2010 Scion tC Review
2010 Scion tC Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Ample standard equipment allotment, peppy engine, useful backseat and trunk, extensive customization options.
Cons
- Scant headroom for taller drivers, middling fuel economy, lacks performance credentials of some rivals.
What’s new
In its final year before a complete redesign, the Scion tC is unchanged save for a new special Release Series 6.0 edition.
Edmunds says
The highly customizable 2010 Scion tC offers decent performance with room for four at a reasonable price. As affordable two-doors go, it's a solid choice.
Vehicle overview
The 2010 Scion tC is a two-door hatchback coupe that parent company Toyota has aimed squarely at the 20-something crowd. These drivers likely want rides that are stylish, customizable and affordable, and the tC is a success on all three counts. Note that the tC is not a performance car, so if it's back-road thrills you're after, we'd advise you to look elsewhere. Otherwise, there's just not much wrong with the tC, even though it's now entering its sixth year of production.
As has been the case since the car's debut, the tC offers a comfortable ride and adequate handling for most tastes. A notable tC feature is its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which provides more low-end grunt than most cars in this class. Fuel economy isn't impressive, though, so there's a penalty for that extra displacement and punch.
The 2010 Scion tC also boasts a cleanly styled cabin with an accommodating rear seat. Two adults can fit back there, a rare feat for a car of this nature, and the seatback even reclines. The hatchback's cargo area is also roomy with the rear seats up; flip them down and you'll have 35 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.
In addition to the tC's solid list of standard equipment, there are numerous accessories available at the Scion dealership, including stylized wheels, body kits, upgraded stereo systems and various interior accents. Additionally, if the 2.4-liter engine leaves you wanting more, the dealer-installed supercharger boosts horsepower up to 200. That puts the tC's straight-line acceleration (and price) in the same league as pocket rockets like the Honda Civic Si coupe, Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI; however, all of the above are far more engaging to drive. Our advice would be to set your sights on the base tC and cross-shop it with other compact two-doors like the regular Honda Civic, the base Mini Cooper and the Volkswagen Rabbit.
Performance & mpg
The Scion tC is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 161 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices consist of the standard five-speed manual and an optional four-speed automatic.
The four-cylinder's unusually robust low-end torque is helpful around town, but all-out acceleration is uninspiring, with the 0-60-mph sprint falling in the mid-8-second range. The dealer-installed supercharger boosts output to 200 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, which cuts the 0-60 time down to 7.2 seconds. Sans supercharger, an automatic-equipped tC earns a slightly below-average EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined, while the manual is even worse at 20/27/23.
Safety
The 2010 Scion tC comes with antilock disc brakes, front side airbags, full-length head curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag as standard. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration frontal crash tests, the tC earned a perfect five stars for driver protection and four stars for passenger protection. Side-impact testing yielded five-star ratings for both front and rear passengers.
Driving
The 2010 Scion tC handles nimbly enough, though you certainly won't confuse it with a sporty rival like the Mini Cooper. Ride quality is relatively compliant for a budget-priced compact coupe. The 2.4-liter inline-4 pulls eagerly at low engine speeds, a welcome departure from the high-revving power delivery that's more the norm in this segment. The manual transmission is smooth-shifting, but it exacts a notable penalty at the pump.
Interior
The tC's interior features some upscale materials, though there's still plenty of hard plastic mixed in. The standard Pioneer sound system is crisp and powerful, but the head unit may frustrate some operators with its small buttons and busy faceplate. The standard iPod interface is a welcome feature, but we'd suggest opting for one of the upgraded stereo head units for better iPod control.
Thanks to a relatively long 106.3-inch wheelbase, the tC provides surprisingly good legroom for rear passengers, though rear headroom is limited for taller folks. The split rear seatbacks can independently recline up to 135 degrees, a remarkable feature among compact two-doors. Owners will appreciate the wide hatchback opening and 35 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded.
2010 Scion tC models
The 2010 Scion tC is a two-door hatchback coupe offered in two trim levels base and the limited-production Release Series 6.0. Standard features on the base tC include 17-inch alloy wheels, a dual-pane sunroof, air-conditioning, split-folding and reclining rear seats, keyless entry, cruise control, full power accessories with one-touch up/down windows and a Pioneer CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack and a dedicated iPod interface. The Release Series 6.0 features unique blue paint and interior trim, a special matte black exterior graphic, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an upgraded Alpine stereo and navigation system head unit.
