Overview & Reviews

Scion is one of the youngest brands on the market -- which seems appropriate given that it's targeted at a very youthful demographic. Scion has quickly found a home in the hearts of buyers seeking its winning blend of value and style. The frosting on this cake is that Scion is part of the Toyota family, offering all the quality and reliability you'd expect from a marque with its parentage.

When Toyota realized early in the 21st century that it was losing market share in the younger demographic due to a stodgy image, the company took a chance and decided to spin off a new brand called Scion (its name means "descendant" or "heir to"). The first Scions, the xA and xB models, were introduced for the 2004 model year. These edgy little cruisers were first available only in the California market; after a staggered rollout, Scion vehicles became available nationwide.

Both the xA and xB were immediate hits, snapped up by young (or young at heart) buyers looking for high-quality, fun and affordable wheels. The boxy yet funky styling of the Scions provided a lot of passenger and cargo room for the cars' small footprints, making them ideal choices for campus and urban residents alike. They also coddled the youth market with flashy sound systems; Scion's stereos are among the best in the economy-car segment.

The following year, the Scion brood grew to include the tC. This compact but sporty coupe offered more performance relative to its older siblings, thanks largely to a more powerful engine. The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor. By 2012, Scion had introduced the tiny iQ city car and the sporty FR-S sport coupe.

In the interest of keeping things simple for buyers, Scions typically come in only one trim level. However, buyers have the option of customizing their rides with a host of dealership-provided accessories, such as a subwoofer, body kits and custom exhausts. Scion also offers no-haggle pricing wherein buyers pay the list (window sticker) price, thus streamlining the negotiation process.

So far, a simple and well-equipped model lineup, no-haggle pricing and a variety of dealer-added options have combined to make the Scion brand popular with American consumers. The economy car segment isn't typically the first place you'd look for stylish, fun-to-drive vehicles, but Scion has changed all that by offering cars rich with a seductive exuberance that belies their modest pricing.

User Reviews:

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  Solid Buy - 2008 Scion XD
  By satisfied - December 10 - 6:36 pm

  Purchased our XD after looking at similar products. Our biggest reason for purchasing was for reliability and resale value (as we may not hold it for too long). Gas mileage was a consideration as well. I consistently gets 28-30 both highway and city. Even all highway was only 30 which was a little disappointing. My wifes only real complaint in the comfort of the seats for her (she is shorter). The ride is nice. It sits higher than our 2000 altima which is very nice and the higher body doesnt drag the bumper on our driveway (we live in Pittsburgh w/ lots of hills). Overall, we feel like it was a good purchase, but w/ our 1st baby on the way it wont be long before we need more room.

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  Ill miss you.. - 2008 Scion XD
  By IDisposable - December 10 - 3:16 pm

  I loved this beast! Great performance, great handling, great ergonomics. I hauled my wife, two kids and a pop-up trailer all over. This is a great small- family. We sadly had to part ways as there is a third child coming soon, but if Scion would have built a stretched version (ala the Mazda5 we just traded for) we would have stayed in the Scion stable for a third run.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Scion xA
  By Alex - December 8 - 8:03 pm

  I love my xA, its got a lot of room for the size and it gets 35 mpg. You cant beat that! I love my color, indigo ink pearl, awesome car, awesome buying experience.

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  Great little, around the town family car - 2008 Scion XB
  By irene - December 7 - 5:53 pm

  I really love this vehicle. Getting in and out is very comfortable and easy. Especially when you are driving your kids to and from everywhere in town and have a baby car seat and stroller to deal with. The only thing I have noticed, as far a being negative, is the rattling noise the car makes when idiling.

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  tC is Awesome - 2005 Scion TC
  By Mike - December 7 - 1:13 pm

  The Scion tC is just a great vehicle for the money. If you want speed and think about other cars that are faster, stop thinkin, buy the tC, throw a turbo in it and you will have a 12.12 1/4 mile time (w/slicks). This is an extremely beautifyl car. Its awesome!

