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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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.... - 2008 Scion XD
  By Robin - June 15 - 7:33 am

  My prior car was the Toyota Echo, and while i have lost out in gas mileage, ive made up in comfort and fun. If i had to make the decision again, even 7 months later i wouldnt hesitate. I love this car.

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  I had my car for 8 days :o( - 2006 Scion xA
  By Tink11464 - June 14 - 7:56 am

  Had my car for 8 days! I bought this car brand new, unfortunately it was totaled 8 days later. I LOVED THIS CAR! I called everyone I knew in that first week saying how much I loved this car. The style is awesome, the ride great, the kids loved it (from my 16 year old down to my 4 year old). On March 16th someone in front of me caused a 5 car pile up and I was caught up in it... So heres hoping I get another Scion xA ASAP!! My car was totaled the same day my Cargo tote that I ordered from the dealership came in. I told them to hold the tote - till I get another xA.The police put in the report that my car was an SUV. I had to fix that! My car was the smallest in the accident!

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  oldvet53s 9 scion xb - 2009 Scion XB
  By oldvet53 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  i love this little car! it gets good mpg. and loves twisty back roads. i drive to the V.A. at Little Rock, Arkansas which is 100 miles away and usually spend about $20.00-$22.00 on the round trip. i am able to get 24 mpg. around town.

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  The good and the bad - 2008 Scion XD
  By Eclectic - June 13 - 6:06 am

  This is a great little car. The car performs well and looks great. I have the xD RS 1.0 and I am extremely delighted.

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  Still great after 1 1/2 years - 2006 Scion XB
  By KimE - June 11 - 7:16 am

  I bought my beloved xB for me and my two kids. As a single-mom, I needed a reliable but inexpensive car. I wanted a Toyota but not happy with a corolla-type car. Did research on the xB, took a test drive and fell in love. Tons of room and attention-getting good looks! Its not just for the young people. Im 41 and I love it. The kids think its cool too.

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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By lola - June 9 - 2:23 pm

  I have owned my Scion xA for only a few months and I love it. It some time gets more mileage than what they say so I think you can imagine how much I like it.

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  2005 XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By George - June 8 - 3:00 am

  The XB is a fun drive and very reliable. My wife and I have taken three four hour trips on the interstates and the vehicle has more than enough power to handle it. The ride is not bad either. We have alot of the extras on it like the cold air intake, etc. We both really like the styling and no matter where we go we get comments about it. We entered a car show locally with it and got alot of comments about it. The car is just a very fun drive and I would recomend it to any one and any age. I am 47 and my wife is 45 and as I said we really have enjoyed the car so far.

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  2005 XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By George - June 8 - 3:00 am

  The Sio XB is a fun drive and very reliable. My wife and U have taken three four hour trips on the interstates and the vehicle has more than enough power to handle it. The ride is not bad either. We have alot of the extras on it like the Cold air intake, etc. We both really like the styling and no matter where we go we get comments about it. We entered a car show locally with it and got alot of comments about it. The car is just a very fun drive and I would recomend it to any one and any age. I am 47 and my wife is 45 and as I said we really have enjoyed the car so far.

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  Scion xD - Impressive little hatchback - 2008 Scion XD
  By ndave - June 7 - 5:33 pm

  Ill admit it. I didnt want to look inside this vehicle. However, I bought one. I started by looking at small, affordable econosized cars. I test drove Mazda3 hatchback, Honda Fit and Civic, Toyota Yaris, Corolla (CE, LE, SE) and Matrix. Scion xD offers a smooth ride that picks up nicely and gets you to where you need to go. Its a true city car. Small, compact, affordable and gas economical. Excellent gas ratings (>35mpg), is comfortable in the inside, and is extremely user-friendly. The seats fold down flat in the back. It can haul a ton of stuff; or seat 5 (normal weight) persons very comfortably. Car feels "euro" designed. Its an urbanized car that can get around a city easily.

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  More for the Money - 2006 Scion TC
  By Sean Carroll - June 7 - 4:20 pm

  Like the title says, the Scion tC offers a lot for the money. I have owned my car for about a year and a half now and I couldnt ask for more. The Scion community is amazing and the products and support they offer as upgrades are top of the line. The ease and ability to customize the tC has to be my favorite selling point. I have since added an xB to the family as well as quite a few modifications. Please take the time to test drive this model, you wont regret it.