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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Cooking up some fun ... 'Island Night' planned at Ashland pool ... Ticket Availability ... Cooking up some fun ... 'Island Night' planned at Ashland pool ... Ticket Availability ... Silvio Calabi: Scion tC style hides its utility Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM » Social News At least where I live, there aren’t many of these things around, so let’s review: Scion is Toyota’s starter brand, slotted below the mother ship in the same way that Lexus sits above it, demographically speaking. There is some price overlap among the three nameplates — the most expensive Toyotas cost more than a lesser Lexus, while bottom-rung Scions and Toyotas cost roughly the same (even mighty Toyota can drive down the price of a car only so far) — but the key distinction between them is attitude, or style. Toyotas are vanilla for the vast middle market; break into the upper salary ranks or a well-heeled retirement, and Toyota hopes you’ll stick around and upgrade to a Lexus. Scions, on the other hand, are aimed at pre-mortgage Millennials who are just beginning to strap themselves into a working life of 401(k) deductions and lease payments, or at their parents. For this approach to pay off, Scions (sons, get it?) have to deliver Lexus pride of ownership plus Toyota build quality plus unique, age-specific style — at entry-level prices. That’s a challenge. However, a spot survey in our neighborhood shows that Scion’s best-seller, the tC, continues to make a strong impression in its age slot, even though it hasn’t changed much this year. With its muscular haunches, gun-turret windows and eye-catching 18-inch alloy wheels, the tC bears zero resemblance to Mom’s RAV4 or Dad’s Camry, nor does it say “I’m on an allowance” the way a Yaris does. (Even though it costs barely more than 20 grand.) Drop into the driver’s seat and twist the key, and the raspy exhaust sound also makes a young male smile. My kids like to brag that they can drive a clutch; a six-speed manual transmission is standard in the tC. Plan B isn’t bad, though: For 2015 the tC’s optional six-speed automatic got steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management, which blips the throttle when downshifting. In a powerful car, this can smooth out gear changes; in the tC it just sounds cool. Speaking of power, there isn’t a great deal available: 179 horses (and 172 lb-ft of torque) from a 2.5-liter, direct-ignition four-cylinder engine that burns cheap gas. On the other hand, a tC only weighs about 3,100 pounds and feels properly rigid, so while it isn’t quick, it isn’t a complete slug either. Some of that weight saving must come from thin panels and little insulation, for the tC buzzes with engine drone and road noise at certain speeds. Very little information comes back through the brakes or the electric power steering, but there aren’t any nasty surprises; the tC behaves rationally, rides well, steers quickly and goes where it’s pointed. However, its fuel efficiency is disappointing — we averaged only about 26 mpg overall. The tC looks like a sports coupe, but it’s really a practical three-door, five-seat liftback with cargo space for two months of laundry — or a lot more, with the rear seatbacks folded down. Unless they play Big Ten ball, our young driver’s roommates can squeeze into the back, and his dog will love the shotgun seat and the big sunroof. He (or she, let’s be fair) will also appreciate the fat, flat-bottomed and leather-trimmed steering wheel, with audio controls built in, that adjusts both up and down and in and out. As well, the sporty bucket seat can be raised quite a long way. The only impediment to driving is poor rear-quarter visibility. The C-pillars are huge, the back windows are tiny (and fixed), and the tC has no rear-view camera yet. For a generous but sensible parent, the tC’s benefits are easy to nail down too: low monthly payments, Toyota’s reputation for bulletproof quality, front-wheel drive performance that’s mild rather than wild, relatively easy insurability, and two years of no-cost roadside assistance and maintenance. Nor has Toyota forgotten safety. The tC comes with eight airbags and something called Smart Stop, which cuts power to the engine when a panicked driver has his foot on both the gas and the brake in an emergency. Scion even promises an easy, no-haggle, no-funny business dealership experience for inexperienced buyers. Where do I sign? Likes - Surprisingly practical - Toyota build quality - Priced right Dislikes - Engine buzz - Rear-quarter visibility - Should get 35 mpg Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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