Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Scion tC Release Series 8.0

The Scion tC is a mid-range model in the Scion stable and has arrived this year with a new special edition called the RS 8.0, which is the subject of this week’s Five-Point Inspection.

This special “Release Series” vehicle is limited to only 2,000 examples, and features a unique Fixe Axis Designed Body Kit as well as TRD-sourced lowering springs and exhaust. All the extra kit and exclusivity comes at $22,570 for the manual transmission model and $23,620 for the paddle-shifting automatic model. This represents a $3,090 increase over the regular Scion tC.

Read on for AutoGuide’s five major likes and dislikes of the Scion tC.

Scion is a Toyota brand that survives on selling to drivers who are interested in car-culture. The tC RS 8.0 will certainly be a hit then thanks to it’s brash exhaust tone. The aggressive exhaust note sounds great from the moment you start it up, and gets better as you drop a gear and accelerate.

On the inside, drivers and passengers alike should really love the sound-system, which pumps out tunes clearly with minimal distortion when it gets loud. The Pioneer touch-screen is a nice touch, with a clear and simple-to-use interface thanks to its large buttons. It’s just a shame there’s no navigation.

While Scion has made special edition Release Series cars for a few years now, this year’s model had to step up its game thanks to the arrival of a new big brother: the FR-S. Luckily, thanks to Troy Sumitomo and the folks at Five-Axis Design, the Scion tC RS 8.0 definitely stands out in the compact coupe crowd.

The big blacked-out 18-inch rims, center-exit exhaust, front and rear bumpers and spoiler help a lot in giving the tC personality. The chiseled edges also give the tC a handsome look.

This custom tC looks distinctly aftermarket, but in a clean well-done way you don’t often see.

With a body that pops, the tC’s cabin is lacking, despite efforts to add some sporty flare. You have to love the seats as well as the stitched leather on the steering wheel and shift knob, plus the fact that the infotainment system is angled slightly to give the car a driver-focused feel.

Still, the HVAC controls are simplistic (although easy to use) and the armrest is hard and uncomfortable.

Efforts have been made and its undoubtedly an improvement over the standard tC, it’s just that these simple modifications aren’t nearly as significant a change as those outside the car.

Despite the uninspired interior, one aspect of the cabin that’s hard to complain about is the spaciousness. Both front and rear-seat passengers will find themselves comfortable, while the panoramic moonroof provides an airy-feeling.

Trunk-space is generous thanks to the tC’s hatchback design. The back seats also fold down to combine the huge trunk with the passenger space, making for a lot of useable cargo room. The tC will handle plenty more cargo than any of its compact coupe competitors.