ScionLife Review: the 2014 tC

By John Coyle - August 5, 2013

Somebody’s been hitting the gym. That’s what I thought when I started checking out the sheet metal for the redesigned 2014 tC. It’s like the sleek compact we first saw in 2004 went crazy on the cross-fit and lost its love handles, because while the second gen turned up the value on the little coupe’s lines, the latest version of Scion’s sporty little coupe takes the angular attack up to 11—exterior wise, the only round elements are the Scion badge and the wheels. With a greatly expanded grill, and headlights which resemble a gunfighter squinting against the sun, the front fascia is also far more aggressive than its predecessor. Call the tC “cute,” and it looks like it’d take a swing at you.

“At 6000rpm the 2.5L I4 is good for 180hp, making for brisk acceleration—and the occasional 2nd gear tire chirp.”

All the ScionLife editors got behind the wheel of the tC, but I had the keys for the better part of the time. Since this car doesn’t scream “road trip” to me, I decided to keep the Scion in what I feel is its natural habitat, running between punk rock shows, taco trucks and skate parks. And it performed admirably!

It certainly performed better than Rancid front man Tim Armstrong, who spent most of the band’s set at Hollywood’s Palladium aimlessly wandering about the stage. He did manage to deliver passable versions of “Ruby Soho,” “Salvation” and “Roots Radicals,” but it was pretty clear his opening duties with side project the Transplants—and more likely some heroic alcohol consumption—had hobbled him. Hey, what’s a punk show without a little degeneracy?

Now, Los Angeles is as famous for its crippling traffic as it is for its sunshine, fantastic Mexican food and celebrity spotting, but even with the pervasive congestion—and some roads which last saw maintenance sometime around the Spanish colonization—I had a blast flipping around in the tC, and my complaints were minor. While the overall quality of the interior materials has gone up noticeably, the lower area of the driver’s door was already showing some scuffs from entering and exiting, and since I’m 6’3″, I could have used a height adjustment on the drivers seat. Also, I think the chunky c-pillar somewhat compromised the rear visibility, but it was nothing properly adjusted mirrors couldn’t counter.

“Bluetooth rules. Not that you can choose, but I’d take wireless music over airbags.”

One thing all the editors commented on was the steering. The tC has a direct, point-and-shoot feel which was complemented by the thick, flat-bottomed wheel and matched nicely with the suspension. The ride was sporty and firm without being bone-jarring, and some of the rough pavement of the industrial areas near the ScionLife offices illustrated just how well it’s screwed together. Even when traversing some of the worst pavement my fair city had to offer, there were no squeaks or rattles to be heard in the cabin.

Nobody is going to confuse the tC with a muscle car, but for its class, power was also quite respectable. At its 6000rpm redline, the 2.5L I4 is good for 180hp, making for brisk acceleration—and the occasional 2nd gear tire chirp. Even when I was winding out my shifts, it never sounded buzzy or unrefined. Our tester was fitted with the six-speed manual, which had a crisp, notchy feel, and relatively short ratios. The throws didn’t feel too long, but I’d be curious to see how the stick would feel with the optional TRD short shifter. For those who enjoy rowing their own gears, it seems like the $145 upgrade would be worth looking into.

scion-montage-2-crop-2

Speaking of options, while there’s plenty of opportunity to add goodies to the tC, even in base form, the Bluetooth and the trick double sunroof make it feel well equipped. Now, I’m a little old school—I went the better part of a decade without a working car radio—but I have to say the Bluetooth is now a must-have option for me. Over the course of the week, the system worked flawlessly, and I found myself starting my iPhone as I walked up to the car, just so I could experience the seamless transition from my phone’s little speakers to the car’s system—that little bit of wizardry impressed me every time. Not that you can choose, but at this point, I’d take wireless music over airbags. It’s that cool. Within the next couple weeks, our contact at Scion will be giving us back this same car, but with the optional BeSpoke Premium Audio System installed, and while I didn’t have any complaints about the base unit, I’m curious to check out the upgraded tech. Stay tuned for that one.

“The ‘Cement’ paint is sick. Price point aside, it’s one of the coolest colors on the market right now.”

While I’ve been obsessed with cars since I was a kid, a lot of my friends don’t really count themselves as gearheads. In fact, a lot of them don’t know much more about their rides other than how to put gas in them. But that said, everyone I picked up in the Scion was impressed by it. When I drove three of my buddies to a local skate park—where I managed to both fall down and break my skateboard—everyone commented on how cool it was, and that it was roomy for being a relatively small car. Since I didn’t want to risk getting grease all over the inside, I didn’t try to load my bike in the back, but I’m confident that with the seat folded down, it would have been a snap.

One element of the car that was a big hit? The paint. Given that practically every car you see is some derivation of white, silver or black, it really makes the car pop. It’s tough to see in the photos, but there’s a pearl-like depth to it in the sun, and price point aside, I think “Cement” is one of the coolest colors on the market right now. It would be my first choice for any of the cars in Scion’s line up, and I think it actually looks wicked on this 2011 Lexus IS F.

While I was playing around on Scion’s site, I noticed you could get three performance options for around the same price—the difference is $45—as the BeSpoke audio package. So which would you rather have, the killer system or the go-fast bits? Let us know in the poll below!