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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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

• 

  My cool "Box" on wheels :) - 2004 Scion XB
  By Dustin Branton - January 21 - 10:00 am

  No hassle buying experience. Love it or hate it looks, we love it. Some really cool options. Great interior design and space. Fuel economy 30/34! Fun to drive.

• 

  Great Car for the Money - 2005 Scion TC
  By antioch - January 20 - 10:53 am

  I bought my Scion tC for my long commute. It is fun to drive and gets decent gas mileage. You can also buy Toyota TRD upgrades that can add some more vroom without voiding your warranty. I like it!

• 

  Not the best car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Susan - January 20 - 10:23 am

  I have put 21,000 miles on this car in 6mos. The seats are horrible, it is extremely loud in the cabin, the ride is so stiff that you can feel the tar stripes through the rock hard seats... It would be a great car for anyone who drives in town, not on the freeway... Any speed over 45mph the car becomes very loud. I would not recommend this car to anyone who does interstate/long- distance driving... the gas mileage doesnt make up for the lack of comfort and quiteness of more fuel-ineffcient, more expensive vehicle.

• 

  Great bang for your buck! - 2006 Scion TC
  By Wheels8716 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Great fit and finish with nice exterior details. We get stopped all of the time with questions about the car. Looks great in silver! The tC has a very good ride/handling balance. It is a firm ride, but not bone jarring. Great performance for a 4cylinder automatic. Fun to drive and I would recommend to anyone.

• 

  Scion xD - 2008 Scion XD
  By melissa - January 20 - 9:56 am

  This car is fun to drive. I think that it gets good gas mileage, and has lots of space to fit five passengers.

• 

  Scion over Pontiac - 2006 Scion xA
  By Stacey - January 20 - 9:50 am

  I love my aA. The day we bought it is the last day I drove my husbands Pontiac. It is such a joy to drive, comfortable and yet it still has a bit of attitude. People are always asking if they can look inside. It is much roomier than you would think. My husband is 62" and has enought leg room. Even with the high price of gas we have taken more road trips this year in the xA because of the fact that we get 300 miles to a tank of gas.

• 

  A Fun Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Jay - January 20 - 12:23 am

  I am over 70 and have ownwd cars three times the price of my tC. However, I have never been as fond of an automobile as I am of this one. It handles as if I am part of the road and I find the seats most comfortable and with more than ample room. My tC has features that are not present in my wifes full-size sedan. The radio and sound system are quite satisfactory and the controls are attractive as well as well-placed. While simple in design, I find the exterior lines attractive. I am a large person, yet find more than ample leg and head room. While certainly not a "family" car, I would certainly recommend the Scion tC to anyone looking for a fun second car.

• 

  a car not just for teens - 2005 Scion XB
  By caerpa - January 16 - 9:56 pm

  Car has no gray areas. People either love it, or hate it. For the dollar, it is one of the best cars I have ever purchased/.;

• 

  Moms and Tall Adults - 2005 Scion TC
  By tall cip - January 16 - 8:50 am

  Im a tall mom, 510, and love my car! It has a great look, my two kids love to pick their friends up in it! It also is a comfortable car. Its easy to drive around the city. I have never had a problem with it! I can grocery shop in it also! :-) Its gas mileage is great, my avg. is 10 days before filling up. Toyota has done its job keeping moms young and alive. :-) This car is definitely a keeper, a hand-me-down for a teenager. Try one, buy one, and have fun!

• 

  Good Deal - 2005 Scion xA
  By XA Jake - January 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for the gas milage but what I got was much more. I think this is the best car that I have ever driven to this point. The extra features that you can get with it is outstanding. I love sports cars so I got the lowering kit and 18 inch rims along with the Cold air induction and sport muffler. The gas milage is about 36 miles to the gallon and I get alot of responce on the gas pedal. I cant even get in it without someone asking me about it. I dont know how any other car companys are going to sell compacts when this car becomes more known. There are things that I would change in the manufacture but they would all drive up the base line price.