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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  xB....A PRETTY GOOD BUY. - 2004 Scion XB
  By DAN SHAW - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I ORDERED THE xB IN JUNE AND FINALLY HAD THE DEALER FINISHING PUTTING OPTIONS IN IT BY MID AUGUST. I DONT THINK THEY HAD ALL OF THE BUGS WORKED OUT OF THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK AT THE TIME. AS FAR AS THE CAR, I AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. LOTS OF ROOM (ESPECIALLY THE REAR SEAT LEG ROOM). PERFORMANCE IS ADEQUATE FOR A CAR OF THIS TYPE AND SIZE. ON A TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON FROM CALIFORNIA WE AVG. 35 MILES PER GALLON. CLIMBING SOME OF THE 6% GRADES REQUIRED TURNING OFF THE OVERDRIVE, BUT THEN YOU COULD KEEP UP WITH EVERYONE @ ABOUT 70 - 80 M.P.H.. AROUND TOWN MILEAGE USUALLY RUNS AROUND 25 M.P.G.

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  Scion xA - Alot of bang for the buck. Mediocre performance. - 2004 Scion xA
  By rx1 - February 1 - 1:11 am

  I have driven and owned several cars in my driving experience. I have had mixed feeling about this car. Pros Comes relatively loaded for the sticker price. Good mpg, 32-ish. Good solid manual transmission. Impressive reliability. Surprisingly roomy. Cons Sluggish response from a buzzy, noisy engine. You have to be willing to rev it hard, and downshift to achieve passing speed. Narrow wheel base, tall stance results in sloppy handling. Light weight and engine position result in unstable handling in snowbelt. Soundproofing is minimal. Long highway rides are noisy and tedious. I bought new. I lasted 4 years and 36k miles before selling.

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  great car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Todd H. Freeman - January 29 - 10:16 pm

  This is the second Scion xB that I have owned. I loved both. I wrecked the first one. It held up well after being hit in the rear by a school bus . I was pushed into a full sized SUV that was stopped, the bus was doing 45 mph. I was so impressed by the way it held up. I bought anouther one . I just wished they came in a V6.

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  Nice - 2011 Scion XB
  By Ih8reno - January 29 - 2:00 am

  had to return my last car and was checking for 1 month every dealership i could think of. ended up at Toyota and test drove the Matrix. Came close to signing but saw the Xb close by and had to try it. i loved it, and a week later am driving it. Nice looks, fully loaded, and smooth to drive.

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  College Student with Hopes - 2006 Scion TC
  By soros151 - January 27 - 2:56 pm

  Since I saw this vehicle I fell in love with it. At first I found the shifting to be quite smooth, but since I changed the shifter it has a "racer" feeling. Dont get me wrong, I dont street race, Im truly against it and I work with one association against it. The car feels nimble enough to take on any vehicle, yet balanced enough to be comfortable on the road. If you want an economic car, for under $20,000 and still be able to enjoy going to the track, then this is your car. Dont believe me? Go try one now.

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  My Friend, the Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Xyra - January 26 - 7:50 pm

  Consumer Reports called the Scion xB The Box that Rocks and its true! Not only is it Toyotas Energizer Bunny, its a comfortable, roomy vehicle with inimitable style and ergonomically correct seating that MORE than gets you where you want to go. At first, I felt annoyed when I saw another one on the road. These cars look so unique that you proudly buzz along, deluding yourself into believing that yours is the only one. Now, when I see another Box, I feel a sense of tribal attitude and belonging. Options for the xB are awesome, and only serve to enhance the basic design. My Box is named Angus, after Angus Young. He rocks the road! It sounds crazy, but I talk to him.

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  love my scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By jerry delco - January 25 - 5:20 am

  this vehicle restores that "oh what a feeling" feeling.

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  the best for the buck!!!!!! - 2004 Scion xA
  By tom win - January 25 - 2:00 am

  this is a fantastic car. smart and reliable. this is a great buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  I Love It - 2005 Scion xA
  By SharpiesAreNifty - January 21 - 12:56 pm

  I recommend this car to anyone and everyone! Its wonderful! Its small, so it gets terrific gas mileage, but its spacious. I can sit three people in the backseat and none of them complain!

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  Great little car, but needs some help - 2006 Scion xA
  By Rick - January 21 - 11:43 am

  Seat comfort, storage capacity, fun factor, and economy of the xA are all outstanding. It has two major design faults though. 1. The "cold start" process keeps the vehicle in a lower gear for far too long when the engine is cold. This forces the revs to go far beyond what we have learned to be prudent. The automatic transmission will also not go into 4th speed (overdrive) until the engine has reached the "warm" status. The only practical alternative to prevent engine over-reving into the 2.5K range when it is cold is to let it run for 5 min in the driveway. This defeats the entire purpose! 2. The auto transmission needs a 5th gear. 70 mph needs 3,000 plus rpm on level ground. Still, this is a great little car...I love it!