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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  So Ugly Its Cute - 2006 Scion XB
  By Layout1 - October 30 - 4:06 am

  The Scion xB was meant to be for the younger generation, but it appears that a good number of older folks are finding it to be quite the car. The gas mileage does not lie. We get 31-32 mpg in town and 33-34 hwy. This car has plenty of zip to merge onto freeways. It has lots of glass and and it easy to see out of. All of the glass except for the windshield can be cleaned by standing outside. Sometimes the rear window is a bear to get to. The back seats lay down to allow more cargo space. We like to think of it as a poor mans SUV. One thing Ive found odd is that most used xBs seem to cost more than the new ones. Maybe that is because they have more extras when bought new.

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  Scion XB - 2004 Scion XB
  By joday9953 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Rides great, gets 30 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 on the highway. Room inside is great, I have a son 62" that can sit in the back seat with the front seat moved all the way back. Its not a speed demon but has enough get up to reach highway speeds by the end of the onramp.

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  xb - 2004 Scion XB
  By Vadim8682 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  all around excellent car, cant beat the price especially all the standard features you get on this car. very customizable but i wouldnt buy anything from the dealer they charge a lot more then other individual high performance stores so do your research. and dont be scared when people start coming up to you asking you what the car is or giving them a little presentation :o)

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  Odd? - 2006 Scion TC
  By Butler - October 27 - 6:53 am

  I searched for three months through all the newspaper adds, eBay, dealerships, and craigslist for this vehicle. In my findings I found that there are a lot with salvaged titles or accidents with the TC. Most of these accidents are from a front-end collision. Makes me wonder if there is an issue with its braking system. Either way, I donÂ’t know enough about cars to research the idea. It Could just be that its fun to drive and fast, so people get in a lot of accidents.It is odd though?!?!?

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  My xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mary - October 24 - 5:13 pm

  Overall, I have had no buyers remorse after purchasing this car. Its truly an engineering marvel considering how small it looks from the outside in comparison to how big it is on the inside. The exterior had to grow on me for awhile before purchasing it, but after seeing the inside I was sold. Buyers beware: if you are expecting some high performance, high-end vehicle, you should not purchase this car. The small 4-cylinder engine does have trouble in passing and uphill situations. The interior is basic, yet very functional. So far I have not yet achieved the estimated gas mileage (about 28 mpg in mixed city and highway driving).

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  love my little roller skate - 2009 Scion XD
  By fufi - October 24 - 4:13 pm

  I have only had my Scion since April but after 4000 miles Im still enjoying every minute of it. I was looking for a good quality small car for a decent price how could you go wrong with a product of toyota. I am planning on owning this vehicle for a long time I hope the brand holds up to its reputation.

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  I know xB in a very object way - 2008 Scion XB
  By brytface - October 23 - 10:46 pm

  We have driven xB for over 2 years. Our experience with this vehicle has been deteriorating mainly because of continuing mechanical problems and poor interior material quality. First, some plastic under passenger seat fell off within 6 months normal usage. Big surprise! And the engine stopped in the middle of the way. (wife almost made an accident) Toyota fixed it under warranty. However, problems continues.. When waits for the signal with brakes on, the car shakes and make noises. I knew Toyota Quality slips away but I thought Built-in Japan Scion would be fine. My mistake! when a company fails to do what they are supposed to do (making value products)consumers suffer.

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  only (2) weeks - 2008 Scion XB
  By tom - October 22 - 10:00 pm

  I purchased this car for several reasons. My 06 HHR had 70K miles and was starting to FALL APART! I needed a wagon type for business giving good mileage. I purchased a Black XB and added 18" X 8.5 Enkei wheels with 225/40 tires. Tinted the front windows to match rears. So far the car is good, few complaints, cant see the radio during day light is Big issue. Arm rest is useless, trying to get dealer to install one on pass. side. Mileage about 24 average, hope it gets better. I put so many miles on a car in just a few years, I hope resale and reliability is better then HHR.

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  07 Scion tC - 2007 Scion TC
  By ts1989 - October 22 - 1:51 am

  I bought my tC used with 120,000 in March of 2013...figured it would be beneficial to write a review about a used one. No issues with the car for the first 10,000 miles, then my engine failed at 131,000. I understand it was used but with a Toyota engine...kinda surprised me. This was a car I always wanted, and I loved having it. Acceleration was pretty awesome (roommate had a Volks Jetta turbo and I smoked him) and the handling was good, even with it "having been around the block". The sunroof was amazing, although like others I too did have issues with the rattling. My suggestion: if youre looking for a used one, get it mechanically checked before buying!

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  Scion, yes please - 2004 Scion xA
  By scionowner - October 21 - 10:00 am

  The scion xa is a great car, made for the younger generation. the look of the car isnt like anything else out there. It looks small from the outside, but really it is a very roomy car. I have had no problems with the xa at all! the best thing about the car is the pricing. this is my first car purchase on my own. the pricing is reasonable and the payments are low even without having any credit history!