Alexis king

2012 Scion tC

••3.5

Posted On: May 26, 2024

2012 Scion TC review

Pros
Super tiny fits anywhere u park, So many speakers and sounds great

Cons
Way to low to the ground u feel everything and it scraps alot, Gas goes doesn't last if u are you heavy foot or going up and down hills

Too low and you feel every bump also it is loud. I do not like the car as much as I hoped I would. I have had a lot of problems with the key getting stuck in the ignition and if you park it a certain way turning the key over can be an issue. Gas mileage is good although Stock shocks are not so great. Car is good on gas though. Ride is rough especially on bad roads.No engine problems Regular oil c... Read more

2012 Scion tC Review

Pros

High fuel economy
Sporty interior design
Comfortable ride quality
High safety scores

Cons

Okayish driving dynamics
Limited interior spacing

Overview

There have been no major changes to the 2012 Scion tC and it carries the same engine from the previous year’s model. This engine is quite decent in terms of power output but provides great overall performance. The hatchback is quick on acceleration in this segment and provides a high fuel economy. The interior is sporty looking and provides great comfort but lacks in terms of the spacing provided to the passengers.

Pricing and Features
6.0/10

The 2012 Scion tC is available in two trim options, namely Base and Release series 7.0. The base variant is available at an affordable price of $18,575 and gets great standard features at this price range. The Release series 7.0 is a limited edition trim, only 2,300 of which have been made. It gets few exterior upgrades along with interior trim options. Here is a list of the key features available with the trims of the 2012 Scion tC.

Trims	Base	Release series 7.0
MSRP	$18,575	$20,905
Key Features	18-inch alloy wheels	Adds to the base trim:
	keyless entry	lower body kit
	cruise control	keyless ignition/entry
	panoramic sunroof	yellow-accented black upholstery
	height-adjustable driver seat
	eight-speaker Pioneer sound system

We Recommend

We would recommend you to opt for the base trim which gets great overall features. Some of this includes 18-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, 8-speaker sound system, and many more. Thus at a price of $18,575 the base trim provides the best value for the money spent.

Engine and Performance
7.2/10

The 2012 Scion tC is available in a single-engine option. The 2.5-liter inline-4 cylinder engine generates around 180 hp along with 173 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission and delivers the power to the front wheels as standard.

The engine setup accelerates the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds, while the quarter-mile distance is reached in 15.9 seconds.

Model	Scion tC Hatchback	Ford Focus Hatchback	Suzuki SX4 Hatchback
MSRP	$18,575	$18,300	$15,845
Engine	2.5 Liter Inline 4	2.0 Liter Inline 4	2.0 Liter Inline 4
Drivetrain	front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Transmission	6-speed Manual	5-speed Manual	6-speed Manual
Power	180 hp @ 6000 rpm	160 hp @ 6500 rpm	150 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque	173 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm	146 lb.-ft. @ 4450 rpm	140 hp @ 3500 rpm
0-60 mph (sec)	7.4 sec	8 sec	8.6 sec
Quarter-mile (sec)	15.9 sec	16.2 sec	19.7 sec
Top Speed (mph)	113 mph	127 mph	121 mph

While the Scion tC is the most powerful in this comparison, it is followed by the Ford Focus with a power output of 160 hp. The Suzuki SX4 sits at the bottom of the list with a maximum power output of 150 hp. The SX4 is also the slowest in this comparison with 0-60 mph reached in 8.6 seconds, while the Ford Focus takes 8 seconds.

Fuel Economy
8.1/10

The 2.5-liter engine in the 2012 Scion tC is quite efficient in terms of fuel economy. It provides a mileage of 23 mpg in the city which improves to 31 mpg on the highway. Thus we get a combined mileage of 26 mpg from the scion tC. Along with that, the tC is equipped with 14.5 gallons of fuel tank cap[acity which provides a maximum range of 450 miles.

Model	Scion tC Hatchback	Ford Focus Hatchback	Suzuki SX4 Hatchback
MPG (City)	23	26	23
MPG (Highway)	31	36	30
MPG (Combined)	26	30	25
Fuel Capacity (gal)	14.5 gal	12.4 gal	13.2 gal
Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles)	333/450/377	322/446/372	304/383/330

The Ford Focus is the most efficient in this comparison with a combined mileage of 30 mpg, while the Suzuki SX4 provides a combined mileage of 25 mpg. The SX4 has a smaller 13.2 gallons of the fuel tank which limits the maximum range to 383 miles, while the 12.4 gallons of fuel tank capacity in the Focus provides a maximum range of 446 miles.

Interior
7.8/10

The interior design of the 2012 Scion tC is quite sporty even if the driving dynamics don’t particularly translate into that. But the interior looks attractive with a sporty steering wheel along with well-bolstered seats that provide great overall comfort.

