Somehow, and despite the time and effort invested by Toyota to create a social buzz around its introduction, the Scion brand’s arrival in Canada caused but a small wave in the ocean. Maybe it’s because we knew all about the Scion product lineup already, on sale in the US since 2003.
Created with the objective of attracting a younger clientele to Toyota showrooms, Scion offers only small cars; which makes us wonder why Toyota waited so long to bring the cars to the Canadian market. In addition to the 2012 Scion tC coupe we’ve tested recently, the brand also sells the subcompact xD, the versatile xB as well as the newly-arrived 2012 Scion iQ minicar.
For the next couple of months, the tC will be Scion’s only sporty car; that will change with the arrival of the much-publicized 2013 FR-S, a rear-drive sports car with a 200-hp engine. Should the tC be worried about losing its job? Maybe, but I don’t think so.
The tC coupe is the bestselling Scion in Canada this year. After a few days behind the wheel of our school-bus yellow Release Series 7.0 edition, the reasons are clearer.
It’s got a Camry engine
Don’t worry; sharing an engine with a Camry isn’t bad. The 2.5L inline-4 develops 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, and you can choose between a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with manual mode.
Our tester sported the manual gearbox, and unsurprisingly, it makes the tC much more entertaining than the automatic. In addition, the clutch pedal is light and the shifter throws are precise; it’s much better than the awful 6-speed tranny that equipped the old Matrix XRS and Corolla XRS models from 2003 to 2006.
Performance-wise, the Scion tC hits 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. As for fuel consumption, we recorded an average of 9.3L/100km with a mix of city and highway driving.
The tC also rewards its occupants with a decent ride; there’s reasonable body roll, and the suspension isn’t too stiff either. Even down the badly maintained boulevards surrounding Auto123.com’s office, the Scion coupe is pretty enjoyable.
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| Only 175 copies of the 2012 Scion tC Release Series 7.0 will be offered in Canada. (Photo: Sébsatien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
Created with the objective of attracting a younger clientele to Toyota showrooms, Scion offers only small cars; which makes us wonder why Toyota waited so long to bring the cars to the Canadian market. In addition to the 2012 Scion tC coupe we’ve tested recently, the brand also sells the subcompact xD, the versatile xB as well as the newly-arrived 2012 Scion iQ minicar.
For the next couple of months, the tC will be Scion’s only sporty car; that will change with the arrival of the much-publicized 2013 FR-S, a rear-drive sports car with a 200-hp engine. Should the tC be worried about losing its job? Maybe, but I don’t think so.
The tC coupe is the bestselling Scion in Canada this year. After a few days behind the wheel of our school-bus yellow Release Series 7.0 edition, the reasons are clearer.
It’s got a Camry engine
Don’t worry; sharing an engine with a Camry isn’t bad. The 2.5L inline-4 develops 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, and you can choose between a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with manual mode.
Our tester sported the manual gearbox, and unsurprisingly, it makes the tC much more entertaining than the automatic. In addition, the clutch pedal is light and the shifter throws are precise; it’s much better than the awful 6-speed tranny that equipped the old Matrix XRS and Corolla XRS models from 2003 to 2006.
Performance-wise, the Scion tC hits 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. As for fuel consumption, we recorded an average of 9.3L/100km with a mix of city and highway driving.
The tC also rewards its occupants with a decent ride; there’s reasonable body roll, and the suspension isn’t too stiff either. Even down the badly maintained boulevards surrounding Auto123.com’s office, the Scion coupe is pretty enjoyable.
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| The tC is equipped with a 180-horsepower, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. (Photo: Sébsatien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |