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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  I love my car!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By joyous_knoxville - September 10 - 6:43 am

  I bought my scion in September and love riding it around the hills of Knoxville. Its such a smooth little speed dragon! I would recommend this car to anyone who wants performance with reliability.

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  OLD AND NEW - 2005 Scion XB
  By AUTO SALON USA - September 9 - 11:16 pm

  Well in 2006 I decided I was going to break down and buy a small cheap commuter again. Having lived in Japan I remembered small mini trucks and vans people use to modify and drive around town in fact the scion design is a copy of Toyota older Japanese model not available in the usa. So I bought one used and absolutely love it even though a lot of things were changed for the American market it still has the BASIC car coolness to it looks good drives good and reliability and the gas mileage at average 35 mpg no bad. As far as performance I dont think your gonna go to the racetrack anytime soon, at least in a factory version, and the ride for someone who lives in an area like NYC is a bit bumpy...

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  Good little car - 2006 Scion TC
  By Jim H - Longwood FL - September 9 - 8:10 pm

  I have had this car now for about 8 months, and it was a change going from a Camry to the tC. The car has good take off, and I have had no problem with the handling. It is a fun little car to drive.

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  First New Car - 2008 Scion TC
  By Bill Brasky - September 9 - 7:16 am

  This is my first new car purchase. After looking for a quality sporty 2-door car. It was a easy decision after comparing the features, quality, performance, and price. Once you add the features the tC has to a car like a Civic, or Tiberon the tC is a much better value. One of the nicest things about buying this car is that the Scion dealerships do not add any unnecessary features, you get to choose was added features when you buy the car. They just give you a well appointed blank canvass to have fun expressing yourself with. My Scion dealership even drove over 300 miles to get the color car I wanted and in a short amount of time. Plus this car looks really cool and is fun to drive.

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By xa_lover - September 8 - 10:40 am

  I have loved this car since I first saw it. It is very customizable and looks great in the inside. The problem is the back is a little too small. Also, it doesnt have cruise control. I would love a moonroof or maybe a convertible top. Other than that, its very economical and fun to drive.

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  Best used car ever purchased! - 2006 Scion xA
  By jiminy - September 7 - 11:56 pm

  Toyota Quality! Fun to drive. A little tight at times, but excellent performance for the price. No major concerns.

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  I LOVE IT - 2004 Scion XB
  By leopardpixie - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE IT. IT SO ROOMY. EVEN THE LARGEST OR TALLEST OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE.

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  Car for all ages - 2005 Scion xA
  By OLD DADDY - September 1 - 9:13 pm

  We now have about 8,000 miles on our Scion xa. We purchased it to compliment two other vehicles and to save money on gas. Boy was I wrong. This car does, as advertised, save lots on cost of gas but it is fun to drive. We have three vehicles and the first person out the door in the morning always goes for the Scion. It is a great car, great investment, and a good decision. By the way, I am not a member of Generation X, I am 60+. Thanks Toyota. Geezers like a bargain too.

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  Awesome car..competition cant come close - 2008 Scion TC
  By CaptainJJg29 - September 1 - 3:36 pm

  I am a very satisfied new owner of the 2008 Scion TC. To start, I looked at several competitors before deciding on the Scion and found for the money, the scion could not be beat. I made several modifications to the car, but still kept it at a better price point than the others. It is very fun to drive with a great sporty look while maintaining great gas mileage. Well worth it with the 2008 changes. In each case, its a great new upgrade!

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  xB Experience - 2006 Scion XB
  By tree - August 30 - 7:00 pm

  As a commuter vehicle this is the best vehicle I have found. I am above average in size and needed a vehicle with the best overall fuel economy. I averaged 33 mpg overall with this car. I drove it daily back and forth 50 miles per day to work. I would be driving it now however my employer provided me with a company car. It was low cost to maintain and on fuel. It is nice looking vehicle for a box and served the purpose it was purchased for. I would highly recommend the xB to anyone looking for a low cost, reliable, fuel efficient vehicle. If they happen to be 69" tall they can drive in comfort also.