2016 Scion FR-S

Scion or rather Toyota, which is its parent company, has kept things very simple as they offer the FR-S coupe in only two trims. The base trim features most of the features that one would need from their sporty budget coupe while the higher Release Series 2.0 add-on more amenities like leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, HID headlights, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Both the trims are offered with a manual and an automatic transmission. 

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Since there is not much of a price difference between the two trims, we would recommend going all the way and opting for the Release Series 2.0 trim for the added creature comfort. Also, the manual transmission is the way to go as that is where most of the fun elements of this car lie. 

The Scion FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated horizontally-aligned four-cylinder engine that is sourced from Subaru. It produces 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, all of which are sent to the rear wheels only through a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission also features paddle-shifters which can rev-match the downshifts for smoother and quicker gear shifts.

Although the power and torque output may not invoke much emotion, the performance from this flat-4 engine is pretty swift, needing just under 6.5 seconds for the 0-60 mph sprint while the quarter-mile is covered in 14.6 seconds. That being said, these timings are for the manual gearbox and the automatic transmission adds over a second to reach 60 mph from a standstill. 

The almost identical twin to the FR-S, the Subaru BRZ costs slightly more but has an almost identical performance to offer. The Mini Cooper Hardtop S features a turbocharged engine underneath its small hoof and has considerably more power and torque to offer. That being said, the Mazda MX-5 with its ultra-lightweight chassis and lowest engine output, is the quickest off the mark amongst the cars present here.

The 2016 Scion FR-S isn’t a gas guzzler in any way and in fact, is pretty practical to be used as a daily commuter car with its 30 mpg highway rating and 25 mpg of combined city and highway ratings as per the EPA. The 13.2-gallon fuel tank may not sound that huge but is pretty large for such a compact car. It aids in offering a driving range of well over 300 miles of combined driving, which means it will still need to be taken to the gas station much more often. 

The lightweight and bare-bones Mazda MX-5 Miata returns the best fuel efficiency figures in this comparison, which is much higher than what the FR-S has to offer. The Mini Cooper with its forced-induction four-cylinder motor also sips less fuel than the Scion while the Subaru BRZ shares its chassis and powertrain with the FR-S and hence identical figures in this section.

The cabin of the FR-S is basically a blend of Toyota and Subaru elements as even the switchgear that can be recognized from other Toyota and Subaru cars. Apart from that, the cabin is pretty basic and bare minimum in nature and that is on purpose, to offer the most fun while driving. The new silver-tone interior scheme looks much better than the all-black theme of the previous 2015 model year. 

The seats are very comfortable and supportive and hence are great for both long highway cruising and when driving enthusiastically. The low-profile hood and slim pillars offer good outward visibility while the seat upfront offers a comfortable seating position for people of most sizes. That being said, the rear seat is best doubled up as cargo space as the 6.9 cu-ft of trunk space is hardly ever going to suffice any needs.

The Mini Cooper S feels the most spacious in this comparison as it has the best front and rear-seat space and also has the largest trunk on offer. That being said, the rear seat here too isn’t made for adults and is on par with the Scion and Subaru. The MX-5 on the other hand offers seating for only two occupants with no rear seat and hence has a pretty spacious front seat, though the trunk capacity is practically a joke. Some of the interior features in the 2016 Scion FR-S are:

• 6-way adjustable driver seat and 4-way front-passenger seat
• Front Heated Bucket Seats
• Full Folding Bench Rear Seat
• Fabric Upholstery w/T-Pattern
• Tilt/Telescoping Sport Leather Steering Wheel
• Leatherette Door Trim Insert and Leather Gear Shifter Material
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning

How intuitive is the 2016 Scion FR-S Coupe’s infotainment unit?

Scion has updated the infotainment system this year and it now offers a 7-inch display over the 6.1-inch screen available before. There is also a 300W Pioneer audio system that sounds amazing and feels worth the money. Apart from HD radio, Bluetooth, an iPod interface, there aren’t many other technologies on offer. Some of the infotainment features include:

• A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 8-speaker Pioneer audio system with 300-watt amplifier
• HD Radio
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• iPod connectivity

The Scion FR-S feels like a modern and updated version of a classic Japanese sports car with the sleek, curvy, and low design of its old-school long hood/short deck proportions that has in a way defined the sports car look for many of us. The bonnet has a sculpted look to it while the wide opening front grille looks aggressive. The slightly flared wheel arches and the sloping roofline complete the stylish and appealing design of the FR-S. 

The MX-5 is a much shorter and narrow car as compared to others, and with the plastic hardtop roof, it also weighs significantly less. Both the BRZ and FR-S are the largest of them all as the Mini Cooper is the shortest car in this comparison. Apart from the Mazda, they all weigh very similar to one another and all of them coincidently have the similar ground clearance to offer as well. Some of the exterior features in the 2016 Scion FR-S are:

• Fully Automatic Projector Beam High-Intensity Low/High Beam Daytime Running Headlamps
• LED Brakelights
• Body-Colored Power Side Mirrors
• Lip Spoiler
• Black Grille and Side Windows Trim
• Rocker Panel Extensions
• 17-inch Forged Machined-Aluminum Wheels w/Painted Accents

The 2016 Scion FR-S has not been crash-tested by the NHTSA, but the almost identical BRZ received a perfect 5-star overall rating in the test. The IIHS has also rated the FR-S with ‘Good’ ratings in almost every aspect of the test for the 2016 model year. Again, there are not many safety features or driver aids on offer to maintain the car’s old-school vibe, but it does cover all the necessary safety aspects rather well. Some of the safety features include:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front and Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Back-Up Camera

The Scion FR-S is a car that can never be bought with a practical mind, as it does not have a spacious and feature-loaded cabin, a large trunk, a fuel-efficient engine, and a long list of safety features. But what it offers is the entertaining drive with its compact and well-tuned chassis that is perfectly matched by its potent performance and low asking price. If these attributes fit in your checkbox list, the 2016 Scion FR-S could very well be the perfect coupe for you.