2008 Scion tC

Scion's small family of small cars includes the entry level, hatchback xD, the boxy, funky xB, and the sporty tC coupe. Of the three, you could argue that the tC has the toughest row to hoe. For one thing, the two-door coupe segment is notoriously small and fickle. Ditto for hatchbacks, at least in this country. And, its price point (MSRP $17,620 (manual), $18,420 (automatic), means that it has one foot in the entry level market and the other in the compact sport coupe segment.

Styling

tC has the characteristic profile of a small sport coupe. The slightly sloping nose flows back to a laid-back windshield; the curving roofline resolves in a tall, sawed off tail. The 2008 model year is a refresh year for tC. Outside changes start with a facelift: mesh upper grille and lattice lower grille, framed by a set of projector-type, low beam headlights. Taillights have been revamped to align with the front, style-wise, and now feature round, combination lamps.


Inside, the '08 tC gets a number of fashion/function upgrades. The combination meter on the instrument panel is lit in orange, and the center cluster and door handles are trimmed in silver. Seat fabrics are updated, and sound system standard features have been expanded. All tCs are now equipped with an iPod interface. Plug your iPod into the port jack and you can control your music through the head unit of the 160-watt Pioneer AM/FM/CD audio system, steering-wheel-mounted controls, or your iPod. Track, artist and album information are shown on a one-line screen display. An available sound system upgrade ($389) also allows you to download "skins." tC owners can download four-second video clips or eight-second movies from Pioneer's website and play them on the audio system's faceplate. Customers can also burn their own images and movies onto a CD and upload them onto the head unit.

Interior

New to the option sheet for 2008 is a navigation system ($2,010), with seven-inch screen. A wide variety of options carry over from years past, including many items to customize the look of the tC's interior. This includes everything from a carbon fiber dash appliqué ($139) to illuminated doorsills ($299) to OBX Racing Sports shift knob ($59) and sport pedals ($79). Lifting the one-piece, top-hinged hatchback leads to 12.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity—more, if you flip down the split rear seats.


In addition to the core tC model, Scion offers a tC Spec Package as well ($15,300 manual, $16,100 automatic). This is a somewhat de-contented tC, seen as a blank canvas for the aftermarket to embellish. Compared to the Spec version, the core tC adds such features as 17-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels (in place of 16-inch steel rims), cruise control, one-touch driver and passenger power windows, a Pioneer subwoofer, redundant audio controls on the steering wheel and a panoramic moon roof.