The steering, ride quality and overall handling of the Scion tC were commendable, in part due to its 106-inch wheelbase, longest in the class. It steers with a hefty touch, but accurate pointing, and transitions are easy and without drama. That's because the tC has low-cost MacPherson strut front suspension coupled with an expensive independent double-wishbone rear suspension not found on many cars in this price class. Bridgestone Potenza tires originally developed for the hot-rod Lexus IS 300 are standard.
Braking is accomplished with a combination of ventilated front and sold rear discs, 10.8 inches front and 10.6 inches rear, generously sized and quite powerful for a car this light, with both ABS and electronic brake force distribution built into the standard price. The pedal feel and travel is very much to our liking, with very little dead space at the top of the pedal travel.
One of the things that came through after our initial drive was the quietness of this small, inexpensive car, which turns out to have more sound insulation in it than any other Toyota product this side of a Lexus V8. The front suspension strut tower is connected to both the dashboard and to the A-pillar for extra strength and solidity, and the rear suspension has three steel subframe supports that also add quietness and rigidity. Next Page