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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Get it if you want to be actively involved in driving. - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By eperris - January 20 - 12:26 pm

  The FR-S rewards focused driving. Though it is easy to drive at low speeds and in the city, it really comes alive when you push it along windy roads and at high speed. It is simply the most solid, capable car I have ever driven. If you just want to look good, accelerate quickly and tour around - this isnt the car for you. I also like its small environmental footprint and ultra-sophisticated engineering where it counts. This car has a bleeding edge fuel system, a high performance, but ultra-reliable engine and Toyota/Subaru quality. It is small and lightweight. If you drive thoughtfully, the mileage is about 26 City and 36 highway - much higher than EPAs estimate.

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  Great First Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Yaileen - January 17 - 10:30 pm

  The scion xA was our very first new car and it has been wonderful. We have taken it on trips and it is great on fuel. It is comfortable for 2 to 4 people for traveling.

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  I love this car - 2005 Scion TC
  By scion - January 8 - 10:00 am

  This car is excellent. I love how it rides, how it drives and handles. And for the price you cant beat it. Mine is indigo ink with the ground effects, exhaust and I even added leather.

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  I have a white scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By Joe Rivers - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I purchased mine about two weeks ago and I have yet to find something that I do not like about it. I guess I wish it was faster, but what should I expect from 160 horsepower? It is exactly what I needed.

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  Best Fun since the "60s" - 2006 Scion XB
  By Izzy - January 8 - 1:16 am

  This car is fun and economical. I am in the process of trading in my New Beetle Turbo for my second Scion xB. We are now a 3 xB family, soon to make it 4 xBs in the family.

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  I love this car! - 2008 Scion XD
  By Betsy - January 8 - 12:33 am

  I got my xD for a long commute - I drive 1000 miles a week on average. My gas mileage is consistently 35+ mpg on the highway, 32-34 overall. Its a little noisy, but responsive and smooth. Its cute as anything; people are always turning to check out my car! Ive never owned a hip car before. A little more cargo space would be nice. The stereo controls are great, and I love that cruise control comes standard. I wish the fuel gauge was a little more attention-getting. Sometimes I dont notice that Im low on gas until its been flashing for a while; its not very bright. I actually ran out of gas on my first tank... then again, I should pay more attention!

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  Great Buy - 2006 Scion XB
  By Lindsay - January 6 - 4:46 am

  I have had this car for three months and have over 10,000 miles. It is a winner. It really is a great utility vehicle with a sporty feel. I have gotten 34 MPG on all freeway driving, I had an aftermarket cruise control put on it and built my own arm rest making it a great travel car. Its top quality, cool looks, and great performance will continue to make this a best seller.

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  Love my Scion! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Dee - January 4 - 7:26 pm

  This car has been so much fun. It handles well, gets great gas mileage, and sits higher than a sedan, so you can see better when you drive. I love my Scion.

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  scion xa 2005 - 2004 Scion xA
  By Jpb - January 2 - 10:00 am

  excellent car, very fun to drive

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  2005 Xb with Webasto Sunroof - 2005 Scion XB
  By Kenchan - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Thundercloud Xb with 17" Saachi chrome alloys, and (custom installed) Webasto Grandview Sunroof. Just about everything youd want is standard like ABS, AC, CD player, and traction control. Ive already put 200 miles on it, and I love it. The ride is smooth, and the five speed trans has more power than the automatic that I drove at the dealer. I catch alot of stares from Honda Civic drivers for some reason. I dont race around in it, but I cruise. I would recommend the Scion to any of my friends. The best part about my experience so far is probably the gas mileage. Ive driven it for 200 miles so far on half tank of gas.