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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great except for the windshields - 2006 Scion XB
  By DUCricket - December 28 - 7:00 pm

  Ive had this car for almost two years. I loved the unique design and interior room. The interior design looks a little cheap, but better than the TC. I still love the vehicle, except for the fact that I am going onto my third windshield in two years. I just replaced the windshield three months ago and the new windshield is cracked already. Theres a whole section on this site about the windshields always cracking. Great car except for the windshields. Be prepared to pay money for replacements.

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  Great concept but poor execution - 2013 Scion IQ
  By sam214 - December 2 - 2:43 pm

  The comment by the editor that there are larger cars at the same price is hilarious. The whole idea about this car is being small. People like me want a tiny car to zip around. Only problem is that the car doesnt zip very much. And for a tiny car the fuel economy is not much better than my Mazda CX-5 SUV. The engine sounds like there are loose marbles inside at startup, and also makes other uninspiring noises from time to time. The brake pedal makes loud annoying clicking noise (normal noise, according to Toyota). It doesnt offer a lot of features for the money. The only good thing about it is the tiny size.

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  Exterior Design Flaw - 2006 Scion XB
  By OneDriver - November 13 - 2:56 pm

  The front and back end designs are poor. The front end drags on anything too high, pulls the front end bumper and grill off very easily. Then, the plastic fasteners break, leaving the front end hanging. Pushed back in, even the wind can pull it off. Dangerous. Should be a recall.

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  2006 Scion xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By nzl - August 9 - 8:03 am

  It can be a fun car and for most people it probably is, but the construction is POOR. If I had to do it over again I wouldnt buy it. If you want a car that is fuel efficient and performs reasonably well on the freeway, this car is it. But it is really noisy. All the doors and dashboard rattle so loudly that you can hear it over the radio, unless you set the volume high all the time. Its been to dealer three times, the first two times they fixed it, now they claim they dont hear any unusual noise. If you dont mind loud rattling noise they buy this piece of junk. Note: the dealers loaners with less than 10,000 miles were extremely bad with rattling noise as well, so this is a pattern is all their cars.

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  Good, but not Great Value - 2004 Scion xA
  By ed - July 21 - 7:13 am

  The Scion xA is a great commuter car, stick with the stock wheels. I got the 17 inch wheels and regret it every time I go over a bump or rough road.

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  Never Again - 2007 Scion TC
  By Scion H8er - May 27 - 9:43 am

  I bought this car without even test driving it. After a year, I have noticed problems with it. When you see a Scion, you think it would be a fun driving experience, after a year, I have came to conclusion that it is not much of a driving experience and the styling seems to be a bit bland. Reliability has been top notch but materials do not seem to be top notch.

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  piece of junk - 2010 Scion XD
  By crazy bee - March 30 - 1:43 am

  It vibrates really bad no matter how bad the road is. I experience crazy spooky braking issues. I really like the fuel economy i get with this car. It really doesnt have much balls to get up and go(40mph-70mph). interior is pretty comfortable however a few more gauges would be nice. Cargo space is very limited but i think it is ok for normal everyday activities. The vehicle is low to the ground which make it very easy to get in or out.

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  Very Poor Gas Mileage - 2006 Scion xA
  By Kevin - December 11 - 6:23 pm

  I am not sure if this car has ever been able to get above 30 mpg. Everyone I know that has one gets about 27 mpg. The only reason I bought this thing is its supposed good mileage. I am selling it in the summer.

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  Fun car but NOT worth it! READ. - 2006 Scion TC
  By shehob11 - August 8 - 2:35 am

  After one year of purchase I am selling for another Honda. My accord was totaled so I bought this. Bad mistake. This car is built very cheap and if you look hard enough you will very clearly see it. Driving it overtime you will see many things you hate. The moon-roof whistles so loud and there is no fix, embarrassing to have friends point out how annoying it is. But the worst thing yet is the MPG. averages between 22-26 and thats it! The rating is 19mpg for city! Just awful. Seriously look into another car before buying. Just test drive a Honda and you will immediately notice how bad the TC quality is.

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  scion tc - 2005 Scion TC
  By lilchic - July 12 - 10:00 am

  i have had my TC for about a week now and i am somewhat disappointed. The ride is rough and you can feel every bump on the road. i dont like the noise it makes when i accelerate.