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The original Scion tC brought premium features and unlikely cabin quality to a segment known for neither. With the redesigned tC set to hit dealerships this October, parent company Toyota traded much of that for a package that’s high on style and low on substance.

The two-door 2011 Scion tC boasts a fresh look, generous room and an improved drivetrain, but cabin quality is just barely competitive — a few steps down from the class-leading original.

Available in one trim with most optional features installed as dealer accessories, the front-wheel-drive tC coupe comes with a four-cylinder engine and a manual or automatic transmission.

Evolutionary design

The new tC still looks like a tC, so much so that one journalist asked why Toyota didn’t update the styling more. The exterior is more mature, with an angular sweep to the taillights that emulates a lot of cars from Toyota’s Lexus luxury division. The A-pillars are now black, creating the illusion of a wraparound windshield — a “helmet” look derived from Scion’s Fuse concept shown at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.

With underpinnings from Europe’s third-generation Toyota Avensis — and its platform sibling sold on our shores, the Lexus HS 250h — the new tC is 1.6 inches wider than the 2010. Length and wheelbase remain unchanged, so the new dimensions make for a more grounded look.

The taillights are straight off a BMW 1 Series. That’s not a bad car to emulate, given that some tC buyers likely see themselves in a 135i a few job promotions down the road. Mirror-integrated turn signals, something the prior tC featured, are still standard, and the standard wheels move to 18-inch alloys, up from last year’s 17-inchers. There still isn’t a rear wiper, which a proper hatchback ought to have, but its absence makes for a cleaner rear deck. Form beats function, and saves some coin, too.

As with all Scions, the full slate of available accessories includes fog lights, faux carbon-fiber B-pillars, additional Scion insignia, 19-inch wheels and a rear spoiler. The spoiler is worth getting; the car’s stubby tail drops off abruptly without it. Most of these are dealer-installed, which makes it easier to outfit the car to suit your tastes.

More four, less banger

A new 180-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder teams with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. It provides palpably more get-up-and-go than the outgoing 161-hp tC.

The tC moves out quickly enough, with adequate low-end torque to scoot around slower traffic without needing to downshift, but it won’t fool anyone about having two more cylinders or any sort of forced induction.

Both transmissions work well. The six-speed manual has medium throws and accurate, easy-to-park gates. The brake and accelerator are close enough to manage heel-and-toe shifting, but the engine revs take a few moments to fall — a move to reduce emissions and avoid throttle-back lurches, chief engineer Masayuki Nagai told me.

The optional six-speed automatic upshifts smoothly and kicks down a gear or two with little delay. Uphill stretches require minimal gear hunting, and downhill coasting can induce a proactive downshift or two. Bravo.

Scion says the tC hits 60 mph in 7.6 seconds with the manual and 8.3 seconds with the automatic — decreases of 0.6 and 0.8 seconds, respectively, versus the 2010 tC (manual and automatic). Better yet, the drivetrains are both EPA-rated at 23/31 mpg city/highway. That’s an increase of 2 to 3 mpg over the last tC, depending on transmission, and its combined rating matches the 2.4-liter Kia Forte Koup.

Firm ride, fun handling

The standard four-wheel-independent suspension employs thicker stabilizer bars than before. Nagai characterized its tuning as “much more firm” than the last tC’s. Throw in the standard 45-series tires, and the coupe rides rough, plain and simple. On all but the smoothest interstates, the car takes on a din of up-and-down vibrations.

The handling is good, though perhaps not enough to justify the brittle ride. The tC avoids the predominant nose-heavy push that some front-drive cars display, and on curvy roads it corners reasonably flat. The steering wheel exhibits decent turn-in precision and weighty, slop-free motions. At low speeds it operates with light effort, gradually firming up with speed. On the highway, the tC tracks remarkably well — there’s a secure on-center feel with minimal corrections.

The standard four-wheel-disc brakes are larger for 2011; antilock braking is standard. It seems to take a half-inch of pedal travel before the hydraulics engage, but deceleration is linear and strong thereafter.

The inside

From a styling standpoint, the cabin is a hit. The design looks good. Wraparound surfaces create a more driver-centric cockpit, with a meaty three-spoke steering wheel and leftward-tilting center controls. The new dash’s black-heavy scheme should appeal to anyone who doesn’t like silver; the horizontal layout feels both contemporary and cohesive.

