Overview & Reviews

The Scion brand was created in 2003 by Toyota as a way of connecting to younger buyers with savvy tastes. One of its launch vehicles, the Scion xA, was an inexpensive hatchback marketed through hip promotions that emphasized its unique style. Owners could customize the xA with more than 30 accessories available at Scion dealers. Even with this strong pitch to trendsetting youngsters and auto enthusiasts, the Scion xA soon gained a reputation as a sensible subcompact with premium build quality and standard features.

Most recent Scion xA

Launched as a 2004 model, the Scion xA lasted just one generation, as Scion sought to keep its youthful portfolio fresh. A refresh occurred in its final year of 2006, so older xAs have some visual differences and some slight variations in the interior features, including the Pioneer sound system, steering wheel, speedometer and seat fabric.

The Scion xA came in one body style -- a four-door hatchback. For a subcompact, the xA had a noticeably upscale look and feel. The gauge pod resided in the center of the dash and glowed amber, while the dashboard had a contemporary appearance, with faux aluminum trim tastefully placed down the center console, door panels and steering wheel. The seating position was high, and headroom and legroom were decent in both the front and rear. But you couldn't haul too much cargo, with just 11.7 cubic feet of hatch space behind the rear seat.

The xA was also well-stocked with standard features, including air-conditioning; antilock brakes; power door locks, windows and mirrors; a rear wiper; and rear window defogger. Scion also provided the xA with a premium stereo -- a sound system with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary input jack. Among the optional equipment was an 8-inch subwoofer, an iPod adapter, satellite radio and an airbag package with front seat-mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

Power for the Scion xA came from a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated for 103 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was available as an option. With either transmission, the Scion was pretty frugal, with EPA city estimates of 31-32 mpg and highway ratings of 37-38. For those looking to improve the xA's performance, Toyota Racing Development, Toyota's in-house performance department, offered quite a few parts, including intake and exhaust, shocks and lowering springs, and a performance clutch.

Buyers could also customize their xA's appearance with dealer-installed accessories such as a rear spoiler, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels and a variety of wheel covers, sport pedals and shift knobs.

In our review of the Scion xA, our editors found it to be quite a competent commuter. On highways, the ride was smooth. The small engine didn't provide much passing power, but around the city, the xA offered plenty of pep. It also maneuvered nicely on surface roads, with a surprisingly tight suspension for an econobox and precise steering. In more extreme cornering situations, the xA felt a bit wobbly, but TRD performance suspension components were available to remedy the condition.

User Reviews:

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  Best Buy for the Buck! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Cuppett - August 15 - 1:30 am

  The purchase of our xA was for an extra vehicle for our use. It has proved to be a great purchase. Very reliable, great fuel economy, sufficient power, and much more fluff and safety options than comparable U.S. models. You cant go wrong with a Toyota product. Our love for the xA pushed our aging parents to buy an xB to replace their minivan. Although they lost space, they too are very please with the performance and handling of their xB. You simply cant get more bang for your buck!

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By vmay - August 12 - 10:30 pm

  Best small car I have ever had. It is fun to drive, has great gas mileage. It is different looking and everyone who sees it just loves the color and how it looks.

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  I Love My xA. - 2006 Scion xA
  By John - August 12 - 12:03 pm

  This is the first car ive ever bought. Its fun, it does what I need, and its a good start if youre going to upgrade your ride.

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  Im Sold - 2004 Scion xA
  By REID - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I was shopping for a commuter car and was considering a Civic or Corrola and then I spotted an Xa. This interesting little car grabbed my attention immediately with its "love it" or "hate it" styling and I love it. Who would of thought you could build a reliable car with a certain cool factor for under $13,000. Well, I drove all 3 which had comparable drives but there was something that I admired about the Scion. Maybe it was how it stood out in a crowd of bland economy cars. Or perhaps, it was the build quality of a Toyota coupled with the 5 year 60k powertrain warranty (which will probably never be used)for the price of a Kia. Im sold.

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  ONE MORE TIME TO THE SHOP - 2004 Scion xA
  By FROSTBYT - July 31 - 10:00 am

  WITH IN A WEEK OF HAVING THE CAR, i HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK AND THE TECH PEOPLE DECIDED IT NEED A LUBE JOB ON THE FRONT SPENDLE, WHICH MAY ONLY PROLONG A CONTINUING PROBLEM, NOW AFTER HAVING THAT DONE, THE ALINMENT IS OFF AND I WILL HAVE THE TAKE IT BACK A THIRD TIME.THE XA DOSENT SEEM AS REFINE AS A NORMAL TOYOTA, BUT FOR THE PRICE ITS STILL BETTER THEN MOST

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  Best Car for the Money! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Brian Jones - July 25 - 11:26 pm

  Ive owned my 2006 Scion xA for over a year. Its been a fun, practical, and economical auto. With the automatic transmission and city driving, Ive averaged about 30-34 mpg while squeezing out a solid 40 mpg highway; with the caveat that you must keep the speed under 65 MPH to do so. The car is roomy, comfortable, and comes with more standard features than any similar vehicle in its class. Ive hauled a 27" television, groceries from Costco, and a Coleman portable generator in my little hatchback. The car is peppy in traffic, handles well, and steers on a dime making it easy to park. I compared it to the Rio, Aveo, and Focus and the xA was the best bang for the buck with Toyota service.

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  I Liked It Until the Winter - 2004 Scion xA
  By jonboy - July 8 - 7:53 am

  I purchased this car because my Eclipse decided to break permanently. I wanted a car that was different and got good gas mileage. It fit the bill. Its surprisingly agile and has a great stereo. I truly loved the car until I drove home from work during a small snow storm. I almost ended up sliding over a cliff. This car is terrible in the snow and rain. It is the only car Ive ever felt uncomfortable driving in bad weather. Also, the trim in the interior is always making an annoying vibration sound. Im going to trade it in after I get a good down payment for a Subaru WRX.

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  Like its name, my grasshopper leaps over the competition - 2005 Scion xA
  By grasshoppermom - June 29 - 9:59 pm

  He (yes, hes a he) scoots in and out of traffic, passing SUVs like they are standing still, leaps around clumps of snarled traffic by his quick ability to dart in and out of lanes. I named him grasshopper because the neat lines of the hatch remind me of a grasshoppers straight angled back legs. mileage could be a tad better. 25 in town, 33 highway. Packs full and I have helped folks move in this little car. The depth of hatch door opening makes it easy to toss everything into it, including the kitchen sink if need be. I work in real estate and remodelling such, and can fit an eight foot 2x4 and a 12x8 piece of carpet stuck out the window. A great lil big car. 122,000 mi and counting...

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  My car - 2004 Scion xA
  By Dimitri Amor - June 29 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy the car very much, the interior is more spacious than it looks, and people who have never heard of the car think that it is an expensive car when it really isnt. The only downside is the performance aspect of it, face it, you wont be speeding down the highway with one of these bad boys unless you tie a jet engine to the roof. But overall, for someone who wants a car that looks nice and is inexpensive, the scion is the way to go.

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  Great Great Great that is all - 2004 Scion xA
  By Evan - June 24 - 10:06 pm

  I love my Scion xA......it is my first car purchase and I couldnt have picked a better car to buy. I love the quality and the reliability that only Toyota can offer. I love the design of both the exterior and the interior. I it small with enough room to carry me and three friends along and the gas mileage is awesome. I was paying so much for gas and now I pay a lot less.