  2015 Scion FR-S, dashboard. Click image to enlarge |
Fifth: 2015 Scion FR-S, Jonathan Yarkony
The Scion FR-S enjoys the privilege of winning in two of the most coveted categories: Looks and Handling. They are not unrelated.
Pure sex appeal. Hot hatches can be charming and sedans are practical, but coupes are the cars that draw the eye, the low roof and sloping hood with big bulging fenders evoking all sorts of carnal thoughts. However, an enthusiast will note that the low roof and low hood also translate into a low centre of gravity, and those in the know will remember that this Toyota is packing Subaru engineered flat-four engine also keeping that centre of gravity low and balance ideal.
They are also two categories that can instantly close a deal. For some, one glance at the FR-S would be enough to make it a first choice in the realm of affordable cars. One drive, perhaps even one corner is all it should take for someone that values the feel of a true sports car.
The FR-S’s other category win was Steering Feel, the firmly weighted wheel, though wrapped in poor quality perforated leather with rough stitching, absolutely sang with the joy of diving into turns, the response immediate, and the tension palpable. For some hyperbole, let’s turn to Jeff Wilson: “Wow is this thing ever frisky! It changes directions more rapidly than a housefly on a caffeine kick.”
I’d forgotten how incredible the steering in this thing is, and with the lowest centre of gravity, grip and balance are superb even on a set of durable, efficient tires, though they are not so sticky as to keep you captive and allow a bit of slip and play – the suspension tuning and hyper-sharp steering on the FR-S is such that it invites a bit of tail-out antics. Bring it on. Then again, not all found the lack of grip endearing. “Too bad about the tires though. With very little provocation, it’ll chirp and squawk and break loose, which might be fun, but puts it at a disadvantage in outright performance compared to some of the more serious rides in this group,” says Jeff Wilson. Why so serious?
The engine, however, is not as eager. The horizontally opposed boxer-four makes the requisite 200 hp, but it can only muster 151 lb-ft of torque, so while you can throttle steer on the edge of adhesion taking an on-ramp, you may need to look elsewhere if power-sliding around big empty parking lots is high on your priority list. Jeff echoes my sentiments: “Scion rates this thing at 33 hp more than the Mazda but I sure don’t feel those horses. The coarse, slow-revving engine needs more beans to be engaging.” It seems like it needs another 2,000 rpm to come into its own as it’s just starting to pull when you have to shift (or clumsily bounce into the rev-limiter as I did several times). Jacob Black concurs: “The engine needs more grunt, I’ll say that ‘til the day I die. Wonderful car to drive, horrible tinny interior.”
Ah yes, the interior. There’s a reason Scion can deliver the FR-S at under $30K even with the Freight charge factored in (the only car other than the Civic Si to do so). These are economy car materials and entry-level systems, including audio, gauges, fit and finish, scoring last or second-last in several livability categories. Of the cars with rear seats, the FR-S was least accommodating.
The high point of the interior is the driver’s seat, which, although difficult to get down into, holds you in place with its alcantara inserts and high bolsters, but is well contoured to offer good comfort and adjustable enough to find a suitable driving position. Jeff loved “the view of the fender tops through the windshield, helping the driver place this car where it needs to be at all times.” Unfortunately, the view in every other direction was severely restricted, making parking and driving in traffic a chore.
The manual transmission is anything but a chore. At times it feels like they reverse engineered the MX-5 shifter feel, but the clutch is absurdly light – switching between the WRX and this was a shock either way. Though a bit more weight would be welcome in the clutch, more response from the brakes should be a priority. Although they do build progressively and bring the car down from speed adequately, they just feel weak and vague early in their travel.
There is no question that this is the purist’s sports car of the bunch, with perhaps the greatest handling potential (a simple tire swap should give it grip for days), the practical and economical compromises might elicit regret from those that aren’t truly committed to a dedicated performance car, while the power deficit might leave the performance crowd looking elsewhere for not much more money. The Scion FR-S is sexy, with a wholly visceral and masterful driving experience, but it trails in too many areas to come out on top in this comparison.
Pricing: 2015 Scion FR-S
Base Price: $26,670
Options: Premium Display Audio System with Navigation – $1,025
A/C Tax: $100
Freight and PDI: $1,695
Price as Tested: $29,490
