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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2011 Scion tC

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Scion tC

Overview

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2011 Scion tC Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

KBB Expert Rating: 6.3

Although the boxy xB may be the Scion most people recognize on the street, it's the tC that has been the brand's bread-and-butter car since its introduction in 2005, with over 40-percent of all sales going to the coupe. The 2011 Scion tC compact hatchback is an urban alternative to the Honda Civic coupe and Kia Forte Koup, offering more flash for less overall cash and a no-hassle, no-haggle dealership experience. If you've been looking for an economical coupe with a unique look and a long list of available extras, the 2011 Scion tC may be up your alley.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for a feature-packed compact coupe with a dose of attitude, you can't get more in-your-face in this segment than the 2011 Scion tC. With plenty of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) accessories readily available and a powerful base audio system, this coupe begs to be seen and heard.

You May Not Like This Car If...

More standard features on the 2011 Scion tC translates to a higher base price, so if you can do without the 300-watt base sound system (or the in-your-face styling), the Kia Forte Koup or the Honda Civic coupe might be better for you.

What's New for 2011

The 2011 Scion tC is bolder and louder than the previous generation, thanks to more aggressive styling, a larger, more powerful engine and a 300-watt base sound system. If the last tC was more of a wallflower in the Scion lineup, this generation wants to be seen and heard.

Driving the tC

Driving Impressions Thanks to a stiffer suspension, 18-inch wheels and a sport-tuned exhaust, the 2011 Scion tC is a more lively ride around town than the previous generation. The 6-speed manual transmission's...

clutch is light – making it pleasant enough for daily commuting – and shifts are precise. The automatic downshifts nicely, although upshifts seemed to take a little more time. There is a considerable amount of road and wind noise – especially on the highway and in the rear seat – so the base 300-watt sound system comes in handy as a way to cancel out the external noise.

Favorite Features

300-watt standard Pioneer stereo with eight speakers
A 300-watt base sound system with eight speakers? In a car that starts under $19,000? Music to our ears.

New look
The last-generation tC was a bit of a wallflower when it came to design, but the newest tC takes a much bolder approach, finally fitting in to the unique overall look of the Scion brand.

2011 Scion tC Details

Interior

The interior of the 2011 Scion tC is far more spacious than its compact dimensions imply. A tilting/telescoping steering wheel with a flat, "race-car-inspired" bottom allows for extra thigh room. Those relegated to the back seat should be pleased by the amount of shoulder and leg room and, just as in the previous tC, the seatbacks recline up to 10 degrees to make sitting under the glass hatch more comfortable. The seats themselves in the new tC are also thicker (with a 6-way-adjustable driver's seat) and more bolstered, outfitted in a fabric designed to look slightly different in every vehicle.

Exterior

Compared to its distinctive-looking xB sibling, the last-generation tC wasn't exactly a major style statement in the Scion lineup. But the new 2011 tC takes things in a bolder direction. It's more angular in looks, and its blacked-out A-pillars give the vehicle's greenhouse a helmet-like look from the side. While it's not much larger than the outgoing model, the new tC sports a wider, lower stance, a more prominent grille and a panoramic moonroof.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Scion is all about urban street appeal, so it's no surprise that the tC rolls on 18-inch wheels and its standard audio system in the 2011 tC is a 300-watt, 8-speaker Pioneer stereo system with iPod connectivity. Scion borrowed some of the speaker components found in the much more expensive Lexus LX 570 SUV and tuned them for the tC, resulting in the front doors sporting a low-range woofer, mid-range squawker, and high-range tweeter. Each tC comes equipped with Toyota's Star Safety System, which includes eight airbags, stability/traction controls, and active front head rests.

Optional Equipment

If 300 watts of speaker power isn't enough to rock your world, the 2011 Scion tC also offers an optional sound system with a color touchscreen, HD Radio, Media Expander (to improve compressed audio sound) and front and rear RCA inputs. An optional navigation system includes a 7-inch screen that also allows for HD Radio song tagging and Bluetooth Streaming Audio. If it's what's on the outside that counts in your books, 19-inch wheels are also available.

Under the Hood

The 2011 Scion tC has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. With either transmission the tC is EPA-rated at 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway, so the transmission choice is based on driving preference, not fuel economy.

2.5-liter 4-cylinder
180 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
173 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31

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2011 Scion tC Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 47 Ratings for the 2011 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.4/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

8.8/10
Comfort

8.6/10

Styling

8.5/10

3rd Times a Charm- Saved My Life

By Simon Cement (TN) on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 18,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY"

Cons: "Wish there was way to open hatchback from inside."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I purchased a 2006 used Scion TC in 2008. I LOVED that car. I had no issues out of it at all. It was Silver 5 speed, handled perfectly. In 2011, we were hit with a hail storm that totaled it sitting in the driveway. I was devasted. I ended up purchasing a 2011 Scion TC, Cement 6 speed. I did notice a sound randomly in the dash two times in the 1 year and a half, but did not last long and Toyota noted it in my file. Unfortunately, I recently was in a collision were someone pulled out in front of me. It was a bigger SUV. From the look of my car, I should not have walked out of the accident. I was wearing my seatbelt thankfully and all my airbags deployed as they should. I walked away with minor bumps and bruises. I am now waiting for the total report so that I can purchase my 2013. Yes, the interior is plastic and could be better... but when it comes down to it. I don't care if my car inside is plastic [it is still nice and works great] as long as the outside does its job. It is a fantastic car. Heat and AC are both fantastic. The five star safety rating is well deserved! Love the room."

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Love my tC

By hungover (WI) on Tuesday, February 19, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 9,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Amazing exterior, good power, great sound system"

Cons: "Cheapy plastic used for interior finishings."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have had this car for several months now and I am loving it. I don't understand why all the professional reviews list performance as one of its cons -saying it doesnt match the cars sporty looks. So if the car didn't look so good, it would have a better performance rating? C'mon now! This car has more horse power and is faster 0-60 than ANY other car in the price range. It's not a sports car but it is quick and gets decent gas mileage- I get about 27mpg with pretty aggresive acceleration. The exterior looks amazing in my opinion. The sound system is great- better than any other car I test drove and almost as good as the BOSE system I had in my old Mercedes E350. Even though it looks like a coupe it is a hatchback so you can fold forward the back seats for TONS of cargo room. The interior materials are cheap plastic, I wish Scion would have spent another 500-1000 bucks to have some soft touch materials."

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