2014 Scion tC

What does the Kia Forte Koup, Honda Civic Coupe, Ford Mustang Coupe, Chevrolet Camaro Coupe and Scion tC all have in common? To be perfectly honest, I’m a little surprised that each of these cars are all in the same class of vehicles. The starting price range for this class is anywhere from $15,700 to $24,200. The base trim models of these affordable vehicles range from 140 horsepower to over 300 horsepower with the Mustang and Camaro V6 trims having the most power. The Mustang and Camaro also come with a V8 option and they both push over 420 horsepower, which puts these two cars into another vehicle class altogether.


The Scion tC has a fuel efficient 2.5L 4-cylinder DOHC 16 valve Dual VVTI engine that creates 179 horsepower through a 6-speed sequential automatic transmission. It’s rated to get 23 city MPG and 31 highway MPG. I received this week’s test drive with only 800+ miles on the odometer and averaged about 29 MPG.

Scion has reported that the 2014 tC debuted at the New York International Auto Show with more assertive styling, an upgraded interior and an enhanced driving experience. The headlamps are more distinctive to match the grille and LED accent lighting for a sportier look. Scion also reports that the updated transmission changes gears nearly twice as fast as the previous model and now features Dynamic Rev Management technology. Additional modifications to the stabilizer bar hardware, shock absorbers and retuned electronic power steering provide a more engaging feeling while behind the wheel. I like the overall look and design of the car and concur with Scion’s assessment of the driving experience.

The panoramic glass moonroof with power tilt/ slide is a feature I was impressed with. The nearly all glass rooftop allows all of the occupants to take advantage of the lights and sights. It seemed to make the inside of the car roomier while giving the occupants the sensation of driving in a convertible without the wind. The front portion of the panoramic glass is the electric moonroof while the rear portion is glass. Both portions have manual shades. The leather-trimmed tilt/telescoping 3-spoke sport steering wheel with audio controls, power door locks, power windows with driver side one touch auto up/down with jam protection and remote key-less entry are a few features that make the tC fun to drive.

The Pioneer 300 watt, 8-speaker sound system is controlled by a 6.1” touch screen. Bluetooth technology enables smart phone and mobile device connectivity to access the phone’s contacts and stream music from an MP3 player or satellite radio app of choice. The tC I drove didn’t have a satellite radio option like Sirius or XM making it that much more important to stream music from my phone through the Bluetooth connection or USB charging connection located on the center console. Driving this “Absolutely Red” 3 door lift-back Scion tC was a fun experience, comparably speaking.

You can find the 2014 Scion tC at Ensign Toyota Honda Scion at 1945 North Main, Logan. 435-214-4160

Base MSRP: $25,690
Price as Driven: $27,084