Scion tC
12 model years from 2005 to 2016, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

- Model years
- 2005–2016
- Class
- Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars
- Latest engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl
- Best MPG
- 23–26 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 6 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2007 (37)
- Fewest problems
- 2016
- Interest
- 5,593 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2016 tC in brief
The 2016 Scion tC is a compact car offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 177 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,036 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 26 MPG combined (23 city / 30 highway), 2% worse than the 2016 compact car average of 26.6 MPG, for an estimated $2,600 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
The Scion tC has 12 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2016, classed as Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars.
Its most efficient year was 2016 at 26 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 23 to 26 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (82), unknown or other (44), air bags (29).
Buying used? 2016 has the fewest problems in our data.
2016 has the most recalls (2); all years together count 6 campaigns and 235 owner complaints.
How the 2005 tC compares
The 2005 Scion tC is a subcompact car offered with a 2.4L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 27 highway), 10% better than the 2005 subcompact car average of 20.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,900 a year in fuel.
About the Scion tC
The Scion tC is a compact car manufactured by Toyota under its Scion brand from 2004 to 2016 over two generations: ANT10 (2004–2010) and AGT20 (2011–2016). Both generations were built in Japan. The tC was introduced first in the United States for the 2005 model year and then, beginning with the second generation in the 2011 model year, in Canada as well. The tC was Scion's best-selling model, constituting almost 40% of total Scion sales.
From the Wikipedia article "Scion tC", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2016 tC pros & cons
Full 2016 details →What's good
- Few owner complaints6 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 59 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2016 tC
6 owner complaints · 2 recalls · 1 crash report
None of the 2 model years we compared stands out for complaints or recalls.
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 2 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
tC changes by model year
- 2014
- New body dimensions: 2.8 in longer — most likely a redesign or new generation
- 2011
- Engine added: 2.5L 4-cyl
- Engine dropped: 2.4L 4-cyl
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 12 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 26 MPG | 176.8 in | 3,036 lb | Not rated | 2 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 26 MPG | 176.8 in | 3,036 lb | Not rated | 2 | 22 |
| 2014 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 26 MPG | 176.8 in | 3,124 lb | Not rated | 0 | 20 |
| 2013 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 MPG | 174 in | 3,036 lb | Not rated | 0 | 8 |
| 2012 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 MPG | 174 in | 3,036 lb | Not rated | 1 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 MPG | 174 in | 3,036 lb | Not rated | 0 | 14 |
| 2010 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 10 |
| 2009 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 25 |
| 2008 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 33 |
| 2007 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 37 |
| 2006 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 23 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 36 |
| 2005 | 2.4L 4-cyl | 23 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 1 | 19 |
Alternatives to the 2016 tC
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota Corolla | 34 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2016 Honda Civic | 35 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2016 Nissan GT-R | 19 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2016 Toyota Prius | 56 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2016 Mazda 3 | 33 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2016 Volkswagen Golf/GTI | 29 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Scion. How we calculate this →