading the audio, adding leather upholstery or slapping on a spoiler.
For 2015, the company teamed up with Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs, to create the Release Series 9.0. Worldwide production is limited to 2,000 units, with only 100 coming to Canada.
The package comprises $4,270 in factory mods, bumping the tC to $25,980 and turning as many heads as cars costing two and three times the price.
COMPARE: 2015 Scion tC Review
The tC RS 9.0 starts with a two-tone paint job – black over "magma" orange – along with blacked out badging, black alloy wheels and a TRD centre exhaust. Enhancing its ground-hugging look is a Cartel Customs aero kit and high-profile rear spoiler.
These items pimp an already sporty exterior that features the parent company's large signature grille, fronting a long bonnet, high beltline and aggressively cut C-pillar. Even without 9.0 upgrades, the base tC is edgy for a Toyota.
RS 9.0 also adds some dazzle to the interior. Bright orange door handles, steering wheels spokes, vent accents and instrument rings really pop against their black surroundings. So do the orange seat belts and stitching. The orange push-button start with Cartel logo is a nice touch.
My only gripe is the abundance of hard plastic throughout the passenger cabin. To Scion's credit, it's low-gloss and nicely grained, but a little more padding wouldn't hurt.
I suppose you have to cut back somewhere when even the base ride is equipped with 18-inch alloys, panoramic glass roof with power/tilt front panel, eight-speaker audio with 6.1-inch touchscreen, and the usual stuff like air conditioning, power locks and windows.
Also standard are grippy sport buckets, a thick, flat-bottomed steering wheel, and an intuitive centre stack (with big knobs for HVAC) that is angled towards the driver.
The RS 9.0 package is mostly about appearances, but the centre exhaust does add a few ponies and pounds-feet to the DOHC 16-valve four cylinder's output of 179 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque.
These aren't big numbers, but are more than adequate to propel this 1,377 kg vehicle briskly to highway speeds, and allow for responsive and safe passing.
The powertrain in my tester included a six-speed manual transmission, which offers precise action and smooth clutch takeup. Rowing through the gears was made even more pleasurable with the rising tempo of the engine accompanied by an angry snarl of the exhaust.
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One can forgo such delights by choosing the six-speed automatic with paddle shifters and dynamic rev management. It will add $1,300 to the MSRP and another 25 kg to curb weight – and isn't nearly as much fun.
Handling, overall, isn't quite on par with its sibling – the track-ready, rear-drive FR-S – but the tC is still no slouch with its Macpherson struts with stabilizer bar in front, and double wishbone with stabilizer in rear, providing a good balance between everyday commuting comfort and flat, stable cornering when pushed a little harder. And the understeer isn't bad for a front driver.
Where the tC really steps up is in terms of practicality.
Its body shape, which is more angular and has a roofline that remains flat until well into the rear passenger compartment, is better able to accommodate rear passengers and cargo.
Swing open the big door, and the one-touch walk-in feature (with track and seat angle memory), makes it easy to get in and out of the back seats. Quarters are surprisingly roomy, with plenty of distance to stretch out your legs.
The rear bench is also recessed for the two outboard passengers. Headroom is adequate for adults of modest stature, but six footers will find it tight.
The 60/40 seatbacks fold to enlarge the tC's generous 417-litre cargo capacity. Being a hatchback, the rear hold is more versatile than in other coupes, and big enough for a pile of golf bags or couple of bikes.
I won't say the tC is an exceptional family ride, but it works. And after a week with the vehicle, we were sad to see it go – especially my kids, who appreciated its "hot wheels" custom look.
tC is one of the volume leaders in the Scion lineup, but at 1,179 units in 2014, that's small potatoes compared to the number of Corollas sold.
Which may be a blessing for the Scion brand, as it would quickly shed any 'cool factor' if legions of middle-aged office workers started snapping them up. Indeed, the relative scarcity of the tC makes it treat, in particular the RS 9.0 that's produced in such a limited run.
So check it out while you still can…
COMPARE: Scion iQ beats Smart ForTwo in compact test
Source: https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/2015-scion-tc-release-series-9-0-review/
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