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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  What a great car! - 2006 Scion TC
  By djglass - May 18 - 3:00 am

  Forget "great car for the money," this is a great car period! Its has great acceleration, handles decently, shifts like a hot knife through warm butter, gets good fuel milage, tons of standard features, booming system, etc. Considering that you walk out the door (tax, licence, etc. included) for under 18K this car cannot be beat! I test drove a Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Acura RSX, and Hyundai Tiberon (all more expensive with the features I wanted) and although they are all great car and were fun to drive, I couldnt ignore the value of the tC vs. the competition.

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  A Bang of Safety for the Buck - 2008 Scion XB
  By mikep - May 17 - 2:43 pm

  I only added one option to the vehicle, the 16 inch alloy wheels. You cant get a car with more standard features and safety features than the xB for the price. The style has improved 10-fold from the original model. Its longer, a little wider, and about the same height. Fuel economy could be a squeeze better, but I love the torque. The base radio is quite adequate, and the sound is great. The one thing I am most impressed with is how quiet the car is, road noise is almost non existent. All this and it is so much fun to drive, and to be the first one in town with a new toy!

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  2008 Scion tC - 2008 Scion TC
  By scribble - May 13 - 1:23 pm

  Absolutely wonderful car! It has a good deal of power for a 4 cylinder, and despite the mileage ratings Im averaging 27-28 mpg with mixed city and highway driving. The tC comes loaded from the factory with everything a buyer could want. The upgraded stereo is worth the extra price and sounds awesome (for most users at least). I have no regrets about buying this car.

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  2009 XB Fun even for an old guy - 2009 Scion XB
  By ocived - May 11 - 5:25 pm

  I bought this car for my daughter in Aug. of 08 after she moved to Colorado in 12 and needed a AWD I took it off her hands, since Id need a car in a year or so. I love driving it. Very quick off the line and @4000 the VVT kicks in and its on. For a 2.4 L. 4 cyl wagon its a blast to drive. Toyota quality is all over this car. 83,000 + and no maintenance issues. One recall for coil packs R&R was it.

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  All Boxed Up - 2006 Scion XB
  By EJ - May 11 - 12:06 am

  The Scion xB is a great car. I bought it to replaced my leased 03 Highlander V6 which was also a great vehicle. This box gets great gas mileage and is fun to drive. Even though it is low on power, the 5-speed makes it more interesting to drive. I will add an intake, exhaust, and headers to spice things up. A turbo might come later. Its space is great, audio is great, and it is very inexpensive to maintain. One thing to note is the A/C system seems a little weak for this small car.

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  From an ex GM-FORD-PONTIAC-CADILLAC Owner... - 2008 Scion XB
  By momofx - May 7 - 6:24 pm

  Coming from someone who owned big luxury SUVs, I must say the XB is worth the money. I have never had any issue with mine and since switching from a big 6L V8, I have taken more roadtrips in the past year than in the previous 5 years of just having a gas guzzling V8. The amount of room the XB has is amazing. I am 6ft4 and I can VERY comfortably drive it. My buddy who is about 6ft but alot bigger guy was totally shocked how comfortable he was in the passenger side! Also alot of people dont know that these have the award winning Camry engine in it. Being an auto technician, ANY vehicle needs its usual maintenance people so dont think its gonna run forever with just gas cos its Toyota!

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  Great value and space for the price - 2012 Scion XB
  By tyson evans - May 7 - 4:34 am

  Amazing on gas, well equipped, gets the job done, and room for our kids and all their stuff!

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  Love my little box on wheels!! - 2004 Scion XB
  By apauletta - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I used to drive a giant chevy caprice. It loved to drink gas and was a drag to drive. Now I have my Scion and I love it!! It is adorable, fuel efficient, comfortable and zippy to drive. I can stop smiling everytime I get to drive it. I love how different it is from all the other cars out there, really something distinct and special.

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  First 2009 Scion off the lot - 2009 Scion XD
  By klondike - May 7 - 12:10 am

  xD provides better gas mileage than EPA guidance. 34 MPG first tank, 38 MPG the next tank of gas. Car handles and performs well. Bought the manual trans to gain better performance and have not been disappointed. Would recommend the xD as a first car or for those wanting a mix of good performance and mpg.

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  Second Time Around Is Just As Good - 2014 Scion XD
  By Rick Papin - May 6 - 2:51 am

  My 2013 Scion XD was totaled by a driver running a red light. I came out of it with minor injuries. Because I liked the car and was grateful for the safety features that prevented serious injury, I leased a 2014 Scion XD. I am just as happy with this model. It has enough cargo space to handle my regular shopping with no problem. With the seats down, I hit Lowes all season long for gardening needs: Mulch, potting soil, plants, etc. Meets all of my needs without breaking the bank or crowding out the second car in the garage.