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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My Perfect Car - 2005 Scion XB
  By Al Stirbens - April 15 - 10:26 pm

  On a whim, I took one for a test drive. What a brilliant piece of engineering and design. Fantastic rear seat leg room, true chair high seating, ability to haul cargo, boxy design for ease of driving, decent fuel economy and traditional Toyota quality, reliability and value. At age 57 I am tired of sitting low to the floor in the compact sedans I have owned. A truck is not practical for my life style. This is the ideal car for me. Im not sorry I traded in a one year old compact sedan for the Scion xB. It has "me" written all over it. I simply love it. Lots of car for the price!

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  awesome - 2005 Scion XB
  By autmom - April 15 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! We bought it for my husband to go back and forth to work with, but I find myself making excuses to drive it! It is roomy, quiet, and all controls are easily reached. It takes a few drives to get used to the spedometer in the middle of the console,but becomes second hand soon enough. The ride is a little bumpy on rough roads, but I find that in all smaller cars. We can go the same distance on a tank of gas with both our xb and our sienna, but it costs half the amount to fill the xb. It takes off quick and manuvers great,the turning radius is extremely minimal,literally on a dime. Im hoping the Toyota reliability flows into the Scion. Just plain fun to drive!

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  21,000 and Going Strong - 2005 Scion TC
  By Tom J Dixon - April 15 - 7:53 am

  I ordered the Scion TC without a test drive or ever seeing one. The car was delivered with papers ready. The first impression was that the car looked great! Jumped inside and my head was at ceiling level! However, with a few pushes down on the seat height and I was in heaven. I have driven through the Smoky Mountains and the car sticks like glue and I never have to downshift. Plenty of Power! Six months have passed and only complaints, Needs sixth gear to increase the 29mpg that I get to mid thirties. Radio cover squeaks and the radio needs a dial. Love the MP3 playback and Ive programmed the radio screen to read "I Love Anita" when it comes on. Love the Dual Sunroof! Great, Great Value!!

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  Great Little BoxI - 2005 Scion XB
  By Jasmine - April 14 - 5:00 pm

  If you ever want a fun car that has great space but not much cargo room the 2005 Scion xB is the car.

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  Glad I bought this - 2008 Scion TC
  By ForTheWifey - April 14 - 11:06 am

  After reading all these reviews about the Scion tC. I thought it was all a joke and thought it was one person writing reviews over and over again. I test drove one a couple weeks ago and LOVED IT, absolutely loved it. The dual sunroof, quick accel, looks the whole deal. I wanted to keep it, but I bought it for my wife, so I guess I will sneak it out when she sleeps =).

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  Great Car - 2010 Scion TC
  By RayL - April 13 - 3:36 pm

  This is a great car to drive. Not only do you get a very nice price you get alot of features included. I do disagree on the ratings of performance it has great power for the engine you are working with, but it is the styling of the car which got me hooked on this car. You will have a smile everytime you drive it.

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  Amazing Little Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By John - April 10 - 10:06 am

  For the exterior size, the interior is huge. Its large doors and low seating enable easy entry and exit. It has excellant visibility. With the rear seats down, there is all kinds of room for groceries, etc.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2005 Scion xA
  By Lynda D - Camarillo - April 8 - 2:26 pm

  I purchased the 2005 xA Release 1.0 Limited Edition (257 of 1550). Lowered it two inches, installed cold air induction system and custom exhaust. The performance is awesome for a small horse power vehicle plus the look is real sweet & the handling exceptional for a Toyota .... feels like a slot car and gets lots of attention. The only downfall is the dash rattles and vibrates when the Rs are up there around 5-6K rpm. Ran very smooth at 105 mph on straight highway. Definately worth the $$ - my cost $16,965 plus another $3000 for air induction, window tint, fog lamps, exhaust, alarm system, xm receiver, lower spring & strut kit.

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  Excellent first car - 2006 Scion TC
  By BigBoi - April 7 - 4:56 pm

  This Scion was my first car. All I can say is wow, this car is amazing. I literally cant keep myself out of it, and all I want to do is drive it. Great speed and pickup, as well as good fuel economy. It looks great including the standard 17 rims. The only thing I dont really like concerning the tC is the steering wheel and the sound system. The steering wheel is relatively small, which causes a larger turning radius.

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  Love my xB!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By elsie - April 6 - 12:40 pm

  I have only owned this vehicle a little over a month, & I am glad I bought it every time I drive it. The ride is very smooth & it is so very roomy. The fact that the seats are just a little bit higher than the average compact or subcompact makes it very easy to get in & get out, especially for people who are a little limited in stooping for whatever reason. My grandkids like to ride in it, my mother likes to ride in it, my husband likes to ride in it. The ability to pack & unpack the vehicle is also very easy. My previous vehicle was a Ford Focus, & it was cute, but this vehicle is so much more functional.