But then there’s the quality issue. The first-generation tC had outstanding amenities for a car of its price: padded surfaces in all the important areas; a nice grade of headliner that extended, like in luxury cars, down the window pillars; elegant digital climate controls; chrome door handles; and power windows with one-touch up/down operation.

Gone, all of it. Drive with your hands at 9 and 3 o’clock, and your elbow will perch on rock-hard upper door panels. A ragtag headliner meets plastic window pillars, and the climate controls employ shoddy knobs. The power windows now provide express-down operation for the driver only, and the door handles are plain black. The glove compartment clatters open without any damping. The center armrest is a sheet of hard plastic.

The standard CD stereo includes iPod integration and eight speakers. It cranks out OK sound, and the head unit resides in an old-school, boxed dash cutout, which allows for easy upgrades.

The cloth seats, at least, are supportive and accommodating. Headroom and legroom increase a bit for the front seats; with the driver’s seat raised all the way, I ran out of headroom below the standard panoramic moonroof (I’m 5-foot-11). New for 2011 is a telescoping steering wheel that should help more drivers find a comfortable fit.

Legroom is up a full inch in the back seat, and the resulting room is far more generous than you’ll find in most coupe competitors. The 60/40-split seatback reclines independently a few degrees on each side, so adults should have no problem sitting back there. With little in the way of a center floor hump, three could even fit — which, thanks to a center seat belt, the tC allows.

Cargo volume behind the rear seats is an impressive 14.7 cubic feet. That’s up nearly 2 cubic feet versus the old tC, and it falls somewhere between coupe competitors like the Civic and Forte and more upright hatchbacks like the Golf. Fold the rear seats down, and the tC offers a maximum 34.5 cubic feet.

Safety, features and pricing

As of this writing, the 2011 tC has not yet been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Standard safety features include eight airbags, an electronic stability system, antilock brakes, a brake override system and active front head restraints.

Stick-shift models start at $18,275, with the automatic running $19,275. That represents an increase of $1,175 to $1,375 over the 2010 tC, depending on transmission. Chalk up the extra cash to (mostly) the roomier interior, larger wheels, extra power and new stability system. Like before, a panoramic moonroof, iPod-compatible stereo with steering-wheel audio controls, power windows and locks, remote entry, air conditioning and cruise control are standard.

Optional accessories include an upgraded Alpine stereo, a navigation system and satellite radio. The navigation system allows for Bluetooth connectivity, including Bluetooth streaming audio — a fast-expanding feature that allows you to play music wirelessly from your smart phone. The long list of extras runs the gamut. Performance items include larger brakes and a lowered suspension, while cosmetic accessories run from an interior lighting kit to lower body graphics. As of right now, pricing for the tC’s accessories is pending, but the outgoing tC offered more than $15,000 worth of accessories.

Scion tC in the market

Scion says the average tC buyer is just 26 years old. That’s younger than buyers of the brand’s xB and xD hatchbacks. Scion says the tC represents an “aspirational car” for its clientele. The redesign looks the part, but the cabin falls short — and the car’s road noise and firm ride may have some drivers aspiring to reach their destination so they can get the hell out.

Once the brand’s most popular model, the tC will probably reach that mark again on looks and power alone. But with fresh competition in the compact segment — from Kia to Ford to Honda — Scion’s latest model faces an uphill battle to maintain its draw. If you’re shopping for one, check out the competition. Then check out an old tC. You might come away surprised.

2011 Scion tC snapshot

Starting MSRP $18,275

EPA Fuel Economy:
City: 23
Highway: 31

Available Engines:
180-hp, 2.5-liter I-4 (regular gas)

Available Transmissions:
6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual
6-speed manual w/OD

New or Notable
* Redesigned for 2011
* New 2.5-liter four-cylinder
* Six-speed manual or automatic
* Front-wheel drive
* Hatchback rear, coupe-like lines

What We Like
* Steering
* Smooth-shifting transmissions
* Crowd-pleaser styling
* Backseat roominess
* Improved gas mileage
* Seating comfort

What We Don’t
* Cabin materials
* Road noise
* Firm ride
* Stereo operation
* Crude climate controls
* No more one-touch operation for all windows

(C) 2010, Cars.com