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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  JOIN THE SCION CULT FOLLOWING!!!!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Radiodude - November 16 - 12:53 pm

  The perfect car for folks who are a little bit utiliarian (cost, resell value, space, operating cost)while not forgeting what make a a car enjoyable... the stylized appeal, customization, and "fun drive" factor. The scion XB like many toyotas is very practicle transportaion... but unlike other Toyotas the Scion brandline is quickly proving that practicle CAN be fun and exciting too!

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  Love the car, heres why... - 2004 Scion xA
  By Steven - November 16 - 12:26 pm

  Ive read many reviews, about six months worth, on this car, and I finally got one, so I want to make this review worth your read: Gas Mileage: just clocked it out - miles driven (298.8) divided by gas put in at fill-up (10.1) equals a solid 29.8 miles per gallon (I would say this is in mixed driving, but with a dominate city). Interior Room: Not a problem. Im 64", my brothers are 66" and 68", and a lady friend at 57" could all fit in the car with enough comfort for a 25 mile drive, but not enough for a 400 mile drive. Performance: Get the manual transmission. The car handles very well and hugs the road nicely, but, I can really feel all the freeway bumps, but not a big deal. I love it.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Scion TC
  By Karly - November 13 - 10:20 pm

  I have owned this car for a little less than a year. My first problem was when I was driving it home from the dealership. I had opened and closed the sunroof at the dealership and driving home it was making a terrible loud sound. I found out the rubber between the sunroof and windshield was loose. Got that glued back down and now its fine. My only other real problem is that its a terrible in the snow! I live in South Dakota and this car is the worst car I have ever driven in the winter!

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  I love my car!!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By ranchnumber51 - November 4 - 5:06 am

  I absolutely love my tC. Drives great, looks great, feels much more expensive than it really is. It suits my personality very well and Im very excited to have it.

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  My Little Box Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By sigjuliussen - November 3 - 10:16 am

  Love this car. I get 31.5 MPG all city driving. Just had first snow fall and this car handles great. Im 64" and 310 lbs and I fit fine in front or back seat. Best small car it you need to hall big people. I have fit 4 6+ adults.

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  My favorite car so far - 2005 Scion TC
  By Somers - November 3 - 5:00 am

  I had to unexpectedly buy a new car. My last car was a Ponitac Sunfire. What an upgrade! My tC is so awesome! I love it so much. I got it in red with the painted rims. It looks so hot. I get asked a lot of questioned about it. Its a great looking car and its great to drive. I am very happy with my car.

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  TC and Loving it - 2005 Scion TC
  By Tc Stitch - November 2 - 7:00 pm

  I have only had the car for about 3 months now. So far I havent pushed it too much but im approaching 3k so Im gonna get on it soon. As of yet it hasnt disappointed me in the power dept, but 1st gear is a dog. Loving the ride but wishing I spent the money on the exhaust.

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  xD Love - 2008 Scion XD
  By peacegal - November 2 - 2:40 pm

  I LOVE my new peppy xD! Im impressed with this small bundle of energy and very pleased that I didnt go with the Honda Fit or the Toyota Matrix. The xD comes standard with lots of features and the only extra added was an alarm. Everyone who has ridden in it has fallen in love. A terrific buy so far!

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  Love My xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By jheiden - November 1 - 5:06 am

  I just bought my Scion xB because I wanted better gas mileage than my 14 mpg SUV. I love the interior space and couldnt bear to buy a compact car. The exterior and interior design is great, and the xB is suprisingly quick from a stop. Second and third gear are a bit sluggish, but at cruising speed it will keep up with anything on the freeway. Its ride is very smooth and quiet. The A/C works great on mine, and I am in 115 degree heat in Palm Springs in the summer. The interior could use a few small tweaks, but is overall satisfactory. The low price makes the xB a fantastic value, and mine is getting around 32 mpg on 2/3 freeway and 1/3 city driving. I hope more accessories come out soon!

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  Best Car I Have HAD Yet - 2004 Scion XB
  By eebetty - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Great litte car, good ride, lots of room,great fuel mileage. Fun to drive.Has Toyota quality build in.