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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  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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  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.

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  Hidden Gem - 2008 Scion XD
  By Scrapster - November 26 - 10:00 am

  Last week I traded in my Scion tC for an xD. Although some would consider that a "downgrade," the new car fits me much better. So far, I love it! Fun to drive, fantastic fuel economy, solid build quality--I cant understand why these arent more popular.It has more life than the Versa, Yaris or Matrix, and feels more solid on the highway than the Fit. Okay, I will concede the cars one major flaw--it is most comfortable for shorter drivers. But to me, thats a plus compared to my old tC where I could barely see over the doors! Still, with a seat height adjuster or telescoping steering wheel, the xD would cater to more people.

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  my 09 xb - 2009 Scion XB
  By dennis pepper - November 22 - 7:43 am

  We love the xb. Inexpensive. Simple pricing. Comfortable. Excellent acceleration. Roomy and a blast to drive. Average mileage for the first 1500 miles is 25.9. Really like all the accessories that are available. Kind of like getting your 1st Harley and then start adding chrome etc. Im buying another one this week for myself.

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  Bought a 4 y/o Scion - 2005 Scion XB
  By Robert V - November 20 - 2:20 am

  I have been driving minivans for years. A few months ago, lost one because it was totaled. My wife was tired of mom-mobile and wanted something "cute." After reading a lot of reviews, we narrowed it down to used xB or a new Cube or Soul. I found a nice xB on Craigslist and bought it last week in Dallas, drove it home to Atlanta. First thing I love is the fuel mileage. In traffic, I got about 30MPG. Cruising at 70mph on highway, got 40MPG (240 miles/ 6.2 gals). Interior is roomy and comfy. Cool, or "cute" factor is incomparable. Yes, it is square shaped, and yes, wind noise is slightly louder than minivans-but, it is not bad.

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  Scion Is Superb - 2005 Scion TC
  By Dennis - November 20 - 1:06 am

  Scion TC is superb. Handles great, drives nice and looks awesome.I have a flint mica TC with extra air bags added...thats all! Only $17,400. I use it to go to work and around town. I tried for a month to find a better car for the money and could not find one. Acura...no, Volvo...no, Audi...no, VW...yeah right. I even looked at Mercedes but decided to save the cash and put it in my daughters college fund. Scion supposedly markets to generation Y. Silly Scion... Believe me, this car is not just for kids.(I am 38). If you want a fancy car buy a mercedes, but be prepared to spend a lot more. The only drawback is once word gets out, expect these cars to be everywhere.

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  An easy pick - 2008 Scion XD
  By D.C. - November 20 - 12:03 am

  Just purchased. Where else can you get a fully loaded automatic for under 16K? Plus the Toyota reliability factor and excellent gas mileage (27-32 mpg under the more strict 2008 EPA standards). The ride is very nice. Handling is tight and the xDs engine is more than adequate (128hp 4 cyl). In comparison, the Honda Fit (109hp) and Toyota Yaris (106 hp) dont come close. Theres plenty of passenger room in the interior and the 60/40 split rear seats fold flat for plenty of cargo space. The standard 160-watt Pioneer stereo system with 6 speakers sounds great.The Scion xD offers the little intangibles that you just cannot find in any car in its class.You cant go wrong with the Scion xD.

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  My Scion Xb - 2005 Scion XB
  By Barbara Burgess - November 19 - 9:56 am

  I purchased my Scion Xb last April. I thought it was the weirdest car I had ever seen and I had to get it! I am not a kid. I am in my mid 50s. I really love the car. I am constantly being stopped on the street by people asking me about it. I am a great salesperson for the car. There are a couple of things that could use some changes inside, but they are minor. The worst thing is that you can not get cruise control factory installed, and the one they put in is absolutely horrible! My husband likes to drive it so much that I think he will get one for his next car.