There are no factory options, though dealers offer a wide array of styling and accessory upgrades, including an upgraded Pioneer stereo, satellite radio and a touchscreen navigation system.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Scion tC.
5 star(67%)
4 star(25%)
3 star(6%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(0%)
48 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.25 out of 5 stars
Great Gas Mileage
csigrrl47, 02/04/2015
2009 Scion tC 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
I bought this 2009 TC in 2008, brand new, I have had my first set of break put on last year 2014, I'm on my second battery only, the first set of tires that came on it were awful, they didn't align the car right so I chewed up them in less than 30,000 miles, but bridgestone on lasted 60,000 miles plus, have my third set of tires on them they are continentals great tire, the only problem … I have is in the last two years my engine light comes on and its because the gas gap is bad I have replaced it twice, for some reason it lets air in or something because I pulls a code from my mechanic easy fix, but annoying. Gets me about 33-34 mpg if I don't run it hard. Rattling starting. Very trusted car.
5 out of 5 stars
This is a real nice machine!
jdlewis95, 04/01/2011
2010 Scion tC Release Series 6.0 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
I just bought a 2010 TC brand new off the showroom. I have owned nothing but BMW's for the last 17 years. My last BMW was a 2008 328 Xi, great car but it was $47000.00 and I have 2 kids coming up for college in a few years, so I wanted to get a new car that was close to the BMW comfort and handling for less $$.
I fell in love with the TC. It has the Camry motor, and the TC weighs much … less, so it's fast with 161 HP. With the HUGE top open and the windows down it feels like a convertible. It has ABS brakes, and it handles like a German car. The stereo is great, the Bluetooth is nice, the steering is awesome, and the car has awesome power...and it's $27000.00 less than the BMW. Very NICE!!!!
4.63 out of 5 stars
Would buy again, oh wait I did.
serith, 01/08/2013
2009 Scion tC 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
I've owned both a 2006 Scion tC 5-speed, and now currently a 2009 Scion tC 5-speed Release Series 5 TRD model.
The 2009 is more refined than its 2006 predecessor.
If your're looking for a well rounded, budget-friendly coupe, look no further.
However, I can not say the same about the current 2nd generation tC--they are entirely different animals.
Pros:
- fun to drive
- peppy/quick (not … fast by any means)
- respectable fuel economy (could be better)
- relatively small
- toyota reliability
- aesthetically pleasing
- fantastic crash safety rating
Cons:
- "Boy Racer" stigma.
- Top 10 "most expensive to insure"
- 160hp from 2.4L is lazy engineering.
- Short final drive ratio (hurts mpg)
4 out of 5 stars
My first ever car purchase..& I would do it again!
Caitlin Martin, 03/22/2016
2009 Scion tC 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
I bought my 2009 Scion tC used in 2013 with about 60k miles on it. Since owning it and now at over 124k miles I have never had to put any money to it besides your typical maintenance; oil changes, wipers, new tires! It literally is like indestructible, it has never given me issues. Even in the snow, I live in northern New Jersey and with just my typical all weather tires, I can get … through the snow pretty well with taking my time. This honestly is the best car a young person can buy, I certainly got my moneys worth from it. The only thing I can complain about is the acceleration. It has the sporty look to it but drives more like an economy car, so its a little deceiving. Gas mileage is pretty good. But all in all, a great overall vehicle, VERY RELIABLE! It will be a sad day when I have to let her go to get into something a little bigger, but until that day comes I enjoy having the pleasure to have an awesome car that will do me good in the meantime.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Scion tC, so we've included reviews for other years of the tC since its last redesign.
2010 tC Highlights
Base
- Combined MPG
- 23 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $174/month
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- front wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
- Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Side Impact TestAcceptable
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintMarginal
- IIHS Small Overlap Front TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front TestAcceptable
More about the 2010 Scion tC
Used 2010 Scion tC Overview
The Used 2010 Scion tC is offered in the following submodels: tC Hatchback. Available styles include 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 4A), 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 5M), Release Series 6.0 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 4A), and Release Series 6.0 2dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 5M). Pre-owned Scion tC models are available with a 2.4 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 161 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2010 Scion tC comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual.
What's a good price on a Used 2010 Scion tC?
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2010 Scion tCS are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2010 Scion tC for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2010 Scion tC.
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Should I lease or buy a 2010 Scion tC?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Scion lease specials
Check out Scion tC lease specials
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