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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By LL - October 14 - 5:56 am

  Bought this car new and not one trip back to the dealership since. Very Reliable, comfortable, and fun to drive. Consistently getting 28-30 mpg. No problem with the windshield like some posts had mentioned. No problem with anything whatsoever. A/C works good even in the hot days.

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  "Think TWICE" - 2009 Scion TC
  By *LiLLiSSa* - October 13 - 5:23 pm

  First of off, this car is one of the best looking car out there. Driving experience, the shifter is kind of high and the armrest usually hits my elbow;shifting, "biggest complaint". The gauges could been a little bigger. The suspension is horrible! Other than that it is a pretty smooth and quiet car, plenty of torque. I would think that Toyota could have done more with the 09 model. Basically if you really want experience your tC, you would defenitely need TRD upgrades. The tc is really not up there with the civic SI or cobalt SS. Just because it is a coupe doesnt mean it is a sport car in my opinion. Its an OKAY car but I highly reccomend the Civic SI; Have you sat in an SIs seat? DO IT!!

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  Oil problems at 47000 miles - 2008 Scion TC
  By acguy2 - October 12 - 3:38 am

  I have completly enjoyed my TC, looks great, fun to drive. Bought it new in july of 07. At 4700 miles I noticed the oil light came on. Checked the oil, found it wasnt even touching the stick, but it was time for my warranty oil change and took it in. Told them what was going on. I was told to drive it for half of the normal oil change period and bring it back. It ran out before that time. I took it in, they kept it for about 3 weeks. Said it was the valve stem seals and replaced them. Picked it up ater repair now the car sounds like a little hot rod, and vibrates, took it back, the machines the head, picked it up still sounds like a hot rod, no vibration, took it back, installed new motor.

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  Cool car, great gas mileage - 2005 Scion XB
  By davide - October 11 - 2:00 pm

  I have had my Scion Xb for a year now. It is the most distinctive car around. It does lack in the get up & go department but I knew that going in. (I sold a WRX to get the Xb, cheaper on insurance & gas & tires.) Ive averaged just over 31 mpg with an automatic. Has plenty of room, looks cool

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  Cant Go Wrong - 2009 Scion XB
  By Bob S - October 10 - 7:30 pm

  I traded in a 2006 Mini Cooper for this little Limited Edition Absolutely Red Xb and I have no regrets! This car is value packed, and offers practicality at an affordable price! This edition comes with a built in navigation system that is great (equal to my Garmin), bluetooth, etc. and is a joy to drive. Previous to buying, I looked at the Honda Element, Kia Soul, Nissan Rogue, and Mini Clubman and for the value, Scion was the clear choice! The pickup is great, the interior is well thought, and the materials used are better than I would have got if I had purchased another make...

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  fun, but small - 2004 Scion xA
  By Nihao - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Drive it yourself and you will know what I mean. Good for young couples, but no family. It is designed for narrow roads with lower speed limit in Japan, so do NOT drive it too fast in the US. Always stays at the slow lane for your own safety. The car itself is ok. It is just not powerful and strong enough for the traffic condition here in the States.

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  economical - 2006 Scion XB
  By mona - October 7 - 10:30 pm

  Bought for 1) gas mileage and 2) interior room has been reliable - 2 warranty issues were automatic door locks sticking and dvd player not working. Only complaint is rough ride and road noise. I bought the year "special model" w/ dvd, I-pod package. Great price for reliable car.

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  Love It - 2005 Scion XB
  By eleven - October 4 - 4:53 pm

  We shopped everything $15,000 and under, for 5 weeks. Some things that should be standard safety features are not offered in this price range for an SUV or Van. We were considering upping our price range just to get 4 wheel ABS. It was either that or go to a later model vehicle, which either way was disappointing. I am reading that the Scion xB is designed to appeal to 20-something year olds. I can tell you that at 41 years of age, I was thrilled to find a car with all the safety and economy features I was hoping to find. And its pretty, unique, has great storage, and my tall husband has lots of head room.

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  I love this car! - 2004 Scion xA
  By Michael I. - October 3 - 9:53 am

  I am a student who needed a practical, reliable, and economical car to drive. I also wanted something that was fun to drive. Not many cars can encompass all these characteristics effectively. The Scion xA does a great job for being an economy car. It at has been very reliable so far with no major mechanical problems, and I get at least 30 MPG regularly, with the best so far being 35 MPG. It is also very fun to drive, especially witht the five speed. I am a beginner stick shift driver and this car is not only very easy to learn on but also very forgiving. It offers a ton of cargo space if you are willing to fold the rear seats down. Its a Toyota so you cant go wrong with that.

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  Loved it...BUT - 2008 Scion XB
  By RicochetDave - October 2 - 1:13 am

  I came from a Nissan Frontier to the Scion. I was originally going to get a Tacoma P/U but the newly designed xB really caught me by suprise. I loved the options. The nav with the Alpine audio is a must ! Great quality sound and a whole host of sound quality options. I got 26-27 MPG consistantly (60%HW, 40% city). The center dash gage mount is a bit funky. The first week I had it I got a speeding ticket, I did not realize I was going that fast and with the speedo to the right of drivers sight, I did not know. The multi color neon floor lights were fun but not worth the option cost. Unfortunately, the car was broadsided (pass side) and totaled. If it were not for the curtain AB, my wife would have died.