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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Looks like it cost twice as much! - 2005 Scion TC
  By rgs - January 15 - 10:00 am

  This is one heck of a deal for a small sporty car. There is nothing else out there that feels this solid, comes with 17" rims and a sunroof and looks this good.

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  8.5 - 2008 Scion XB
  By Greg/Placerville - January 14 - 3:00 am

  We had a 2005 xB, but it was totaled in a wreck. It crashed well, and we decided to go ahead with a new 08. We like the new safety feature of a side curtain airbag. The ride is smoother, the acceleration faster, and the noise level has been greatly decreased. My wife and I have both noticed that you have to keep an eye on the speedometer as you can be going 80+ and not realize it. We got 30-32 MPG with the 05, but only get 26-28 MPG with the new 08. It handles well, but I occasionally have a problem with the ground clearance. I have to be careful backing out of driveways with a sharp drop off. The "cyclops" backup light is no brighter than a regular backup light, so only half the light.

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  Sweetness for the Cake - 2005 Scion TC
  By marky mark - January 10 - 1:20 am

  The Scion tC is a pretty fast for a 4 banger. It gets up quick. It provides lots of fun for the money, but it needs better sound system and a better seat belt system for driver. The drivers belt digs into my neck. Other than that the car kicks butt.

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  Beats the compition in every way! - 2005 Scion TC
  By skydean03 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because my 03 Civic was totalled. When I compared the 05 civics and the TC, it was obvious which car won in every category. I have not been let down at all since purchasing the TC. It handles like a DREAM. It instills so much confidence in high-speed cornering, thanks to 17in wheels and grippy potenzas. The more I look at the styling, the hotter the car gets. Yeah, the radio cover is retarded, and the flimsy shades are cheap, but DANG! This car rocks!

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  Home Run - 2005 Scion TC
  By tonylexus - January 9 - 10:00 am

  Did extensive shopping in & out of this class of vehicle and found nothing to compare to the balance of performance, comfort, amenities, quality, detail and, of course, price! As long as you are not expecting a Prius (mileage) or Porche (performance) you cant beat this car for having all of the right stuff. Reasonable compromises (performance vs. practicality) make it a competant and comfortable weekday commuter and lots of fun on the weekend.

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  More than I expected ... - 2006 Scion XB
  By Philip McCririe - January 6 - 7:50 pm

  I got the xB release model. It is really a head turner as well a a car that is fun to drive. I am a high mileage commute driver and for the money this is a hard car to beat. The gas mileage I have received has exceeded the Scion sticker numbers on every tank of gas I have pumped. With the five speed manual transmission, the power seems to be more than enough to get me to and from work. With my previous USA car, I had to constantly downshift to get over the hills or merge into freeway traffic. With my xB I just leave it in fifth gear and climb hills or enter freeways easily. I love my xB and would recommend that all commuters give it a good look. Great car for the money.

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  Love This Car! - 2004 Scion XB
  By Wendy - January 6 - 5:40 pm

  I have a family of four, and I am so pleased with all that this car has to offer. While the exterior of the car would lead you to believe that its small, it is extremely spacious. Its comfortable to drive. We had an SUV, but with gas prices climbing, we were looking for something more fuel efficient, yet still roomy. Its great on gas and comfort. Its also great to look at. Its really something different, and I see heads turn all the time. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  The New xB is truly AMAZING - 2008 Scion XB
  By CamWest - January 6 - 12:30 pm

  I have only had this car for a few days but Im already in love with it. Im a college student and the fact that the car comes standard with so many features (power everything, cruise, cd/radio) is fantastic. Plus the car has an incredible amount of safety features (driver and passenger airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS, traction control). In addition to all that, the car is really fun to drive. It handles extremely well and really gets up and goes when you put your foot on the gas. And the car gets very good mileage for its size. Im very impressed and I dont regret my decision to buy at all.

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  Love It! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Phyllis - January 4 - 3:10 pm

  I love this vehicle! I had a Jeep before this and loved it for 230,000 miles. I was looking at the Toyota Tacoma when I spotted the xB. I had thought that they were the ugliest thing on the road but when I looked inside I couldnt believe how BIG it was. Then I took it for a test drive and bought it immediately. After three months I still smile when I see it in the driveway (its sooo cute). The gas mileage isnt quite what they claim but I usually get about 27 mpg, only got 30 once. I love that when two xBs pass each other on the road the owners always wave or give the thumbs up, its like we are very special vehicle owners.

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  what I didnt know about Toyota - 2007 Scion TC
  By howard kirshner - January 2 - 9:33 pm

  I bought a Toyota SCION TC for my daughter, I did not buy an extended warranty because of the 60,000 mile 5year warranty that came with the vehicle.The car started to give her problems with a leak into the passenger compartment.With 2 visits they finally stopped the leak. Next came the blower motor that failed.By this time my car had gone by the 60,000 miles that was covered under the warranty.At 73,000 miles my engine failed.I called Toyota who offered to reimburse me for $500.00. A new engine is over $4000.00. In conclusion, I feel there could have been a compromise to this situation. Thanks for listening.