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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  A Little Car with a lot of Personality - 2006 Scion xA
  By Rosie - February 15 - 11:00 pm

  I have had my xA since the end of November. I love it. It is my first new car. I have owned many used Toyotas over the years and the Scion xA has not disapointed me. It is great on gas.

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  Love My Scion xB - 2005 Scion XB
  By Marsha Speed - February 14 - 12:33 am

  I drove my Scion from Cocoa Beach, Florida to Southern California then to Idaho and returning to Cocoa Beach. In total, I drove over 8,000 miles and got mileage as high as 39 mpg! Being a previous Mercedes and Porsche owner, this xB had some giant shoes to fill and fill the shoes it did! Even my BMW friends that drove across the country with me were VERY shocked at the economy and comfort of my little yellow xB. The Scion xB is a wonderful vehicle.

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  Poor design bad quality - 2005 Scion xA
  By PP - February 13 - 5:56 pm

  Pros: Small, sleek, roomy and fuel efficient. Cons: Bad design, poor quality, noise, vibration. -My speedometer broke, to be replaced. -Brakes (disks and pad) to be replaced. -Can not open widows if driving on highway speeds, because bad design makes this vehicle unstable,and it builds excessive pressure in the cabin. -Lots of vibration noises in the cabin wile idling. I bought it thinking of Toyota quality, but overall this vehicle has very poor quality.

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  Awesome Car - 2009 Scion XB
  By rockyriverguy - February 12 - 3:16 pm

  Had my 09 XB for six months now, 10,000 miles already and NO problems. Absolutely flawless! And Im getting 31.8 MPG....

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  Fun little car - 2008 Scion XB
  By usafflyboy8 - February 11 - 8:16 pm

  We had an 07 tC and traded it in for the 08 xB. Lots of room for every one. Handles very well and I can not tell much difference in power from the tC to the xB.

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  Love it!!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Rochelle - February 11 - 5:53 am

  I absolutely love my car!!! The only thing is that it is awful on gas (compared to the 2003 Corolla I had previously and traded in) and with gas prices on the rise...it makes it a big issue.

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  Wonderful little BOX - 2005 Scion XB
  By Guillermo Lucas - February 9 - 6:20 pm

  For some people the car is ugly but, everybody asks questions.....what is it?...who makes it?... And after showing people the interior and the cargo capacity they go....incredible!!.. This is the best little car I have ever owned. I am 65 years old and have had hundreds of cars of all sizes, and love to drive my BOX everywhere. The dealer said the car was meant for younger dirvers BUT, I see a lot of seniors driving them...I am one of them and I LOVE IT!

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  awesome - 2005 Scion XB
  By tzuk4824 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I built mine online and went to look at it now I love to drive the thing. It was really Dirt cheap.

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  Great Little Car! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Terry - February 5 - 7:03 pm

  I bought my xB in Michigan for a Florida car! People said we were nuts to drive that little thing to Florida. I went the 1,350 miles, no problem at 75 / 80 mph, just like the big guys. It is a super car. It gets good mileage, is fun to drive, and easy to park.

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  Awesome value - 2010 Scion XB
  By Charlie - February 4 - 1:16 am

  I took a chance and test drove an XB, I should be driving an Acura RL, but I was sold on the XB. I love this car!