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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best Investment - 2005 Scion TC
  By Iwona82 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  This car, in my opinion is the greatest car. It is priced great and it comes standard with great features. Drives great and is real quick.

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  Good All-Rounder - 2010 Scion XB
  By camp6ell - March 28 - 12:53 am

  Traded in an 07 tC and am delighted with similar performance but much more utility. Is more pleasant to drive and has a good ride quality balance - compliant enough in corners and over bumps, but not too stiff. Tons of room inside was a big reason for buying. Does everything we need it to do well, though I would always like to see better fuel mileage.

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  So much fun! - 2008 Scion XD
  By CJ - March 27 - 11:56 pm

  Just traded in my Chevy Colorado extended cab for a xD this weekend and Im so glad we did. My wife and I share a vehicle, she loves our new xD way more than my old truck. Its fun to drive, handles like a sports car, looks great! I drove my wife crazy this weekend asking to go for drives around town!

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  Scion Xb is a FUN car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Gary - March 27 - 9:10 pm

  This is a FUN car! Consumer Reports indicated that it has too much road noise. Mine is quiet. I think, Im actually getting better gas mileage than its stated 30 city / 38 highway. It has plenty of interior room. I just wish it had came with a roof rack for carying longer items like ladders or plywood. I think anyone would enjoy this vehicle. It looks like a vehicle out of the future.

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Betsy - March 25 - 5:23 am

  My experience with my tC has been awesome! I love driving it, its fun, easy to get into and out of. My daughter loves to drive it, stereo system is great. I am tall and it is very comfortable to drive around town and on long trips! Went 400 mi. on 1 tank of gas! God Bless it!

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  Puts a smile on my face when I drive it! - 2010 Scion XB
  By Eric - March 20 - 8:20 pm

  Most fun car I have had in years. Had many Camrys with more creature comforts but I added MANY options so it is now very comfortable. The Camry motor in the xB makes a huge difference in performance. It could use a 5th gear but does well with a 4- speed auto. Back seats fold flat and their is an incredible amount of space. Put after-market alloys on mine and get many compliments. My fiance loves to drive it so getting driving time is getting more challenging. Sound system is awesome. Even if they were options, needs telescoping steering wheel, heated mirrors, power drivers seat,5- speed auto, and a few other things. Otherwise, love the car.

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  My Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By lesper - March 19 - 7:50 pm

  For the price, this is an outstanding car.

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  Cool Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By tim - March 18 - 1:40 pm

  I love my new tC, it looks good on the outside as well as the inside, it runs good, and you can add a lot of cool features to customize it to your liking.

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  The Great Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By middlebt - March 17 - 7:03 am

  I have always thought the Scion xB was very unique in several ways. First being that the car looks like no other, and that it got really good gas milage. Now that I am a owner of a 2006 xB I really love its ride. I notice several people driving around me looking at the car probably thinking that it has no "ZIP". Oh how they are so wrong. This car has a great "zip" in the beginning. As far as getting the car up beyond the 85 mph its pretty hard, but that is against the law in many states. :( But anyway this car is great. I am 61 and I have tons of rooms for me to relax in the front or back seats.

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  Great Toaster - 2005 Scion XB
  By jdsusumu - March 14 - 5:33 am

  I love my xB. It is the perfect color and drives like a dream. I am always being stopped and asked what it is and how many miles per gallon it gets. I wish I could have 5 of them.