Used 2016 Scion tC for sale 

The Scion tC is offered in a well-appointed single trim only and is available with some tasteful dealer-level customization options which include 19-inch wheels, fog lights, TRD performance parts for the suspension and drivetrain, and an upgraded BeSpoke touchscreen audio system with navigation. The price for the Base trim starts at $19,385 and it offers some excellent features for the price such as a sunroof with manual shades, a 7-inch touchscreen display with voice controls, Aha smartphone integration app, and one-touch track and seatback angle memory.

We Recommend

The Scion tC comes in a feature packed form right out of the factory and doesn’t offer any trim levels to choose from. We can recommend you to opt for the dealer-level customization options such as the bigger 19-inch wheels and TRD performance parts for the drivetrain and suspension.

The Scion tC is powered by a standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I-4 motor. The motor generates a maximum of 179 horsepower and 172lb-ft of torque. The power figures are quite good for the price of the car and since the same motor has been used in the much bigger Camry sedan and other Toyota vehicles, the powertrain feels more eager on the tC owing to its compact size and lightweight design.

The motor can carry the car around the city limits with a dominating performance and out on the highways, the power feels adequate too. The 0-60mph run is accomplished by the car within 7.6 seconds when equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission. The transmission isn’t the slickest one in the segment, but gives a sporty feel while you go through the gears quickly.

The Hyundai Veloster offers a rather weak performance while standing at a similar price point as the Scion tC. The Honda Civic hatchback has a better performance than the Veloster and takes the middle ground among the rivals on the list.

Being an entry-level vehicle, the Scion tC is expected to deliver some excellent fuel economy ratings and the vehicle does that without any fuss. The car returns a maximum of 23mpg in the city limits and an impressive 31mpg out on the highways. The combined mileage is rated at 27mpg. The fuel economy figures are excellent considering the performance it offers along with the power figures.

The Hyundai Veloster has a significantly more fuel economy rating than the tC owing to its lackluster power figures. The Honda Civic truly impresses with its exceptional fuel economy rating as compared to its performance figures.

The Scion tC comes with a distinctly sporty appeal. The flat bottom steering wheel, generous seat bolsters, and the controls leaned towards the driver gives the tC a high-performance car appeal. The cabin’s overall nice aesthetics are bogged down by some cheap plastic trims throughout the cabin.

The front seats are quite comfortable for everyday usage as well as long trips and the back seats have more than average legroom and adequate headroom on offer. The seat upholstery feels nice yet durable and combined with Toyota’s reliability, the car makes for an excellent daily driver.

The Hyundai Veloster has a better front headroom than the tC but falls short in the rear seat space. The Honda Civic has an excellent cabin with generous and practical features along with robust build quality. The rear seats of the Civic are again practically unusable owing to the restricted headroom.

Infotainment

The infotainment system of the Scion tC is rather intuitive and decent for an entry-level vehicle. The infotainment system comes with a Display Audio system featuring a 7-inch touchscreen, HD Radio, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio-streaming capability, and access to Aha internet radio via the driver’s smartphones. There are no optional upgrades for the infotainment system sadly.

Highlighted features if the infotainment system include:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Premium Sound System
• Display Audio system with 7-inch touchscreen display

The Scion tC follows on the design language of the sportier FR-S which gives the car a confident stance. The front end looks quite aggressive and the specially designed angular headlamp units look spectacular. The overall design cues have been inspired from several Japanese as well as American vehicles such as the Nissan GT-R, the Chevrolet Camaro, and the old Toyota Celica. 

All the sharp and edgy design elements blend in perfectly with the creases corners, giving the car a more masculine appeal than it actually is underneath. The ground clearance of the sedan is also above average at 6.1-inches.

The Hyundai Veloster has a similarly aggressive design language with a wide and blacked-out front grille that gives it a more mean stance. The Honda Civic looks considerably humble but features some sharp styling elements to enhance its sporty appeal.

Being a Toyota-derived vehicle, the Scion tC comes with excellent build quality and safety features for an entry-level car. The NHTSA gave it a perfect 5-star rating while the IIHS gave it their best possible “Good” rating to further strengthen the safety aspect of the vehicle. The tC comes with several standard safety aids including seat-mounted side bags along with side-curtain bags and driver and front passenger knee bags. Active head restraints, Brake Assist and a brake-throttle override system are also offered as standard.

Highlighted safety features of the Scion tC are:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Active head restraints

The Scion tC is an excellent offering in the budget car segment and appeals to the millennials the most owing to its sharp styling and aggressive looks. Despite being a two-door hatchback, the car offers above average cabin space and a proper seating arrangement for 4 passengers which is quite a rare train in two door hatchbacks. It also offers a strong performance and stands strongly against its rivals. Since it is the final year of its production, you might get one for yourself as well.