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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My Lil H2 - 2005 Scion XB
  By SB in TX - May 8 - 9:13 pm

  Being a big guy 61 and 275lbs I never thought I would enjoy this car. I couldnt have been more wrong. I drive 75 miles to and from work everyday and this car makes that time enjoyable. I cant wait to start tricking it out. I would recommend this car to anyone that is looking to save on money and gas.

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  Cowmuting Cube - 2004 Scion XB
  By dulcimoo - May 8 - 12:56 pm

  Purchased the box for cowmuting. (It’s “painted” in a black and white “cow” pattern) Even with four full grown men the box does well with the auto. Passing up hill is no problem if you lock out the overdrive. It deals well with the traffic on I15 and I5. I have had only two minor problems (the inside fan was making a “ticking” noise – free warranty repair, rear air dam was tweaked after some road trash – self repaired.). The MP3 CD player does well. Luggage space is a little tight when we are all off to work with all our junk, but we manage. The rear window wiper is almost useless. It goes, stops, and rocks, what more cud you want!

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  Fun design, Rough ride - 2005 Scion XB
  By whitey - April 24 - 1:26 pm

  I think this car is great fun.

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  Black Tc - 2006 Scion TC
  By Raquel - April 23 - 3:40 pm

  The car looks like a high quality car but the inside seems to have gaps like in the dor way every thing is good the sterio cover is a good idea but some times it wont shut i have 12,000 mi and every one of them had laughs and smiles to go with them

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  So far so good - 2008 Scion TC
  By Guitarshifter - April 22 - 2:56 pm

  Toyota makes great cars, and this is no exception. I live in the desert with over 100* on most days in the summer and this vehicle has NO problem driving in hot weather. A very powerful 4-cylinder acts as if it has a 6-cylinder under the hood. Hills and mountains are no problem for this car, it can zip around corners. Changing the oil is a breeze! The oil filter is right next to the drain plug on the front passenger side, thank you Toyota for thinking of the "do it yourselfer".

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  ABOVE AVERAGE - 2005 Scion xA
  By THOMAS DELORETO - April 18 - 10:56 pm

  HAS AS MUCH LEG ROOM AS A MINI VAN AND RIDES AND DRIVES WELL. MILEAGE NOT AS RATED. GREAT RADIO AND CD.

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  Good Cheap Transportaion - 2006 Scion XB
  By cjb - March 27 - 7:03 pm

  I drive over 40,000 miles a year and was looking for something with good gas mileage. I bought the xB for the cargo space. With the back seats folded down, it can carry a lot of cargo. I have been averageing 30 mpg or better in a mix of highway and city driving. The car has a little pep as long as you smash the pedal to the floor. Overall its been a good cheap form of transportaion.

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  When you want "city power"... - 2010 Scion TC
  By Katy - March 18 - 10:30 am

  Scions are a fun, inexpensive, reliable breed of cars. My tC is 7 months old now and has been on several road trips already with two big ones planned in the future. This car is built for what I call "city power", meaning that I dont race it or expect to do lots of long haul driving or commutes. Im a city girl who like the feel and look of this sleek vehicle. Its like a grown-ups sports car without the look of grandpas midlife crisis. You can get this car standard without any special features and still drive off feeling like you bought a fun, high-end car (for under 20K).

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  Scion xA, Purchased Recently - 2006 Scion xA
  By George - March 7 - 11:50 pm

  This car is fine. I got used to the center pod dashboard quickly. The ONLY thing I could wish for, would be a 6th gear. At 80 mph, with a 5-speed manual, the engine is turning 4,000 RPM. Thats fine, it has a 7,000 RPM redline, but theres no need to spin it so fast. There is no need to downshift on the highway. I drive in commuter traffic, 75-80 mph. In mixed driving, I get around 35 mpg.

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  So far, LOVE this car... - 2012 Scion XD
  By bluecub78 - March 4 - 5:02 am

  Only had this car less than a month, but so far its awesome! I did have to ding the build quality a bit though in the rating due to a sad discovery where the new Scion Premium Audio System (new for 2012) appears to not work with the SiriusXM. Scion Corporate in California is now aware and is working on it personally. Problem is only limited to the Release Series tho, so be rest assured it will work in a Base xD. As for the rest of the car, LOVE the way it drives and feels. It feels so good around tight turns and contrary to what some others might say, I find the seats quite comfortable and supportive. A little anemic uphill, but otherwise, a zippy ride. All around, I would recommend it!