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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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

• 

  Non subjective view - 2004 Scion xA
  By andreika73 - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Great sense of maneuver. Perfect acceleration and aero dynamics. The car is very slayable on the road.

• 

  Review the Star - 2009 Scion XB
  By Victor M. - July 5 - 2:50 am

  No reservation with the 09 Scion I am delighted with the buy, would of love a 5 speed shift but its my work car and the reason for purchasing the car was for economic reason. The Scion has proven after three weeks of ownership a bit of a good move on my part. Economy is great, roomy, and fun to drive. The 2.4 engine make the Scion get and go, economy of the car is really see at the low speeds, the automatic trans could use an additional gear, keeping the RPMs around 1.8k when on the highway and would make the Scion that much more economic for highway use, but with a tight engine I got 315 miles on the first out of town trip. Please do not misunderstand the Scion is good on gasoline

• 

  Too much fun... - 2004 Scion XB
  By TBP - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I have put almost 3,000 miles on this car and I still look forward to driving it around. I cant believe that such a tiny car feels so huge on the inside. Upon first seeing it, most of my friends didnt even know what it was and they were shocked to learn that was cheaper than the Civic I drove before my xB. Everyone agrees that it feels like a higher end vehicle.

• 

  Best Value - 2005 Scion xA
  By Dan Remmers - July 2 - 1:33 pm

  This is the best value for a commuter car. Tons of standard features, great gas mileage, really fun to drive, and easy to park.

• 

  A Joy to Own! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Kat - June 28 - 3:40 am

  I highly recommend this vehicle, especially the limited edition with the DVD player and screens on the back of the head rests and in an eye catching envy green! I have never had so many people stop to ask me about my car before and thats before they even know about the cool extra inside. These cars are so roomy! I even love to ride in the back seat...it is so roomy. The seats are comfortable all around, the design is so suportive to your back and the dash design and placement of controls makes sense! The quality of materials inside is excellent. Its great visibility makes it a dream to drive! It gets great gas mileage, Its excellent even when you are running with a full load and full cargo area. I love my xB!

• 

  Love It! - 2006 Scion XB
  By pacocc06 - June 27 - 8:30 am

  I love my Xb. I would never have picked a different car. Its unique, fun to drive, reliable, easy on gas, roomy, and inexpensive. I get a lot of looks in it.....they are just jealous! I would definitely recommend it to anyone!!!

• 

  TC Love - 2005 Scion TC
  By Missy - June 25 - 8:30 am

  Everyone how asks me about my car is surprised when I tell them its a Scion, they think its a more expensive car. Ive heard everything from Lexus IS300 to that Mercedes hatchback!

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Scion XB
  By janelle - June 24 - 10:46 pm

  The Scion xB is a very nice car. Its great to run around town in, packing the kids and their stuff. So far it has been very dependable, we have not had a problem in two years. Its fun to be asked "what is that?"

• 

  Great driving, even in two feet of water - 2008 Scion XD
  By shamanza - June 24 - 3:16 pm

  Just drove this car today during a torrential storm. It was like driving an SUV. Whatever the reviews say, take one for a drive and see for yourself. Where else can you get Vehicle Stability Control, a Toyota Corolla engine, great sound, a cool look and a hatchback to boot for quite a good price? Its a great little car, for the money.

• 

  Hate to Say Goodnight - 2005 Scion TC
  By David - June 22 - 1:26 pm

  I love this car so much. I heard a lot about it before I bought it and man everything I heard about and read is so true. The car has an excellent take off response and is so smooth off the line. Its handling is tight and the car has no vibrations. I would recommend this car because once you drive it you cant leave it alone, you want to keep on going. Plus the after market accessories are worth it alone. You can make the car hotter than it already is, a lot hotter. The options are endless. Next summer I plan to add Lambo doors and drop the car about 1 1/2 inches with a full body kit and to install the supercharger. I hope you decide on the tC. Have fun safely.