2014 Scion tC Starts at $19,965

Scion's tC coupe debuted at the 2013 New York Auto Show with mildly freshened exterior styling as well as upgraded materials and features inside; it'll debut at dealerships next month with a slightly higher price. The 2014 Scion tC starts at $19,965 for models with the six-speed manual and $20,965 for automatic-equipped versions (all prices include a $755 destination fee). That’s an increase of $485 over 2013 base models.

Outside, the front-wheel-drive coupe wears new grille and headlight designs as well as LED taillights. Inside, there's a new 6.1-inch touch-screen audio system. Newly optional is an upgraded Scion BeSpoke audio system with navigation and smartphone app compatibility for $1,198. Under the hood, the previous version's 180-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder returns; Scion says it's mated to a faster-shifting six-speed automatic transmission for 2014.

The automaker announced pricing for its tiny iQ hatchback, too. The 2014 version also gets the new 6.1-inch touch-screen audio system and is otherwise unchanged. It starts at $16,420, including destination; model-year 2013 versions started at $16,250. The minicar also goes on sale in June.

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NHTSA: 2013 Cadillac SRX, 2014 Scion tC Earn Five-Star Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the results of a new crop of tests, including some updated-for-2014 vehicles.

All-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive versions of the 2013 Cadillac SRX earned the agency's highest rating, an overall five stars. Its composite score is made up of four stars in front and rollover tests and a five in side crash testing. The model-year 2012 version also scored five stars, although it earned a five in front crash tests. For 2013, the compact crossover got some light exterior styling and interior updates and Cadillac communications spokeswoman Jordana Strosberg told Cars.com that "the SRX interior was modified for 2013 and our score was fractionally different."

Scion's updated-for-2014 tC coupe also earned an overall score of five stars, a repeat of last year's safety rating. Model-year 2014 versions of the tiny Scion iQ and subcompact Ford Fiesta were also tested; both received four stars overall. Sedan and hatchback versions of the Fiesta were lightly updated for 2014. Model-year 2013 versions of the Fiesta were also rated at four stars; the 2013 iQ hadn’t yet been tested.

Editor's note: This post was updated on April 23 with comments from a Cadillac representative.

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Scion Series 10 Limited Editions Celebrate Brand's 10th Birthday

Coming to dealers in June will be special editions of Scion's entire lineup, including the just-announced 2014 Scion tC. Marking the brand's 10th anniversary, the Scion 10 Series editions of the xB, xD, iQ, FR-S and tC will all be painted one color — Silver Ignition — and feature the Scion name illuminated on the dashboard when drivers enter the vehicle before it fades to reveal the number 10.

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Each will be sequentially numbered, with a total run of 10,000 units to be produced. All will feature silver seat belts, LED Scion badges on the hood and rear that light up when the car is unlocked, and a solar-powered illuminated shift knob. The xB, iQ and xD models will come with unique alloy wheels, while the FR-S 10 Series will have standard high-intensity-discharge headlamps, dual climate control and smart key with push-button start ignition.

Recall Alert: 2012-2013 Scion iQ

Toyota is recalling 11,200 of its small Scion iQ cars from the 2012 and 2013 model years because of a potential problem with the weight sensor cables, which are part of the safety system that deploys airbags and seat belt pretensioners, according to the automaker.

The sensors are located in the seat assembly, and the cables for these sensors can come into contact with foreign objects like loose coins or trash and become damaged. If damaged, the safety system may not operate properly or at all when needed in a crash.

The company says there have been no crashes or injuries related to the defect.

Toyota will inspect the front seats and the weight cable sensors and install new protective covers over the sensors to fix the problem.

Owners will be contacted by Toyota starting in early December with instructions on having the recall remedied. The repair should take approximately an hour, according to Toyota.

Concerned owners can call Scion at 866-707-2466 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more information.

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Electric iQ Joins Car-Sharing Programs

An all-electric version of Scion's iQ microcar is set to join several on-campus and urban car-sharing programs throughout the country.

