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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 Overall Performer - 2009 Scion XB
  By halljsf - September 13 - 5:06 pm

  I have a young son with mobility problems. Most SUVs are a challenge for him because of the step in height. The XB is easy for him to get into (mostly without assistance), and the cargo area is big enough for his foldaway wheelchair. I like the clean design of both the interior and exterior. Although, I wish the materials used in the interior were nicer and of better quality. Most interior surfaces are hard to the touch and black. I added a custom leather steering wheel cover because the standard steering wheel was rough and uncomfortable to grip.

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  The Little White Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By TopToyota - September 12 - 11:10 pm

  Ive had the xB for 3 months now and Ive loved every moment of it. When I first saw the xB on TV I wanted one and the car is everything I expected and more. It turns heads, has an impressive sound system, has great fuel economy, and tons of room for people or stuff. My only complaint is the turning radius is rather large for a small car oh and the small minded people who insist on telling me that it is ugly because it dosent look like everything else on the road. I strongly reccomend this car to anyone.

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  Love My Black Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By Box Lover - September 12 - 10:46 pm

  I am absolutely in LOVE with this car. I find myself making excuses to drive it. I still find myself looking back and smiling at my black box as I am walking away from it. It is fun to drive and with my extremely enthusiastic driving style, I still get about 28-30 MPG with mostly highway driving. The stock Pioneer sound system is awesome. Also, the huge side mirrors make changing lanes easy. The interior is extremely spacious and airy, so much so that I feel slightly claustrophobic when I get in normal cars. My only major gripe with this car is the small fuel tank. I find myself visiting the gas station 2x a week when with my prior car (97 Honda Accord) once was plenty.

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  After 4,000 / 6 months later - 2006 Scion TC
  By frkkie - September 11 - 11:23 am

  Six months ago I traded in my Scion xB for a tC to satisfy for my need to speed. Im totally in love with this car. Its handling and looks are great. If I totaled it tomorrow I would get the exact same car. Its super fast, I never a problem passing anybody. Its hard not to burn rubber when taking off from a stop.

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  My first new car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Scion Lover - September 8 - 2:26 am

  After driving old Subarus, Hondas and Toyotas all my life this is my first new car. Lots of room, quiet, great turning radius, economical, fun to drive.

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  Happily Surprised - 2006 Scion TC
  By Scionnut - September 8 - 1:50 am

  I love this car. It is very easy to drive even in rush hour and normal driving. Its suspension allows you to manuever much easier and with more control than any other car I have driven. I love the exterior customization overall looks. I am of the older generation and I was very happily surprised when I test drove this vehicle.

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  Fun To Drive - 2005 Scion XB
  By Debbie - September 7 - 5:30 am

  My Scion is solar yellow. I have the sport model. I was very surprised at how well it handles. It is so easy to drive. I just scoot around town. I love how easy it is to get in and out of. And it has so much room inside. This is my eBay car and I use it a lot. A+ on the design. Very nice!! Love it!!

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  A True Winner! - 2009 Scion XD
  By ATM - September 1 - 10:23 pm

  Test drove a leftover 08 Mazda3 and frankly found it kind of boring to drive. The Toyota dealership was right next door so I ran over and test drove the xD and found it much more fun, plus it had just as many features and better gas mileage... and less expensive! A great car is when the more you drive it, the more you like it, and this is one of those type of vehicles. Toyota has figured this out and they seem to know what the customer likes and how to deliver it. I just cant believe how solid this thing is built for the price. Not to mention it looks good, too. This is my first Toyota and I doubt itll be my last.

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  Excellent car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Michael Davis - August 27 - 10:33 am

  Bought the car to replace the Subaru Legacy my son totalled. Initially bought it for the price found out that the car is a blast to drive. Very low maintenance so far with a super sound ssytem standard and fun to drive quotient of 100% make me extremely happy I bought this car

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  BEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEP - 2008 Scion XD
  By Joe Mahma - August 23 - 12:06 pm

  Ive had it for a while and Id have to say, its a great cheap car. I just took a trip and managed 42 mpg on the highway while around town Im getting about 32 mpg. It has some power if you get on it but the manual transmission is awful. The Interior is awesome as well as the body design, and people are always checking it out on the street.