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  Not My First Choice But the Better Choice! - 2008 Scion TC
  By B Hudson - December 6 - 9:34 am

  In March 2016, I purchased a damn 2008 Scion tC w/5 speed manual transmission. I do not think highly of the dealership I purchased it from but the car has been a great decision so far. I was not comfortable making yet another purchase on a car over 100k miles. The vehicle had 122k when I purchased it and now it is at 128k. I am surprised the car is in almost flawless condition. The body is in mostly good shape. I can tell the previous owner was not the best driver based on a few dings around the body. The rear bumper clear coat is completely gone. I am estimating that I will have to repaint the rear bumper. The car has been in Florida its entire life and I can tell the vehicle has never been waxed...ever. Dangerous never to wax here. I know Toyota and Honda have questionable paint qualities but waxing it once in a while will help! Since I have owned the vehicle I have flushed the radiator, changed the thermostat (no leaking, no overheating), two oil changes, new tires, new brakes and rotors, throttle cleaning. I plan on replacing the spark plugs soon. The only major mechanical issue with the car occurred a few weeks ago after I performed my brake change. The vehicle lost all oil. After running a check, the oil valve cover casket went out. It does not appear to be a common problem based on what I am told but it does happen. I am estimating I does am right at 30 miles per gallon on fuel, higher than EPA Estimates. I am not thrilled with the acceleration of the vehicle but it gets the job done. The manual transmission is easy to operate, mostly smooth shifting. Because of the electronic throttles they use in cars now, there is a slight lag on second gear, be prepared for it if you leave the car off for hours and start driving. The sound system is great, I wish the car had Satillite Radio which may end up installing myself. Except for the basic maintenance I just mentioned, the vehicle has required little maintenance! I would recommend using HID headlights instead of the factory headlights. The factory lights have a limited range. Expect to fill up with $30. Do not expect a racing machine from the tC but it is a fun car to drive, comfortable, not cramped for a two door. I would never bother driving the 4 speed automatic version of this car as it would be boring and full of problems. Stick with the manual, be gentle on it and it will be reliable for a long time.

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  Great Car for the $ - 2009 Scion XD
  By Paul - December 5 - 6:30 pm

  Ive had my Xd for 1 year. It is better than I expected. Fun to drive, economical and practical - it is all those things. It handles very well on the mountain roads I often drive. I put a rack on it and I carry bikes, skis and kayaks with no problems. There is plenty of room for a small car and the interior is well designed. The list of standard features is impressive. The engine compartment is clean and everything is very easy to get at - oil dipstick, washer reservoir, etc. This car delivers what is promised - a high value car that is a little sporty, very practical and pretty cool. Great car!

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  Great for the Money - 2004 Scion xA
  By Pheon - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Well I bought an Xa today and its seems to be a tight little package. Try comparing it to Kia Sephia. lol. A great value. Whole car seems well rounded and hella space with the seats down. My only complaint, if I had one, is 108hp, but Im behond 0-60 at this point and this makes it there fast enough. :)For $12995 you cant beat the stuff this little car has on it. My favorite thing about this car is the fit and finish. Seems like a much more expensive car. And to top it off its a Toyata. Ill be lookin for a new car in 2015. :)

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  Love my frig on wheels! - 2004 Scion XB
  By Eli - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Ive thrown it into some high speed turns and it handles great. I like the overall look of the exterior and interior of the car, and have found the quality to be great. The leg rooms the best, but unfortunately since theres alot of leg room, storage space is tiny. One other thing is that I wish the engine had a bit mor umph to it. Oh well, even so I still love the car, and dont regret buying it.

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  Only had it a week but... - 2005 Scion xA
  By Steve T - December 3 - 1:33 pm

  I bought this for the price and the MPG. I needed an inexpensive ride for 94 miles a day. I was/am surprised at how much I like it. Its got pretty good pick up for a 1.5L 4 cyl. I really cant comment on the reliabilty and quality yet. Ask me in 100,000 miles and if its still running, I got my moneys worth. Funny to look at but when youre on the inside of it, who cares what the outside looks like. And its loaded for the price. Only option was floor mats for me. It is probably the most economical car I ever bought.