MotorMouths

Because if it doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd, it won’t really matter how practical the tC is for moving dorm rooms or schlepping the boys around on a Saturday night.

The 2011 Scion tC is a car without a singular mission. This coupe-hatchback has to do too much. It has to give equal priority to style, feature content and out-and-out affordability. There’s just not enough money left in the budget to do anything very exciting with the car’s chassis.

The 2011 Scion tC presents a stylish exterior, but its tech, both cabin and drive train, lags behind similarly priced competition.

This is a good car, in the sense that it is made well, reasonably priced, and likely to last a long time. It may not be a “man’s car”, but if your mom says you have to get your graduation present at the Toyota dealer, this is your best choice.

As far as performance goes, the tC is a mixed bag filled mainly with average numbers. Based on what we experienced, the tC is a mid-pack performer at best.

As a car for a young driver who’s more interesting in the styling, comfort, features and modest price tag, the Scion tC will probably hit the mark when it lands in showrooms in October. The drivability is there, just not the passion. You can’t have everything.

The 2012 Scion tC is a good choice among compact coupes thanks to its roomy interior and generous cargo capacity. Just don’t expect its driving dynamics to match its sporty looks.

Every piece of sheetmetal on the 2011 Scion tC may be new, but the car’s striking similarity to its predecessor is proof of old thinking at Toyota: We have a sales winner—don’t mess with it.

The understated nature of the old tC made it unique in its class. Now it’s just one of the burly boys. All this manliness seems to have come at the expense of the car’s interior materials.

The 2011 Scion tC has a more masculine physique and a new engine that’s both more powerful and fuel efficient. The interior, however, does fall short of its peers and the competition in this $20k price range gets better every year.

Think of the 2011 Scion tC as a $19,000 gender-neutral blank canvas. It’s an upgrade in every aspect from the previous tC and is entirely capable of serving your needs as is. But in order to get it to raise your blood pressure, you’ll need to add your own flair.

The 2011 Scion tC’s muscular stance belies a practical and economical daily driver that offers a decent amount of fun to boot. For most drivers, that’s plenty.