Cars Service

2006 Scion tC Reviews Specs

My nephew bought this car, a dark silver color with a 5-speed, although I do drive it whenever I choose. He used to own a 04 Honda Civic si, there is no comparison. The Scion is a hands-down winner in the contest. The Scion has so much more midrange torque, and upper end horsepower, that driving this car sportily is very easy.



The Honda Civic si had to be literally beaten to be made to do the same thing the Scion does in its relaxed mode. Also, the Scions quality of fit and finish both interior and exterior blow the Honda away. I dont know why these young people even waste their time buying a Honda or Acura when these Toyota products are so "top of the line". My nephew says its because of that movie "The Fast and Furious"...this made me laugh...the ignorance of youth?

News

We hear the tC could be dropped by mid-2008 in deference to the ever-changing tastes of Scions young, trendsetting target buyers. One rumored replacement would deck out parent Toyotas Matrix compact wagon with "rally car" styling and perhaps a hot engine and all-wheel drive to go with it. Still, this so-called "xR" is just one of many possibilities that Toyota could brew from its many worldwide platforms and powertrains. Meantime, the tC shouldnt change much except for trim packages and maybe a few new functional features.

New for 2006

Introduced for the 2005 model year, the 2006 Scion tC gains audio system upgrades including a new three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio controls and a new standard Pioneer audio system. New exterior colors are Classic Silver Metallic and Nautical Blue Metallic. A Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit with iPod control is now available as an all-new accessory upgrade for all 2006 Scions. This head unit integrates track, artist and album information from the iPod into a one-line display on the head units screen.

Interior Design and Special Features

Although the Scion tC is a compact car at just 174 inches long, a relatively long (106.3-inch) wheelbase provides more than ample legroom, especially for those riding in the back. Rear passengers will also enjoy the split seat backs that can individually recline up to 45 degrees. Although it looks like a coupe, the tC is actually a hatchback, which means flexible cargo capacity. By folding down the rear seats as well as the right front seat, a load floor that stretches 103.6 inches is created, ideal for snowboarders and surfers. Cargo capacity is 12.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in use and a whopping 60 cubic feet when theyre folded down.

Safety

The Scion tC comes with four-wheel antilock disc brakes (with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) as standard equipment. Side airbags for front occupants and full-length head curtain airbags are optional. Other standard safety features include a first aid kit, triple side door beams and a driver knee airbag.

Powertrains and Performance

Standard power for the Scion tC comes from a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder borrowed from the Camry, with 160 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. A smooth-shifting five-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a four-speed automatic available as an option. Fuel economy is average for a budget coupe with a 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway estimate for the manual, and 23 city/30 highway for the optional automatic.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The Scion tC comes in one trim level and is chock-full of unexpected goodies such as one-touch up-and-down power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, steering wheel audio controls, keyless entry, mirror-mounted turn signal lights, four-wheel antilock disc brakes and a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with CD player and remote mini-jack port that is (XM) satellite radio-ready. The only factory option is a side airbag package, but there is a multitude of dealer-installed options. This list includes a CD changer, satellite radio, a subwoofer and a lighting kit for the footwell, just to name a few. A unique iPod connectivity upgrade is also available, and allows full iPod control, including power and display, through the tCs audio system.

Driving Impressions

The Scion tC is fun to drive. The engine is quiet, smooth, and plenty powerful in a 2900-pound car, and at full throttle, it sounds powerful without being intrusive, because it has a valved muffler that opens up at high rpm and can be worth as much as 5 horsepower.

The 2.4-liter double overhead cam, 16-valve engine is tuned to 160 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. This engine has been around Toyota in one form or another for many years and it has been continuously improved for power, torque, quietness and reliability. It comes with electronic variable valve timing for good low end torque development, and twin balance shafts for smoothness.

Choosing between the five-speed manual and four-speed automatic involves tradeoffs. The automatic is easier and, remarkably, more efficient, while the manual offers quicker acceleration performance. The gearing in the four-speed automatic means its not the hot setup for drag racing, with an overall ratio of just over 10:1. The five-speed manual is nearly 15:1, delivering much quicker acceleration in first gear. However, the automatic does move out smartly. And its obviously much easier to live with in the stop-and-go and slow-and-go, eliminating the need to exercise your left leg on the clutch pedal. Unlike most cars, the tC gets slightly better highway mileage with the automatic because the manual has a lower 4.235 axle ratio.
The steering, ride quality and overall handling of the Scion tC are commendable. Ride quality and stability are enhanced by its 106-inch wheelbase, longest in the class. It steers with a hefty touch, but accurate pointing, and transitions are easy and without drama. Thats because the tC has a low-cost MacPherson strut front suspension coupled with an expensive independent double-wishbone rear suspension not found on many cars in this price class. Bridgestone Potenza tires are standard.

The brakes are quite powerful for a car this light. The pedal feel and travel is very much to our liking, with almost no dead space at the top of the pedal travel. The ventilated front and solid rear discs are generously sized (10.8 inches front, 10.6 inches rear) and, as mentioned, ABS and EBD come standard. ABS allows the driver to brake and steer in a panic braking situation; EBD automatically balances braking forces front to rear, improving stability under hard braking and helping reduce stopping distances.

Favorite Features

My favorite features would be the price, rims, sound system, sunroof, metallic paint, Scion VIP security, high quality, and the look of the car from the outside and on the inside (not just high quality looking but actually high quality).

Overall Review

If you dont NEED a four door vehicle, and you want something fun to drive, this is it! Its an amazing value for all the standard options, and also has Toyota reliability. If you are in the market for a sporty, reasonably priced new car, I would HIGHLY recommend this one!

MSRP Price $16,300
Invoice Price $15,485