The 2013 Scion iQ EV uses a 12-kilowatt-hour battery that provides up to 50 miles of pure electric driving. Toyota says it can be fully charged in three hours when connected to a 240-volt power source. Total output from the electric drivetrain is 47 kwh — equivalent to 63 horsepower — and 120 pounds-feet of torque. Along with various energy-saving technologies, there are three unique EV driving modes and regenerative braking.

"Toyota developed the iQ EV specifically as a city commuter, for use in an urban environment, where driving distances are likely to be short, charging opportunities numerous, and its compact proportions beneficial," Chris Hostetter, vice president of strategic planning for Toyota Motor Sales, said in a statement.

2013 Chevy Spark Finds its Mark, Impresses Millennial

While I prefer a car that's loud and fun to drive, minicars appeal to me and my wallet. The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is designed to be easier on the bank accounts of millennials like myself, who were born in the 1980s and '90s with its starting price of $12,995, including a $750 destination charge. 

I've had seat time in the Scion iQ, which I really liked, the Smart ForTwo and Fiat 500. I recently spent a weekend in the Spark and many of my friends – all millennials like me – were impressed by it. They were shocked at the number of standard features like power windows and alloy wheels in this cut-rate micro.

Is the U.S. Ready for Minicars?

Tiny cars are big in popularity throughout the world, but the U.S. has been slow to adopt the trend. The Smart first blazed the minicar trail in the States with the 2008 ForTwo, to mediocre success. Will new entries from Fiat, Chevrolet and Scion give the class a popularity boost? If September's sales figures are any indication, yes.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark, which first went on sale this summer, started off strong with 1,460 sold in July and 2,630 sold in August. September sales have cooled slightly with 2,223 sold. The Spark was initially launched in South Korea in 2009 and went global shortly afterward. According to GM, more than 600,000 have been sold since its debut and it's the best-selling Chevy in India.

Scion iQ EV Question Mark in Toyota's Hybrid Game Plan

Toyota Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada told reporters today that "there are many difficulties" to selling an EV based on the Scion iQ, Reuters reports. The so-called eQ would have competed with the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive and forthcoming Chevrolet Spark Electric.

"The current capabilities of electric vehicles do not meet society's needs, whether it may be the distance the cars can run, or the costs, or how it takes a long time to charge," Uchiyamada said. That said, Toyota will sell the eQ, which was unveiled in concept three years ago, in sparse quantities. The automaker plans to build only about 100 cars, which will be offered in Japan and the U.S. There's no word on pricing yet.

To call EV sales sluggish is to put it mildly. In August, the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Ford Focus Electric and Honda Fit EV combined for just 900 sales. Plug-in hybrids and extended-range EVs like the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-in are doing comparatively better: The Volt sold 2,831 in August, and the Prius Plug-in has sold 6,061 through the first eight months of the year. (Toyota didn't provide August figures.)

Toyota plans to offer 21 new or updated hybrids and plug-in cars over the next few years, Reuters reports. Fourteen of them will be all-new.

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2012 Scion iQ Video

The 2012 Scion iQ is billed as an urban runabout, and its tiny dimensions do make for easy parking. Unfortunately, the short wheelbase leads to a choppy highway ride, and the car isn’t as practical as other similarly priced subcompacts, according to Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays.

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Where to Sit: Scion iQ's Front Seats or GMC Yukon XL's Third Row?

There’s no reason why anyone should cross-shop the Scion iQ microcar and massive extended-wheelbase GMC Yukon XL, but coincidence brought these polar opposites into Cars.com’s test fleet at the same time. The amount of space inside the Yukon is impressive to the point where we wondered if the third row could be roomier and more comfortable than the iQ’s front seats. Wonder no more, we got out the measuring tape.

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The difference in size is staggering. From bumper to bumper, the entire iQ can fit between the Yukon XL’s wheelbase. Subtract the iQ’s curb weight (2,127 pounds) from the Yukon XL’s (5,824 pounds) and there’s almost 3,700 pounds left over to craft a midsize sedan. 
 
The Yukon XL’s third row has a tough task to conquer the iQ’s front seats because, despite a small exterior, the Scion’s surprisingly large interior has plenty of room for front occupants.