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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 car I ever bought - 2005 Scion xA
  By PghScion - June 10 - 10:00 am

  Former owner of a V8 Durango gas- guzzler. The Scion xA is a sacrifice in power, but the excellent fit and finish of the interior, ease of handling, and superior gas mileage make this car a best-buy in my book. The style is eye-catching. Expect to answer questions at the gas pump (which is once every 3 weeks for this city driver). Regardless of the small 4cyl engine, there is still remarkable pick- up and sturdy poise in accelleration in highway driving, even through hilly terrain. The car maintains 80mph on the highway without a shake. Seats are firm and supportive. xA has a fantastic view of the road with a nice, high stance.

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  let down - 2005 Scion TC
  By luv1sight - June 10 - 10:00 am

  When i heard and saw the coupe tC i flipped, this was my car! I bought one and was let down. While the pick up ,design, interior, safety were everything i hoped for the car was just not enjoyable. The biggest problem was visibility! I cant see past the enormous dash,at least foot and a half! and the hood dips so fast it will make your head spin. When you turn around the visibility gets worse. The heater is blocking the rear window making the visibility as good as one of the old cadilac eldorados. While around me was spacious, i feel like im going to bang my head, and i am only 510. If they work out these major problems this will be the best car,

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  Awesome Car! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Jill - June 10 - 7:36 am

  I love my 2006 Scion xA. Im 16 years old and I got this car for my birthday and it is awesome! The car dealership was awesome! It is a great first car and a good car for go back and forth to school. I get lots of compliments and I love the interior (especially the silver accents). We test drove a 2005 xA and the pickup was bad, but it has improved some for the 2006 model. And the speedometer was very easy to get used to. And I also love the stereo conrols on the steering wheel (very convenient!). But overall, the best thing about this car was the price!

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2009 Scion TC
  By csigrrl47 - June 7 - 9:14 am

  I bought this 2009 TC in 2008, brand new, I have had my first set of break put on last year 2014, Im on my second battery only, the first set of tires that came on it were awful, they didnt align the car right so I chewed up them in less than 30,000 miles, but bridgestone on lasted 60,000 miles plus, have my third set of tires on them they are continentals great tire, the only problem I have is in the last two years my engine light comes on and its because the gas gap is bad I have replaced it twice, for some reason it lets air in or something because I pulls a code from my mechanic easy fix, but annoying. Gets me about 33-34 mpg if I dont run it hard. Rattling starting. Very trusted car.

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  1 month after purchase and very happy - 2014 Scion XB
  By dsmithson - June 3 - 7:11 pm

  I had a Honda Element and loved it... But I wanted a new car and after a lot of research I kept coming back to the xB. Considering the price, I feel I got what I paid for and I really enjoy it so far. But its got a lot of pep and and I love the spacey interior. The dealer threw in the spoiler and I am glad they did as it gives it a sharper look. Im a big guy and I feel very comfortable as it has a good amount of headroom. If you are looking to stay in the low $20K range with the premium options.. this is a good pick in my opinion.

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  Most reliable car I ever had.. - 2005 Scion TC
  By Lynn - June 3 - 10:13 am

  I am in outside sales, and I bought the car as a workhorse. I got one of the first TCs made. I have driven my car 160,000 miles and have never had a problem. It trembles a little with the a/ c on when you are stopped, and the brakes squeak sometimes in reverse in the morning, and the CD changer gets jammed from time to time. These are my ONLY complaints. The power is great, and the handling is too (I have TRD struts) but this car has been a fun car to drive/own, and the cost to own is the cheapest I have ever seen. (besides tires)---What a GREAT car!

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  Spunky Jellybean - 2004 Scion xA
  By Amy K. - June 3 - 5:56 am

  Ive had the car for a little over a week (500 miles) and really like it. It has more get up and go on the freeway than I had expected (though one can only expect so much out of a 1.5L engine) and freeway driving hasnt been a problem, even with 2 passengers in the car. Ive taken out the rear headrests because they block some of the view, plan to replace them with 2 more center headrests (only an inch or so tall when lowered). Parallel parking has been a breeze, though Im still getting used to how CLOSE the back end of the car is - my last car wasnt this small! The brakes do seem to squeak a little, Im not sure if thats the cold this week, or if it will be an ongoing issue.

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  Love It! - 2006 Scion TC
  By Melanie - June 2 - 11:13 pm

  The Scion tC is an absolutely wonderful car. You cant beat the price for the performance. I always have a lot of fun driving my Scion. I would recommend to anyone. I love styling and the way it handles. If you love to drive you will love this car.

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  Small Hatchback with a Peppy Attitude - 2005 Scion TC
  By Joe - June 2 - 1:56 pm

  The Scion tC is so much fun to drive and I get very good gas mileage with it. It gets me from point A to point B with style, speed, and great gas mileage. I love it more than any other car Ive had so far.

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  Blue seems to be a problem - 2009 Scion XD
  By Tom R - June 1 - 2:10 pm

  Bought it... had 2 scratches in the paint when I picked it up from the dealer... they wanted to send it to a body shop for repair... I demanded another car... 2nd car comes in and it too is scratched... I dont know yet if I can get my money back (I have had it 2 days) I love driving it, body style is good... I wish I had read the other reviews about the blue on this forum before I bought it... especially since I had the option to get a refund on the 1st car...