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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  MY SCION XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By MELLBELL - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THE SCION XB. I BOUGHT A BLACK SAND PEARL MODEL FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.ITS FUN AND HIP, HAS LOTS OF ROOM WHICH IS HELPFUL HAVING 2 KIDS.NICE SLEEK STYLE AND DEFINATLY TURNS HEADS. ALSO IS JUST FUN TO DRIVE.FROM INTERIOR TO EXTERIOR, JUST A BEAUTIFUL RIDE.

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  tC is way too Cool - 2005 Scion TC
  By tC is too Cool - October 21 - 10:00 am

  its been one week since I got my tC totally cool. I pretty much like everything about it. its plenty fast,ride comfort,breaking, you name it, its better than Iexpected. quality of this car inside out is as good as anything over 20 grand. compare with civic is a joke.

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  "Sell the Buick, Martha! Get this car!" - 2008 Scion XB
  By Bill J52 - October 18 - 3:53 pm

  Pulled the trigger on this 2008 xB yesterday and hey, words fail me. Except for one... competency. This wagon does every task without even breathing hard. If you need easy access and egress, safety, good looks, fuel economy, and low "cost-to-own" this is your car. Technically, its amazing, pure and simple. Electric steering and brakes, stability control, antislip, smart suspension that feels more like a Lincoln Towncar than a 4 banger entry level car. In short, the xB is a car for all people, Take a test drive and see! Its marketed for young adults but we baby boomers will not be denied!

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  Not Bad - 2005 Scion TC
  By Paul - October 18 - 3:10 am

  I bought mine used after reading mostly good things for a not-too-expensive sporty coupe. I think that the car should get better fuel mileage for a relatively small engine. Also, the interior materials are fairly easily marred from a simple wedding ring or touching it with your key. On the good side, it has plenty of torque and is a great car to learn to drive a manual or if you dont have good knees but still want a manual as a lot of shifting is not required for function.

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  Replacement for Corolla - 2008 Scion TC
  By Nice Choice - October 17 - 7:13 pm

  Needed a safe vehicle, but also a cool vehicle, for a teenager who will be driving shortly. Had settled on a Mazda 3. Thankfully, the Mazda dealer low balled us on our trade. Good thing. Viewed a new TC after leaving Mazda dealer and immediately went to the nearest Scion dealer to take a closer look. Obviously, the teenager fell in love with the TC. Wife also fell for it. Have had it a bit and couldnt be more pleased. Good value for the money. I am over 50 and I love driving the vehicle.

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  Whats with the Ignition - 2005 Scion XB
  By MEB404 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  We have really been enjoying this car. Gets lots of attention. Is roomy. But after a month of owning it the key got stuck in the ignition. Had to take it to the dealer and get a new ignition (or whatever) put in. Now after about a month or so, again key is stuck. Wonder if others have had this problem. Did we get a lemon?

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  joys review - 2005 Scion XB
  By millvillage - October 16 - 10:00 am

  very responsive,fun to drive love the small turning radius plenty of room to get in and out and low to the ground for us senior citizens.

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  Buy it today! I love mine - 2005 Scion TC
  By Edmond Torbati - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Buy it today! I love mine. And others compliment me too. Its fun to drive, smooth, sporty and fuel efficient. Plus, no body has it. Get it. The quality and reliability is #1 becaue it has a Toyota camry engine and Toyota/lexus make the best reliable cars. Plus it was made in Japan, unlike all the Toyotas.

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  Beats My Jeep Cherokee - 2009 Scion XB
  By Sgt Bill - October 15 - 9:33 am

  From 16 MPG (Jeep) to 25 MPG city (xB), Oh my, what a relief in these days of inflated gas prices. Only a couple of weeks old, but the love affair with this little Gem continues to build. A near future trip is planned and if all goes well, will be one of many this year. I love all the cargo space and when taking my 95 pound Boxer, he is comfortable too. Just a great vehicle and the best of many I test drove before purchasing.

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  Wanted an xB for Years - 2010 Scion XB
  By Diane - October 15 - 8:06 am

  Just got my xB a month ago and I already have 2K miles on it. It does good on the freeway and in stop and go traffic on my 24 mile daily commute in LA. Love the style (my boxy car!). I do have a little rattle in my passenger side front door. Hopefully they will be able to resolve that. Has great power although I wish the gas tank was a few gallons larger so I could go all week without gassing up. I went from a Saturn L200 which I absolutely loved, but this is more comfortable and roomier in the back seat. This is my first car with an IPod hook up, so that has been really fun. The stereo is great for a standard option. Wish the interior was not black.