Until the FR-S burst onto the scene in 2013, the tC was Scion's only sporty car. The model debuted in 2005, and continued unchanged until Scion released the second generation in 2011. The 2014 model year brought about a midlife refresh, and not much else changes as we head into the 2015 model year.
There are very few changes for 2015, as the tC just received its midlife refresh, but there are a few of note. The most important change is the addition of a paddle shifters on its automatic transmission, which gives the auto a sportier feel. Two new colors also make their way onto the options list for 2015.
Like all Scions, the tC does not have a pile of trim levels to choose from. In fact, it only has a single trim to choose from, and buyers can customize the sports coupe as they see fit. This a la carte option program allows buyers the opportunity to customize their car to suit their needs, but it does result in the MSRP shooting up rather quickly.
The tC has just a single engine available, and it is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 179 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 172 foot-pounds of torque at 4,100 rpm. Delivering the power to the front wheels is standard, six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed auto.
Like most Scions, the tC is available only in as a customizable base vehicle, giving buyers the ability to build their model to suit their needs. As standard, the 2015 tC bases at $19,210 and comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, electronic power steering, projector headlights with LED accent lights, 18-inch aluminum wheels, a panoramic sunroof, folding side-view mirrors with integrated LED repeaters, a chrome exhaust tip, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power driver's seat with memory, and a 300-watt, AM/FM/CD Display Audio system with a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone, USB port and eight speakers. Buyers can opt to replace the manual transmission with the automatic, which features paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management, for an extra $1,150.
The lack of trim levels is a nice change of pace and can save you money, but choosing options a la carte can also lead to rather high prices. In fact, a fully loaded tC with the automatic transmission can exceed $30,000 with all of the option boxes ticked.
