2009 Scion tC Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

20 -21 City / 27 -29 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

161

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Michelle R

My car is mainly seems to be for a teenager not for parents.

It is too small for my family and I cannot take everyone with me. The good thing is it is good on gas and gets me where I need to go.

Selam A

Save, reliable, spacious, comfortably, fast.

Scion tC is a very safe and reliable car. Fast car, great on gas, spacious seating for a 2 door sports car. Never had an major problems. I love my Scion tC!

Roxanne R

It sounds amazing when driving. It is very smooth.

I do not like how low it is but it still drives beautifully. It is very roomy in the back. The trunk is also very nice.

Darlene K

It's very customizable and for a stock car with a small engine it's fun and fast to drive not to mention it got the top rated compact car many years in a row for safety!

I love the body style of the car, the sporty look. Love the extra hatchback room and back seats fold down for even more storage. Me and my husband love to do aftermarket stuff on our cars and this car has many many aftermarket options! The main reason we love this car is because it drives incredible! It's a blast to drive!

Rachel V

Why I love my 2009 Scion tc

I love my 2009 Scion tC. The only problem I seem to have with it is it eats up my oil. My car gets me to and from with no problems. For the most part, it's roomy. I am also short so that might be why. What I love most about my scion tc is the double sunroof. Only one opens, but having 2 makes it so much brighter inside. Another cool feature is that the whole top of my car is glass. I like it because it makes my car look like an expensive sports car.

Christian B

The scion tc is a great gas efficient comfortable sports car.

The scion tc is very gas efficient, very sporty. It has such a great performance I love how I can pull the roof back and get some fresh air on a hot day and feel the breeze on the highway. It's very spacious if you need some passengers in the back seat plus you can put the seats down in the back if you ever need to carry extra stuff in the trunk. The handling is great the brakes are super smooth and the acceleration is amazing on that thing.

Krystal R

I'm a single female with no kids so it's the perfect size for me.

I have luckily had no mechanical issues with my car. It's dependable and perfect for my needs. I like the sporty look and the sound system. The only issue I've had was the driver side visor would not stay up, I replaced that and all is well. It is convenient that the back seats fold down for extra trunk space as well, I like in Florida so this is good for beach days.

Henry G

Overall The car is in great condition it has the best family ever

The tire goes flat more often. The performance is more slower compared to the Toyota Supra, which is crazy. It's very comfortable for being a small hatchback car. In general I love this car. It has over 161 horsepower, many people like to drive tcs has a regular daily driver, but in my case I pimped me out to make it faster. It's very reliable

Negative Owner Reviews

Lisa L

It is great for day to day driving, but not great for long drives.

I like that my car is small, but also has a nice amount of space for groceries, luggage, etc. It handles quite well and has a decent amount of power. My only negative complaint is that it is not comfortable for long drives.

Linda J

It gets great gas mileage.

I like that it is dependable and has been a great auto. I hate that is it so small and I do not have a lot of room.

Erica S

This car is cheaply made. It is not children friendly and is geared towards teen.

The bucket seats are uncomfortable. You have to be a short person to drive this car the rooftop is really low. You can feel everything on the road while driving. I think the inside is cheaply made and so is the outside. I don't like how only one sunroof is automatic.

Colleen M

Awesome little car with great gas mileage

My Scion is awesome! I've owned SUV most of my life so going to a small 2 door compact car was a shock but it's pretty awesome. I absolutely love the two sunroofs! I wish the back one opened like the front one does. The strep is great gets loud and has a terrific base. The car is also really good on gas, I drive about 150 miles a day and I use about 1/2 a tank. My car has an excessive fuel vapor code in the engine but other than that no problems I think it's an overall good car.

Kayla V

I LOVE the hatchback, great place to keep pillows and blankets inside.

Cons: The gas mileage is pretty crappy, a full tank lasts me 5 days...and as far as comfort goes..the way the chairs are shaped really put a number on my back, causing me some back pain. Pros: The speed on the car is amazing I can hit 45 mph in seconds, the cruise control is nice and at first was a little difficult to figure out.

