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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 value and its a Toyota! - 2008 Scion TC
  By aunxy - December 13 - 7:26 am

  What a great value! It comes with so many standard features for about 5-6 thousand dollars cheaper than similarly equipped vehicles. The big selling point to me is that its made by Toyota, the interior is practically a perfect design as far as Im concerned. I had a Honda S2000 before this car and so theres not really many econo sporty cars that could ever live up to that, but Im so happy I traded vehicles as I now have a comfortable sporty ride that I can actually go to the store and buy groceries in!

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  Love It - 2006 Scion TC
  By navydave - December 12 - 11:46 am

  The Scion tC is by far the best car Ive owned. If you havent seen one, go check it out. Every corner is a neat feature you rarely find in other hatchbacks. Plus it is really roomy!

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  THE BEST darn car i ever owned - 2005 Scion XB
  By JUMPnPUP - December 11 - 1:23 pm

  This this is perfect for both young and old. I say old because the doors are so big and the car sits so low its very easy to get in and out.

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  A thing of beauty... - 2012 Scion XB
  By auto_fan - December 9 - 2:29 pm

  I used a Galant I had for five years as a trade-in toward my Scion XB. I have to say, the XB blows the Galant out of the H2O. The Scion is a lot of fun to drive. It blends the practicality of an SUV with the safety of a sedan. It seems small on the outside but is roomy on the inside. It also comes with free maintenance for 25K miles. And by the way, I got the best deal around from Fitzmall.

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  Very exciting car! - 2008 Scion TC
  By Kevin Khaotic - December 8 - 10:00 pm

  I purchased a 2008 Scion tC with fog lights, pedestal spoiler and premium sound system. Overall I am very impressed with its performance. It handles turns very well and has a bite to it when accelerating. The sound system is good and the car is very quiet, and responsive. A couple of things about it though, it has a cigarette lighter built in but no ash tray. It has an auxiliary mode for an iPod but no place to plug an iPod in. These are all optional features I did not get but in hindsight should have. The bucket seats are nice but a little stiff making long rides a bit tiring, and the back window provides a couple of blind spots but overall the car is very fun to drive.

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  Love My xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By xbfan - December 6 - 1:20 am

  My xB is a great car. I have been in the mountains with it. It hugs the turns like a sports car. It gets great gas mileage, too. It has easy access for my grandma to get in and out plus it is real roomy in back. I am always talkin to people about the car whenever I stop. I should be sellin them.

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  Twins - 2005 Scion xA
  By NMACY - December 5 - 3:50 am

  I went shopping for a vehicle with my Mom--we saw the Absolutely Red Special Edition Scion aX and fell in love. I told her I would buy this little cutie. The next day she bought it! I found out then there were only so many made and decided not to wait. A month later (the dealership had to find one for me) I bought one too. I love this little car. I added keyless entry and will be adding cruise in the next couple of months.

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  KGs new tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By KG tC - December 5 - 12:26 am

  from the second I saw this vehicle on the showroom floor I knew I had to have it. It is beautiful inside and out, and is a blast to drive. No other car under 20k can offer as much as the tC. Not only is it priced cheap, but scion has set up an array of aftermarket parts and service that is matched by none. enough of me telling you about this car, just be on the lookout for the new tuner craze replacement............ the Scion tC!

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  Fun Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By jo - December 4 - 4:10 pm

  Love the car,not sure if the paint will hold up in the az. sun I do keep it covered during the day and in garage at night. Cant find out any info on the older models and the paint on the 2005-2006 tc I have the black color. The car is fun to drive very peppy and has all the things I need in a car. I recommend the car always when asked about it.

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  A few days in. - 2008 Scion XB
  By Genki - December 3 - 2:40 pm

  Just bought this car about 3 days ago and already I can see some fantastic features. Some of the notable upgrades from my 05 Chevy Colorado are the center mounted gauges that make it easier for someone like myself being 63", to see them without the steering wheel interfering. This is the first vehicle outside of larger SUVs and some of the larger extended cab trucks that allow a 6+ person to sit directly behind a 6+ driver and not have to be awkwardly positioned to the side. Last thing to mention is that the only upgrade I have with mine is the improved sound system with the stereo head unit that includes the RCA outputs, which is the best system for the money that Ive seen yet.