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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Extreme Value and Flexibility - 2007 Scion TC
  By SRAinRaleigh - March 31 - 8:06 am

  What an awesome combination: Toyota quality and total flexibility in options and accessories. I had to "trade down" from an expensive sports coupe to save some money and I thought I would have to settle for some dinky econo box. But Im so happy with this car I wish I had traded for the Scion long ago. I think the Scion idea of packing a lot of features into the base car and allowing the consumer to pick and choose what accessories they want is THE way to go. I didnt have to overspend to get the stereo system I wanted in this car. I got exactly what I wanted and the value is much better than the Honda Civic, Nissan Versa, and Mazda3 that I test drove and compared it to. Go get one!

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  Glad I Waited - 2008 Scion XB
  By gwoodjr - March 30 - 11:00 am

  I reviewed by driving and reading (Edmunds, of course) a lot of cars for over a year before deciding to test drive the xB. I was impressed immediately with the comfort, practicality, drivability, and value of the Scion. I wanted a car that I could haul stuff in, sleep in if necessary, and would look smart around town doing so. I quickly put a hitch on the end to enable the transport of two bicycles and can state you cannot tell two bicycles are mounted to the back end. The car has easy ingress and egress which makes my elderly mother happy. The sound system is great and how many value cars come with stock tinted windows? Totally cool. This is one quick, nimble, easy to drive car.

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  Great car, great price. - 2009 Scion XD
  By ellie - March 29 - 6:53 am

  After driving both the Honda Fit and the Scion xD I found the Scion xD more to my liking. First of all I like how high the car sits- I feel more comfortable and have a better view than in the Honda Fit. The xD handles well and has less wind noise than the Fit. The safety features are impressive and the car is comfortable to drive. In my opinion at several thousand dollars less it is a better bang for your buck than the Honda Fit.

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  These are going to sell. - 2005 Scion TC
  By jgill17 - March 25 - 8:53 pm

  Ive had my TC for a little over 3 months and Im very happy with it so far. Very fun to drive, nice acceleration and good handling. For the price there is not a better all around car out there. Gas milage is reasonable depending on your driving style, Im avging 26mpg. Not having to pay for premium helps balance that. I have read some complaints about highway noise but I think the TC is queiter than my 96 Accord EX was. Im very happy with the build quality. Back seats actually fit adults comfortably. Warning this car wants to run on the highway. at 80mph rpms are around 4K so it might benefit from a higher final drive ratio. Overall I am very happy with my purchase.

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  Awesome Car, with alot of Room and good MPG! - 2005 Scion XB
  By johnmolanii - March 22 - 8:07 pm

  Have a 2005 xB and im a easy driver. Get around 33 MPG city/highway mix. It doesnt have alot of Horsepower but it gets me from point a to point xB ;-)

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  The Little Box Can Hang - 2008 Scion XB
  By AZ xB - March 22 - 2:10 am

  This car feels big, but drives small. The xB covers the fundamentals very well for an inexpensive car. There is enough room behind the rear seats for regular stuff and a ton of room with the seats folded for big stuff. The base stereo sounds really decent, which was a concern because head units are not installed until after you buy the vehicle. Power is good. I have yet to find myself wishing for more. Shifts can be a little chunky, between first and second especially, but itÂ’s not too bad. Manumatic will probably go wholly unused. Overall, the pros of this vehicle dwarf the cons and I would say to anyone that the xB is worth a look, even if youÂ’re shopping the small SUV market.

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  2005 SCION XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By 05XBINSC - March 21 - 11:46 pm

  I bought my XB new in 2005 because I got tired of working on my previous car a Ford/Mazda Probe GT. Big change in terms of power and handling but I adjusted fairly easy. I find myself driving the XB HARD so I cant really complain about 28MPG, that being said, after 58K miles I have had not one single mechanical problem! I had a small chip in the windshield in the first month, used a "repair kit" and did not have to replace that until Jan of 2009. Getting ready to replace my 2nd set of tires. Lots of interior room, poor interior lighting, good seating position, good (not great) stereo. Buzzy on the highway, could use an extra gear, or "taller" 5th. Great value for the money! Paid 13,750.

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  Fair Purchase - 2005 Scion xA
  By MDM - March 21 - 11:53 am

  The gas mileage is good but not up to the rating. Acceleration is anorexic, but nothing more than expected for such a small engine - although the manual is better, anybody that tells you its good is delusional. Despite the performance issues, its a cute car with only minor issues largely due to some cheaper parts.

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  Scion owner and fan - 2004 Scion XB
  By bea golden - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The drive is smooth and with very little outside noise. Price is reasonable and we loved the uniqueness of the car. Gas mileage is good, averages 23 miles per gallon combined city and highway.The seating is comfortable and we loved the placement of the gauges. The leg room and the head room is great for anyone.I have never owned a car that got as much attention as this has. I am repeatedly being stopped and asked what kind of car I have,who makes it,and most of the time they are leaning in to get a better look.

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  Nice little car - 2007 Scion TC
  By msfirefly36 - March 17 - 3:06 am

  Turns around curves good. Zippy.. holds its own, passes well. Black cherry color has got many compliments. Its an all around good car for going to/from work. I wouldnt drive it in the deep snow. On long trips the seats killed my back. Not much room inside for toting alot of luggage on a long trip - else all good. After 57K no problems with the mechanical. 30mpg highway