Moses F

My vehicle is a good gas saver

My car runs well, but sometimes it is a little unstable. In other words, since it is a small car, it moves a lot. I like it a lot though. I like Scions, I like how they look from the outside and the inside. I have not have any major problems with my car. I try to do the maintenance correctly. This type of cars are nice and convenient if you are single because they do not have a lot of space. The inside is small.

Scion tC Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

2dr HB Man

161 HP 23 MPG 5 Seats

2dr HB Auto

161 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2009 Scion tC Owner Reviews

4.21

39 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

36%

4 stars

49%

3 stars

15%

2 stars

1 star

Joshua C on March 14, 2021

Scion TC great car for all needs

I have no major issues. It has been a reliable vehicle for me since purchasing in 2012. I like the roominess for a 2 door. Laying down the seats also gives a lot of room for transporting items. I would definitely purchase another vehicle in this line once I am ready to buy again.

Ryan C on March 4, 2021

Purple Scion Tc, an amazing car with great MPG

Overall my vehicle is great. Its reliable and very fun to drive. It drives smooth when maintained properly and the double sunroofs are a great bonus. I love the bass in the audio system, and the comfort of the chairs. Mine is a manual so it's fun to cruise around in the streets with as well.

View All Reviews (39)

Pros from Owners

Cassie B.

My scion has the best gas mileage. I do not have much of a commute to work but when I drive around town on the weekends I only have to fill up every two to three weeks. I usually get at least 28 miles or more to the gallon. My car is also so easy to park. I can zip into a spot so easily. I haven't noticed a blind spot yet in my car!

Cons from Owners

Cassie B.

Sometimes the fact the car is not a two door is a problem. Having to pull the front chairs up to get into the back is sometimes a pain. I noticed the plastic handle to the back hatch peeled off after a year. It is okay and easily replaceable but sort of annoying. Also opening the back it always seems to squeak a bit. I do wish at times it had more room to haul things. Since the window is rounded on the back it makes hauling larger things a pain.

Ranks #15 Small Cars by Owners

The 2009 Scion tC has an average owner rating of 4.21 out of 5 which ranks it #15 of 30 other Small Cars.

2009 Volkswagen GTI

4.86

2009 Subaru WRX

4.64

2009 Scion tC

4.21

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2009 Scion tC has a combined MPG of 34 which ranks it #9 of 30 other Small Cars.

2009 Volkswagen Jetta

40 MPG

2009 Honda Civic

36 MPG

Tie

2009 Scion tC

29 MPG

Is The 2009 Scion tC A Good Car?

Yes this is a great vehicle that has lasted me 10 years so far. It is still cute and runs great. Does not feel at all like I am driving a ten year old car!

Victoria R.

Yes I love it, it is very reliable. I have had no problems so far with it, the interior is great it is saved me from staining it easily. It is very easy to clean has a clean cut design.

Amanda G.

How Reliable Is The 2009 Scion tC?

So far this car has been completely reliable with hardly any issues. Biggest issues were a recall on the part above the handle to open the trunk which does not affect the safety of the car at all.

Victoria R.

Yes I believe it is very reliable, I've had no problems with it, I drive it a lot so it has a lot of miles & still no problems.

Amanda G.

Is The 2009 Scion tC A Good Value?

Now it costs around 4000$ at the most due to age and outdated technology. I think it has a great value considering the depreciation of cars.

Victoria R.

It is a good value for what you are getting, all the aspects the scion has it makes the price you are paying very worth it.

Amanda G.

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2009 Scion tC Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Positive Owner Reviews

Negative Owner Reviews

Scion tC Models

2009 Scion tC Owner Reviews

Pros from Owners

Cons from Owners

Ranks #15 Small Cars by Owners

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

Is The 2009 Scion tC A Good Car?

How Reliable Is The 2009 Scion tC?

Is The 2009 Scion tC A Good Value?

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Safety & Reliability