The tC is not particularly spacious as well with limited front and rear headroom. The Scion tC can carry up to 5 passengers in total, and along with that, provides a decent 14.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity.

Model	Scion tC Hatchback	Ford Focus Hatchback	Suzuki SX4 Hatchback
Seating Capacity	5	5	5
Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)	37.7/55.4/41.8	38.3/55.6/41.9	39.6/53.3/41.04
Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)	36.4/52.1/34.6	38/53.7/43.7	38/52.8/36.4
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)	14.7 cu-ft	13.2 cu-ft	15.5 cu-ft

All the vehicles in this comparison can accommodate upto 5 passengers in total. The Suzuki SX4 provides great headroom in the front while the Ford Focus provides ample legroom at the rear. The SX4 provides the best cargo volume of 15.5 cu-ft while the Ford Focus p[rovides a cargo volume of 13.2 cu-ft behind the rear seat. Here is a list of the interior features that are available with the 2012 Scion tC:

Height-adjustable driver seat
Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
Reclining and folding 60/40-split rear seats
Driver track and seatback angle memory
Air-conditioning

How is the 2012 Scion tC Hatchback’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system available in the 2012 Scion tC gets multiple features as standard. Some of those include Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, iPod interface, USB ports, CD player, and an 8-speaker audio system. Along with that, there is an option to opt for the navigation system along with satellite radio and an upgraded audio system. Here is a list of the infotainment features that are available with the 2012 Scion tC:

Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity
iPod interface
USB ports
CD player
8-speaker audio system
Navigation system
Satellite radio

Exterior
6.0/10

The exterior design of the 2012 Scion tC is sleek and minimal. The edgy design of the automatic headlamps along with the small front grille and 18-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior look of the tC.

The two-door design along the drop-down roofline gives it a sporty look as well. The Scion tC is the heaviest in this comparison with a curb weight of 3060 pounds. It has a length of 174 inches and a longer wheelbase of 106 inches.

Model	Scion tC Hatchback	Ford Focus Hatchback	Suzuki SX4 Hatchback
Curb Weight (lbs)	3060 lbs	2857 lbs	2734 lbs
Length (in)	174 in.	172 in.	177 in.
Width (in)	71 in.	72 in.	69 in.
Height (in)	56 in.	58 in.	61 in.
Ground Clearance (in)	6 in.	5 in.	7 in.
Wheelbase (in)	106 in.	104.3 in.	98 in.

The Suzuki SX4 is the lightest in this comparison with a curb weight of 2734 pounds, while the Ford Focus weighs around 2857 pounds. The SX4 is also longer in length but has a comparatively shorter wheelbase. The Ford Focus sits quite close to the ground at 5 inches, while the SX4 has a higher ground clearance of 7 inches. Here is a list of the exterior features that are available with the 2012 Scion tC:

18-inch alloy wheels
Keyless entry
Full power accessories
panoramic sunroof

Optional:

Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Fog Lights
Rear spoiler

Safety
9.3/10

The NHTSA has given the 2012 Scion tC a perfect 5-star safety rating, while the IIHS has also given it a ‘Good’ rating in most of the test segments. Thus the 2012 Scion tC is capable of safeguarding the passengers in case of an accident. Along with that, the tC gets few safety features which are as follows:

Stability control
Traction control
Anti Lock brakes
Front knee airbags
Front side airbags
Side curtain airbags
Active front headrests

Final Verdict

The 2012 Scion tC is a perfect package available at a very affordable price. The tC is equipped with a decency engine that provides great overall performance. It is comparatively quicker than its competitors while still providing great fuel economy. The interior has a sporty design and provides great comfort to all the passengers. But it lacks the cargo capacity and spacing provided to the front and rear. The Scion tC gets a great safety rating from governmental organizations and thus easy to recommend.

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About 2012 Scion tC

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2012 Scion tC

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2012 Scion tC User Reviews

2012 Scion TC review

ProsSuper tiny fits anywhere u park, So many speakers and sounds great

Cons Way to low to the ground u feel everything and it scraps alot, Gas goes doesn't last if u are you heavy foot or going up and down hills

2012 Scion tC Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features6.0/10

Engine and Performance7.2/10

Fuel Economy8.1/10

Interior7.8/10

How is the 2012 Scion tC Hatchback’s infotainment system?

Exterior6.0/10

Safety9.3/10

Final Verdict

Saved Cars

Pros
Super tiny fits anywhere u park, So many speakers and sounds great

Cons
Way to low to the ground u feel everything and it scraps alot, Gas goes doesn't last if u are you heavy foot or going up and down hills

Pricing and Features
6.0/10

Engine and Performance
7.2/10

Fuel Economy
8.1/10

Interior
7.8/10

Exterior
6.0/10

Safety
9.3/10