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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Most Fun Car I Have Ever Owned - 2005 Scion XB
  By Codycat - April 29 - 1:50 am

  I am the owner of a limited edition yellow Scion xB. The car is so much fun to drive that I look forward to taking it out as much as possible. I usually have people asking questions about it where ever I go. I am 62" and have plenty of extra head room and leg room. Its pickup is more than adequate and the gas mileage is between 30/35 MPG. The tank is just under 12 gallons. The xB is by far one of the hottest most sought after vehicles as proven by being out of stock in just about every showroom. Ordering one will take about a month. It is well worth the wait. If you are looking to bring the fun back into driving, look no further than the Scion xB. It is a winner.

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  Fun car - 2008 Scion XD
  By Janet - April 27 - 3:53 pm

  Ive had my car for almost a year now and I still have fun driving it. Lots of room, awesome gas mileage handles great. I love it!

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  Again, Toyota makes the best in all area - 2005 Scion XB
  By Charly - April 26 - 3:23 pm

  Bought this for my wife to drive 40 work roundtrip miles. Whenever possible I get to drive it for fun. Of the 40+ cars & trucks owned in the past 50+ yrs (Chevys, Fords, Subaru, Mercedes), this xB outpaces every other vehicle in all categories. It is very comfortable on long trips (I am 6 & 240 lbs) and is quick to react in heavy traffic. I can wear my cowboy hat & not hit the headliner and with the front seats back, most can sit in the back and cross their legs without hitting the backs of the front seats. More passenger room that most full-size cars. Safety and engineering features that are not even available on most cars until you hit the 40K price range. Quality? Its Toyota!

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  PT Cruiser with an Edge - 2004 Scion XB
  By chuck858 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Similar only in in small outside/roomy inside. But as good as the Crooz may be, this box is funkier, handles quite well, gets better gas mileage, and doesnt feel slow in real-world driving. The five speed with optional front strut support and cold air intake is fun to drive, especially with my added 16x7" wheels and 205WR50/16 tires. No racer, but practical and very comfy for 4 XL adults. Its 30+ mpg makes most SUVs obscene by comparison, for street and highway use.

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  I Love my Toaster - 2006 Scion XB
  By lizzie - April 25 - 1:13 am

  The Scion xB is affordable, fun to drive, and unusual. This may be the best car Ive ever owned, all things considered.

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  How is this so inexpensive? - 2005 Scion TC
  By Eric - April 17 - 1:13 pm

  This car is fun to drive, looks great, safe, affordable, what more could you ask for? The minute I saw it I fell in love and since driving it, I look forward to taking the wheel. I will probably DD more often now.

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  1,500 mile review - 2006 Scion XB
  By Woody - April 17 - 6:13 am

  To review this car, you must put things in perspective. This is a $15,000 car and not a luxury car. My scores are based upon this. It is pretty roomy and comfortable, gets good mileage if driven sensibly, has stylish looks, Toyota quality (hopefully), and sufficient performance, etc... Are you going to blow anybody off of the road? No, but dont buy this car for that reason. This is reliable transportation with pretty good gas mileage, that is funky, stylish, and fun to drive. That said, I think that this is one of the best auto buys out there. If the auto makers get serious about small cars and mileage in this country, then there might be some competition, but until then; Scion seems to top the list.

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  loved it... so we purchased 2 xBs - 2006 Scion XB
  By S.A. Baldwin - April 16 - 9:40 pm

  My wife and I each have an xB. They are roomy on the inside, very dependable, and quite fun to drive.even though Scion aims for the younger generation. I am 56 and the wife is over 50. These little "toasters" are much easier for the older drivers and passengers to enter and exit. Parking is a snap. Its as easy as a golf cart. although it does not have a "luxury ride" the "Toaster" will do what retirees need without breaking the bank (even on a fixed income). The fit and finish are superior to nearly any car on the market, reguardless of price. The xB is an excellent value both in purchase price and cost of operation. I highly recommend at least driving the xB before purchasing any similar vehicle.

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  06 Scion tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By roxy - April 15 - 6:53 pm

  Bought for my daughters 16th birthday. She loves it and so do I. The money spent has no equal for the accessories that are standard.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Scion xA
  By new xa owner - April 15 - 12:20 pm

  The 2006 Scion xA is the ultimate car for small families. Its got plenty of room and is versatile for its size. The ultimate experience is being able to get in and out of parking lots with little difficulty, which means a lot for this former truck owner. It is a very solid and well built little car