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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Love my tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By K Salvi - December 8 - 4:43 am

  I was looking for a reliable fun-to-drive car that didnt cost a ton. My options were down to the civic and the eclipse. When researching these on Edmunds, I learnt about the tC and instantly fell in love. After checking it out, I bought it and I have to say ITS AWESOME!!!. Toyota reliability, 160hp engine, looks cool and comes with almost all the bells and whistles. Plus the no-haggle pricing experience is much better than the traditional dealership approach.

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  LOVE IT! - 2009 Scion XB
  By sandy c - December 5 - 2:50 pm

  I love this Car. I had a Focus and it drove terrible and only got about 27 mpg. I researched on Edmunds and saw all the good comments so I decided to try the XB because it is like a suv but better on mileage and had a standard transmission; I just like manual. It was everything I could have wanted, lots of airbags and my elderly father can get in and out easy.

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  Near Perfection - 2005 Scion XB
  By Mellow Monster - December 4 - 6:53 pm

  At 62" and 265 lbs. with bad knees the xB is the only new car sold that I can get into and out of with ease. The last ten years I have had to buy gas guzzling full size pickups or SUVs. I like it so much, I helped two of my daughters buy Scion xBs It is very versatile and one of the most practicle vehicles made. Im 60 in N.H. and my daughters are 39 in Ill, and 29 in Tenn. so the xB has broad appeal.

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  Best Bang For Your Buck - 2005 Scion TC
  By ozonetaco - December 4 - 12:10 pm

  The tC, I believe, is the best bang for your buck that is out there. I am 61" and I fit PERFECTLY in the car. The drive of the vehicle is unmatched by ANY competitors in its class. Sure, there may be "stronger" motors as way of horsepower, but bang for your buck, you cant go wrong.

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  my little fun box - 2005 Scion XB
  By girlracer - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car as a impulse buy, and so far I have no regrets. My only problem is that i went from a suv with a 350 and a 12 sec.qtr. mile street car to a car with only 108hp. but what do you expect from a car that is based at $14,000 new. It is fun to drive and GREAT on gas!! after a few motor up grades it might just be my favorite car i own.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Scion TC
  By scionist - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I have been waiting for this car to arrive since Winter, and I bought the first one in my city. Ive put 600 miles on it so far, and havent regretted my purchase for a minute. Nice power, great handling, eye-catching looks and Lexus-like build quality... What more could one ask for? More importantly, what more could one buy for under $18K?

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  Scion Warranty is Worthless - 2006 Scion TC
  By PIssed Off - December 2 - 1:43 am

  2006 Scion TC, normal usage, 23k miles and clutch goes out. Scion claims "wear & tear" and totally walks away from their warranty. I will never buy another Toyota/Scion product again!

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  08 tC - 2008 Scion TC
  By Kimy - November 30 - 10:03 am

  I wish it had come standard with the spoiler. Other than that, I love it. The back is very roomy and there is a lot of storage space!

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  A great car - 2008 Scion XB
  By willie - November 29 - 10:20 pm

  I test drove the Scion XB in November just after Thanksgiving. I looked and looked at all other available cars in this class. Bought the Scion XB on 8 Feb and absolutely love it. I bought front and rear stabilizer. Tightens up the chassis even more and it corners like a banshee. Was going to lower to improve handling more but find it does not need it.

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  123,000 miles later - 2005 Scion xA
  By peter - November 29 - 6:26 pm

  I have 123,000 miles and the only problem I had was both front wheel bearing needed replacing. The interior still looks like new. Car rides too harsh and could be quieter. I am confident it will run past the 200,000 mile mark.