The Scion tC is an affordably priced but thoroughly practical and well-equipped sport coupe. It benefits from Toyota's attention to quality, durability and reliability. The body panels fit tight and straight, and quality construction is evident. Interior materials are first-rate, and show attention to detail. The bucket seats are comfortable and there's enough room to suit tall drivers. A 160-watt stereo is standard.

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generates 161 horsepower and, with the optional automatic transmission, gets an EPA-rated 29 miles per gallon on the highway. It is quiet, smooth, and plenty powerful. Its steering, ride quality and handling are commendable. Its four-wheel disc brakes are powerful, and ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution come standard. A full array of airbags is available to enhance safety.

The Scion nameplate may represent Toyota's next-generation future, but in some ways the 2008 Scion tC brings a welcome blast from the past, when sport coupes were often regarded as a kind of blank canvas for personal expression. Factory options are few, but the tC offers an extensive menu of dealer-installed accessories that allow owners to build a tC unique to their tastes. There's even a stripped-down, extra-value-priced Spec Series model, with downgraded wheels and seats, just good enough to get you from the showroom floor to the tuner shop.