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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  Speaker Upgrade Door & Cold Air - 2006 Scion xA
  By David - February 3 - 6:06 am

  The Scion xA is a cute little car, some of the add ons where done at the dealer, so we had to wait to add this and that. We got the cold air intake, you wont get the extra boost, but the engine runs smoother. I did not like the door stereo upgrade, for what they charge I expected better. I told them I wanted my money back, and they just laughed.

• 

  Frown Turned to Grin After Test Drive. - 2006 Scion XB
  By Keith - February 2 - 9:30 pm

  I frowned at first sight of an xB. My salesmen immediately offered a test drive. The rest is history. I had driven all the rest (Yaris, Fit, Civic, Corrola, etc.). The xB was simply the best! I love the ease of entry/exit, high seating position, excellent visibility, ample leg/headroom (I’m 6’5” with a 37” inseam), firm ride, great handling, better than expected gas mileage (approximately 34 combined city/highway) and sound options. This cas has turned my 45 mile commute (one-way) from a chore to a pleasure. As others have mentioned, the car’s appearance elicits a lot of comment and opinion. People either love it or hate it. As a former skeptic myself, I simply say “drive one."

• 

  Tardis (bigger inside than outside) - 2006 Scion XB
  By Sticklebrick - February 1 - 9:00 pm

  The Scion xB is comfortable, practical, safe, reliable, and a good value. Get in another car afterwards and you feel cramped. Its fuel economy about what Edmunds statistics predict. (A hybrid version would be good.)

• 

  2005 Scion XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By David I - February 1 - 10:00 am

  First foreign car that I have owned. It has exceeded all expectations in every way. Get a lot of compliments and PLENTY of looks. My wife thought it was a little wierd at first, but now parks her Accura and drives mine. Great mileage, last trip on highway - 35.7 About - 30 around town. I live in the mountains and does well everywhere. Lots of RPMs. Tons of room inside. I call it my mini-mini van. Overall, great car - Great dealer @ Jim Barkley Toyota in Asheville, NC

• 

  Awesome Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Slamms - February 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is a blast driving and just standing next to it. Toyota put together a solid car that is fun and fast!!!!

• 

  Consider this alternative. - 2005 Scion TC
  By bencott - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I got this car 2 days ago, and I dont ever want to get out of it. It rides so comfortably, yet there is very little body roll in turns. The design and build quality are impeccable. The styling is both eye catching and luxurious, inside and out. There is some torque steer, but thats to be expected on a front wheel drive with so much torque. The sound system is excellent. For the price, you really cant beat the tC. All in all, the tC is a solid piece of engineering, as well as a very fun and easy to drive automobile.

• 

  My Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By bayn8v - January 31 - 9:33 pm

  Great car, er micro van! Solid build,very reliable, good on gas if you air the tires up to around 35 psi. Just needs 5 spd auto and cruise

• 

  This is My New Favorite Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By XOCHITL F. - January 28 - 2:06 pm

  I love everything about this car. I have no regrets at all. In my opinion, its the best looking car out there for under $20,000 with good gas mileage. I love how it drives fast plus, I can U-turn anywhere!

• 

  Scion XA - 2005 Scion xA
  By mct690 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best vehicle on the market for the money! The build quality of Toyota, and all the "options" that come standard in this car set it apart from autos costing $10,000. more

• 

  Age is no factor - 2005 Scion XB
  By Pseudolus - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Although the marketing brochure leads one to believe that an xB owner should be bopping to an MP3 player and have several body piercings, my 56 year-old mind really enjoys this car. It corners effortlessly and the 5-speed I chose puts a lot of fun back in driving. Inside it is spacious and roomy, and since I drive on the inside, thats what counts to me. I watch frequently as people surround the car when parked, misprounouncing the name as SKY-ON and smiling. And all this at the low price makes me smile too. Hint - consider every option as you build your xB. The sport pedals and satellite radio add a lot to my pleasure in owning one.