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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great Purchase - 2007 Scion TC
  By Tom - October 31 - 12:00 pm

  I really researched the car market for about a month and this had to be one of the best cars on the market. It has a nice sleak design that really turns heads. Also, the interior is so clean and very nice. The seats hug to you and make you feel comfortable. Even though there is a bit of a blind spot on the back left and back right, it is not as bad as in most cars. The trunk, while not that big, was bigger then expected and the glove compartment is HUGE. The gauges light up really nicely and the radio is nicely hidden by the sliding door. The sun/moonroof is the best part of the car because no one has seen something like this yet. This is a total chick magnet car. I will be loving this car for a long time.

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  Why buy anything else (at this price)? - 2005 Scion XB
  By jayman785 - October 28 - 7:30 am

  I love it. Got it for my wife. We live in a major city, and I manage an exotic car dealership, where I get to drive virutally everything. This was what she wanted. I didnt really like the idea of the Scion xB, but she got it. I drive a 2006 BMW M5 everyday, and since weve had it (about 90 days), the BMW has been parked in favor of this incredible little car (truck, suv, whatever). Great fuel economy, fun to drive, very refined, excellent storage space, excellent visibility, easy to park, cheap to insure, what more could you want out of a car? As a self-professed auto expert, you cannot get more for your money than in a Scion xB.

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  Super Cool - 2005 Scion XB
  By Jim - October 23 - 10:43 pm

  Bought my xB in late December 2004. Needed a vehicle that I could carry my disabled Sweetheart and be able to get her in and out without trouble. Told the salesguy if I could get the wheelchair in the luggage area, I would buy it and buy it we did. Has just over 23000 miles and couldnt ask for a better vehicle. Lots of power and energy, great mileage, and enough room for my 68" 300 lb son to drive with comfort. Installed luggage rack and aluminum alloy wheels from internet. Never used a drop of oil and no maintenance problems whatsoever. Best car I ever owned, and Ive always driven sports/small cars (Triumph Spitfire, Opel Mimi-Corvette, Suzuki Samurai) and this one is the best.

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  Scion Review - 2007 Scion TC
  By Nicole - October 22 - 3:36 am

  The 2007 Scion tC is a great car. The ride Is awesome and the look of the car is adorable. The additional features that you can add are very affordable and very eye catching.

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  Great box - 2008 Scion XB
  By Anthony Z - October 21 - 11:33 pm

  This car was put on the road May 1st 2008, and have been a delightful experience, Ive driven 3500 miles and loved every minute in it. I added floor mats, interior leather, a sway bar, XM radio, it has the 2.4 L engine motor which is very adequate, zips in out in traffic, park just any where, Im getting about an average of 33 to 34 miles per gallon, very consistently, no racing here, very easy on the throttle, and coast every time I have a chance, it is easy to do it with standard transmission, I love this little car, go ahead buy one, you will enjoy.

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  My 2005 Scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By Mark - October 18 - 3:23 pm

  I have had no problems with my Scion since the day I bought it. It handles smoothly, accelerates rather quickly, and gets great gas mileage. I would recommend anyone to try a test drive in a tC. I had to order mine and have loved it ever since.

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  Best Inexpensive Sports Car ever - 2005 Scion TC
  By Rodrigo Sepulveda - October 15 - 8:00 am

  I bought the Scion tC not knowing what to expect because it was the first time it had been introduced in the market and there were no reviews. We knew the engine was that of a Camry and for the price we liked the style and features. My wife and I fell in love with the car after test drving a demo car. The salesmanship was great for there were no pressures to buy. We then test drove a Corolla, Jetta and a Civic and for the price, the Scion was way under priced. Ever since we bought it, we have enjoyed the confort, speed, moonroof, looks and smooth ride of the car that is definetly top notch. Ive had many cars and the tC is the best small coupe ever.

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  New Car Shoo-In - 2008 Scion TC
  By Sushi - October 13 - 4:03 am

  I was looking for a new car as a graduation present, but I was originally planning on looking at a used 2005 Subaru WRX and 2007 VW GLI, but I decided to stop in at the Toyota dealership on the same strip. I reluctantly test drove the tC, but was really impressed by all the interior features and the price. In the end, I was willing to save a few thousand dollars to get a new rather than used car with a few dozen less horses, but with a lot more interior features, so I bought it the same day as the test drive. Only issue is the stock tires (Yokohama S32s), which are almost $230 each to replace, even though Yokohama has a better performance tire in their own line at a better price.

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  SCION tC x3 @ 56yrs old - 2011 Scion TC
  By SCION tC x3 - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Ive had a 2005, a 2007 and now a 2011, Magnetic Gray Metallic. The 2nd gen is RADICALLY different from the 1st! Some things std on 1st gen are gone replaced by others. The std 18" wheels are STUNNING! The new seats and fabric are AWESOME! 6 spd transmission (mines auto) with std on/off trac control, conventional dash design but TASTEFULLY done with a thicker flat bottom steering wheel. The optional rear spoiler is an awesome MUST have, it finishes the more aggressive looking car PERFECTLY! Mileage so far has been better than the ratings and I DONT drive like your Grandma.

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  WHERES 6TH GEAR? - 2006 Scion xA
  By ZEEMAN - October 8 - 8:40 pm

  I love my Scion. Its roomy, sporty, handles well, is a breeze to park, and, when driven properly (with the 5spd), gets good mileage and is comfortable on long trips. I am 6 and have plenty of head and leg room. I installed the better xB armrest that actually has storage and it fit perfectly. With the back seats down, theres plenty of room for my two huge labs and they love to ride with their heads out the window. It comes nicely equipped, and mine has no options but for the armrest. I like the iPod connect as well as the standard CD player. If you are single or childless, the xA will handle about 95% of your driving/transportation needs. Not just a kids car; Im 36 and love it.