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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  fun ride - 2008 Scion XB
  By happy_scion_owner - August 21 - 10:46 pm

  I dont know where to begin! This is such a great car! Its super fun to drive and the functionality is superior to other cars in its class! I was set on buying an HHR until I happened upon the Scion. The Scion wins hands down for room! So much leg room in front and back! It easily fits 3 adults comfortably in the back seat! And the price cannot be beat! A great value! I was leery about "the blind spot" in the cargo area but I have not had any problems. The engine is peppy and gets up and goes when you want it! And another plus is the gas mileage! I have only had the car for a week but so far my average mpg is 30! that is a combo of city and highway! Try one you will be impressed!

• 

  A Great Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By billp3333 - August 21 - 9:13 pm

  I shopped for a few months and tested quite a few coupes. The Scion tC sold me the first time I drove it. I like the sunroof, instrumentation, handling, and especially its quickness. I bought the standard shift and the clutch takes a little getting used to. I am quite concerned about the wheels. After six months, they appear to be pitting and the chrome finish is getting bumpy. It might be a warranty problem. I have to check with the dealership.

• 

  JJS RIDE - 2005 Scion xA
  By JJINVEGAS - August 20 - 11:06 am

  I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL TOYOTA VEHICLES IN THE LAST 15 YRS. THIS ONE RATES AT THE TOP OF MY LIST. RIDE, ECONOMY AND OVERALL OUALITY ARE EXCELLENT,HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN ONE BIG DOWNFALL. AFTER A COLLISION, THE PARTS ARE ALMOST NON EXISTANT. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 6 WEEKS AT THIS WRITING AND STILL THE BODY PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

• 

  Very nice... - 2005 Scion xA
  By roszada - August 20 - 8:46 am

  I put almost 30,000 on my Scion xA and have had no problems whatsoever. It is getting between 32-34 mpg driving in the city on regular gas. The only negative thing is that you need to let the engine warm-up, otherwise it will keep transmission in lower gear untill it reaches "warm" status.

• 

  Buy an xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Dave - August 17 - 1:03 pm

  I was looking for a small car with good gas mileage that could seat 2 adults and three small children. I researched and test drove numerous cars in the same category, Honda Fit, Civic, etc. Nothing else even compared. The new xB is great! I thought the first one was interesting but there was no way I was going to drive a go-cart on the freeway. The 2008 is a huge improvement.

• 

  Try the Scion xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Dick - August 16 - 2:43 pm

  Having just purchased a Scion xB, I could not beleive the features it has that would normally be options on other vehicles. The car has good zip around town and climbs the hills in NE Georgia without difficulty. It felt really good on the first fill up after getting a solid thirty-one mpg. It handles very much like a sports car.

• 

  New 2011 Scion tC - 2011 Scion TC
  By clb - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Just traded our 2007 tC for the new 2011 tC and so far we are very pleased. Went with Concrete color. Happy with the performance, ride and gas mileage. Love the new interior look. Just a few things they changed that I am not happy with. The headlights do not shut-off automatically as they did before. The windows do not automatically go up and down with just a "flick" of the switch. You have to hold it the whole time you open/close it (safety issue?) Also found odd that there is only one (1) back-up light that works. This is the way it was manufactured - I am having people tell me one of my back-up lights is out now. These changes could not have been that big of "cost-savings"?

• 

  just love my little car. - 2012 Scion IQ
  By theoldman69 - August 11 - 10:47 pm

  it run great, love the car, first time i seen it, the color is very cool. lot of people ask me about the little car. you will save a lot on gas to.

• 

  Toaster Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By Rudy - August 8 - 6:26 am

  I bought this little wagon as a "grocery getter" for my wife. But before a month was over I took it as my daily commuter to work. I am 64" & drive 50+ miles a day. Nothing on the market offers this much space w/ great fuel economy at an affordable price. My kids love this ride, they ask to take the toaster on trips over our Tahoe. At 30,0000 miles I still average 33 MPG w/ auto transm and have had no problems.

• 

  awsome - 2004 Scion XB
  By yoey - August 8 - 2:00 am

  It was a very very fun/cool car to drive and own.