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The Scion tC received a subtle restyling inside and out last year. For 2009, the stripped-down Spec package is discontinued, while a limited edition Release Series 5.0 joins the lineup.

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 2009 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 Scion tC unique to their tastes.

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The 2009 Scion tC is a stylish two-door, four-seat sporty hatchback coupe powered by a 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

What Scion calls the core model is available with either a five-speed manual ($17,000) or four-speed automatic ($17,800) transmission. This price buys a surprising amount of standard equipment, including air conditioning; reclining front sport bucket seats with cloth upholstery and position memory; height and tilt adjustments for driver's seat; power locks and mirrors with integrated turn signals; a tilt wheel with audio controls; 160-watt Pioneer AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with subwoofer and iPod connectivity; a huge, power-retracting glass sunroof; a two-tiered console; reclining rear seats; keyless entry; engine immobilizer; cargo cover, and a dozen other comfort and convenience goodies. It all rolls on P215/45ZR Bridgestone Potenzas on 17-inch alloy wheels.

Safety features for all tC Scions include optional side-impact and side-curtain airbags designed to provide torso and head protection. (Head injuries are the leading cause of death in side impacts.) A knee airbag is standard, along with the mandated dual front airbags. Anti-lock brakes and Electronic Brake-force Distribution are standard also, as is a tire-pressure monitor.

Options include a premium Pioneer sound system with video capabilities; and a navigation system with seven-inch touch screen. There are no other factory options, but Scion dealers offer more than 40 dealer-installed accessories, ranging from shift knobs and satellite radio (either XM or Sirius) to a supercharger kit good for 200 horsepower. Special Toyota Racing Development (TRD) items include 18- and 19-inch wheels, a lowering kit, struts and shock absorbers, rear anti-roll bar, a high-performance clutch, a quicker shifter, a stainless steel muffler, and a shift-point indicator light kit.

Limited to only 2,000 units, the 2009 Scion tC Release Series 5.0 features gloss black exterior paint and numerous performance products from TRD, including a TRD rear sway bar, sport muffler, and individually numbered badging. TRD edition 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, in matte black with red trim, and red TRD lowering springs provide this tC with a sportier presence. A black rear lip spoiler will also be available. The TRD theme is continued inside with a black leather steering wheel featuring red stitching, black seats with red accents and floor mats with the TRD logo. The tC RS 5.0 is also equipped with a cargo mat. The Scion tC RS 5.0 model will carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,300 over the base price of the tC.