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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Sweetness for the Cake - 2005 Scion TC
  By marky mark - January 10 - 1:20 am

  The Scion tC is a pretty fast for a 4 banger. It gets up quick. It provides lots of fun for the money, but it needs better sound system and a better seat belt system for driver. The drivers belt digs into my neck. Other than that the car kicks butt.

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  Beats the compition in every way! - 2005 Scion TC
  By skydean03 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because my 03 Civic was totalled. When I compared the 05 civics and the TC, it was obvious which car won in every category. I have not been let down at all since purchasing the TC. It handles like a DREAM. It instills so much confidence in high-speed cornering, thanks to 17in wheels and grippy potenzas. The more I look at the styling, the hotter the car gets. Yeah, the radio cover is retarded, and the flimsy shades are cheap, but DANG! This car rocks!

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  Home Run - 2005 Scion TC
  By tonylexus - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Did extensive shopping in & out of this class of vehicle and found nothing to compare to the balance of performance, comfort, amenities, quality, detail and, of course, price! As long as you are not expecting a Prius (mileage) or Porche (performance) you cant beat this car for having all of the right stuff. Reasonable compromises (performance vs. practicality) make it a competant and comfortable weekday commuter and lots of fun on the weekend.

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  Love This Car! - 2004 Scion XB
  By Wendy - January 6 - 5:40 pm

  I have a family of four, and I am so pleased with all that this car has to offer. While the exterior of the car would lead you to believe that its small, it is extremely spacious. Its comfortable to drive. We had an SUV, but with gas prices climbing, we were looking for something more fuel efficient, yet still roomy. Its great on gas and comfort. Its also great to look at. Its really something different, and I see heads turn all the time. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  The New xB is truly AMAZING - 2008 Scion XB
  By CamWest - January 6 - 12:30 pm

  I have only had this car for a few days but Im already in love with it. Im a college student and the fact that the car comes standard with so many features (power everything, cruise, cd/radio) is fantastic. Plus the car has an incredible amount of safety features (driver and passenger airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS, traction control). In addition to all that, the car is really fun to drive. It handles extremely well and really gets up and goes when you put your foot on the gas. And the car gets very good mileage for its size. Im very impressed and I dont regret my decision to buy at all.

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  Love It! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Phyllis - January 4 - 3:10 pm

  I love this vehicle! I had a Jeep before this and loved it for 230,000 miles. I was looking at the Toyota Tacoma when I spotted the xB. I had thought that they were the ugliest thing on the road but when I looked inside I couldnt believe how BIG it was. Then I took it for a test drive and bought it immediately. After three months I still smile when I see it in the driveway (its sooo cute). The gas mileage isnt quite what they claim but I usually get about 27 mpg, only got 30 once. I love that when two xBs pass each other on the road the owners always wave or give the thumbs up, its like we are very special vehicle owners.

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  I love this car! - 2008 Scion XD
  By Lenna - January 1 - 7:10 am

  After 3 months of research, my decision was b/w Civic and Xd. I decided to buy Xd because of its long list of standard features for the price. I just got it last week and have put 200 miles on and still have a half gas tank!My average MPG is 31-32, and I got almost 42 on highway!I cant wait to stretch this car out- a full tank of gas keeps this car running for 350-400 miles I reckon, which is great! I love the audio control, it lets you concentrating your eyes on traffic! I will get 18 inch wheels sometimes it makes this car look more luxury, check the parts online though it can be done cheaper. Oh, and this little car zips really well too!

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  You will survive an accident - 2006 Scion XB
  By F B - December 29 - 12:50 pm

  This is my second Scion XB. The first one, a 2004 w/ XM sattellite radio, I bought new. Had it for a 2 years. I was rear-ended twice, then the third time I was rear-ended by a full size Chevy cargo van going 45 mph. The car gave its life so I might live. It was totalled, I walked away. So, I got another one, this time a 2006. These cars do not go accelerate fast with the a.c. on going up a mountain, but the $30.00 to fill up the tank is the payback. I get around 37 mpg up here in the mountains of New Mexico. It goes in the snow, but deep snow would be a problem. Maintenance is easy, you can do it yourself, but changing the belts is a little tight, you need to jack the car up.

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  Great Little Car! - 2012 Scion IQ
  By eddyiq - December 28 - 12:35 pm

  I am a 37 Year old man 62" tall and weigh 235 lb. You would not think this car would suit me, but you would be wrong! I bought this car for work, I drive mostly in town and wanted some thing that got good gas mileage and was easy to park. This fit the bill for me exactly. I looked at many new cars before I chose this one. At first, I thought it would just be too small after driving my Lexus ES300 for years. But was amazed at just how roomy it really is! Very easy to get in and out of and the front seats adjust nicely. Keep in mind that I normally drive alone so I cant not complain about "no room for others". But if you need to haul around more than two adults, look else where.Love this car!

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  This Is How All Cars Should Be - 2008 Scion XD
  By Mark - December 27 - 12:13 pm

  All cars should be fun to drive, easy on gas, accommodate my iPod and have airbags all around. The Scion xD is a great value when you shop it against the main competitors here on Edmunds. Just be sure to add all the extras to the other cars because the Scion xD gives us a lot for our money. If it does as well as the xA the dealer says it will be in the top 10 for resale value. And that is for ALL passenger cars. Toyota makes it. The dealers sell it without hassling you or lying, and people love it everywhere we go. If youre looking for a great car for not a lot of money, you should check the xD out.