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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  I like it alot but... - 2005 Scion TC
  By tom - June 15 - 12:26 pm

  my review about my scion tc is... My thougts on the scion tc are very skattered. If i could have control of the car i would first off put more horsepower. This car needs to have at least 220-230 horsepower, it would attract more people, because people love speed. Affordable is another thing even if the car comes out with 230 horsepower and its now $18,000-$19,000 (starting) its worth it. So my review of the car is basicly all i need is horsepower everything else about the car i like alot but always end up bein left behind the crowd in traffic.....

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  Love it but mileage is bad - 2005 Scion xA
  By George - June 12 - 10:53 pm

  I love my Scion: Style, audio, interior, exterior and its ride. I am not happy with the mileage. Has gotten as low at 25mph and no more than 32. That is the reason I bought it. It seems through all the reviews that all the others are doing great on mileage. Other than the mileage it is a great car. I hope the mileage changes with time.

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  Reliable and Fun - 2008 Scion XB
  By Anna - June 6 - 2:23 am

  Im way north of the age range that this car was designed for, but I love it. I always smile when I look at it and it is giving me a reliable vehicle that is very versatile for hauling people and "stuff." I wish it had a roof rack. Also, Ive found this winter that it is EXCELLENT in snow - a very good thing! Its also steady and responsive at interstate highway speeds.

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  Happy So Far - 2011 Scion XB
  By WAGKISS - May 26 - 10:00 am

  So far I am pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the ride, the solid handling qualities, throttle response and gas mileage. The majority of my driving is open road and I am averaging 31.5 overall. The headroom is great, my only complaint is the offset of the steering wheel.

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  A new tC - 2011 Scion TC
  By Vince - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 2011 tC for about two weeks and there are some significant changes from the two previous tCs Ive owned. The 2011 is a bit larger with more interior room and the six speed automatic transmission makes it more fun to drive in the sport mode. However, it does not seem as responsive as the previous tCs, perhaps because of its larger size. One big improvement is the gas mileage. Ive been averaging between 30 to 31 miles per gallon around town. On my other tCs I never exceeded 30 MPG even on the highway.

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  Excellent Car Especially Considering the Price - 2011 Scion XD
  By b_mac1 - May 20 - 12:23 pm

  Weve had our xD about 1.5 years now. We traded in a Dodge Durango that was bleeding us dry. I was looking for a basic econo-box to use as a commuter vehicle. This car has far exceeded our expectations. At 15K there have been no issues, just regular oil changes and a tire rotation. We get frequent compliments on the appearance - it doesnt look like a cheap car. We average 32-33 MPG in suburban driving, but have hit 40 with careful driving on the highway!

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  Best All Around Car Ihave ever had - 2006 Scion XB
  By marinerfh - May 17 - 1:24 pm

  Exceptional headroom and legroom, front and rear. Flexible cargo options with 60% split, folding rear seats plus passenger seat folds flat for those long items. I find the center mounted gauges and speedometer in the xB a definite plus, not obscured by the Steering wheel.. Could use an additional 4"-6" of space behind the rear seats, side airbags, more sound insulation, an upgrade to the economical 1.8L Corolla Engine, the split front bench seat as sold for the Japan market, and a true console. city car. The 2006 xB appeals to both youth and to seniors. Ideal car for service workers as well. The 2008-2011 xBs are too heavy with too big an engine, killing fuel economy.

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  Most car for you Money. - 2006 Scion XB
  By kingmb08 - May 5 - 11:02 am

  I always thought these toasters were so ugly. Well I needed a car and this car at the time you got the most for your money. I can fit a dryer in the back of this thing ( yes a dryer to for your clothes). I do feel less manly driving it but you cant beat the interior room, gas mileage and price. It is a little sluggish and I am hesitant to pull out in from of other cars. I think this would be a great car for a business or someone who just drives in the city. . I think this would be a great car for older people with knee or hip problems because it is so easy to get into and out of or for someone who is getting in and out of the car all day long.

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  Great first car - good long commuter - 2004 Scion xA
  By shipwright - April 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car not for its looks (which are decent), its cargo capacity (which is small but again decent - took 15 medium sized parcels and a dolly with the rear seats down), or its numerous standard features (great CD sound system, AC, power everything), but for its great mileage! I commute 50 miles to and from work each day, and I gotta have a gas sipper! My last Toyota, a 4Runner, lasted 14 years and 300000 miles for losing the head gasket, but the mileage was half what Im getting with the SCIONl. I think Ill like this little chihuahua!

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  Dont use the A/C - 2006 Scion XB
  By Kat - April 3 - 6:16 am

  This car is fine for running around town. I am assuming the gas mileage is ok as long as you dont use the air condition. Which is Southern California is next to impossible. Once the AC is used the gas mileage is horrible. With AC use gas mileage goes down to about 14mpg. Overall an ok car for around town errand, but next time I will buy something with a bigger engine so the air conditioner doesnt kill the gas mileage.