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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  This is a Joke - 2008 Scion TC
  By First and Last time - November 6 - 10:36 am

  I Got this car for my daughter because she liked the style and I knew the car was made by Toyota (I am a toyota man). This car is way over priced. The inside is so cheap. Only 22 mpg. I can not believe that Toyota made this car. I might never buy a toyota again because of this experience.

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  Senior owner - 2006 Scion TC
  By Vin - November 5 - 10:33 pm

  IÂ’ve owned my tC for a few weeks now and I must say that I am amazed at what I got for my money. IÂ’m a senior in my mid 60s and have owned a lot of cars in my day. I enjoy driving smaller cars and when I looked around at what was available the tC stood head and shoulders above anything else in its price range and even some that cost a whole lot more. Every option that I wanted, including some that I would have never considered, were included at no extra cost. I knew it was a good deal when I bought it but after driving it several hundred miles IÂ’m even more impressed with the tCÂ’s performance, handling and overall quality. It was well worth the wait.

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  Wish it was a lil better, o well. - 2005 Scion TC
  By jagon09 - November 5 - 6:10 pm

  Bought the car used with only 27k miles and it is actually a pretty good buy. It is pretty fun to drive just wish it wasnt so heavy around turns. My dads lil old Honda is smoother around turns, but what can ya say. I still love it. O and gas mileage isnt where it should be but I think that is due to weird weather lately and me not having standard 215/45/17 tires but 235/45/17 tires. O well. 21 is way better than the old 13 I got with a Chevy truck. lol

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  Silver Scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By tsluti - November 4 - 8:03 am

  Great car. Fun to drive, lots of looks from others drivers, definitely the best bang for the buck.

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  love the xb - 2004 Scion XB
  By brandiwyne - November 3 - 10:00 am

  great on gas, looks good, gets a lot of comments, roomy, not to mention it doesnt break the bank and you still get a brand new car

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  40 miles to the gallon! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Laura - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This car is not a hybrid, but does get a wopping 40 miles to the gallon! Its design is a cross between a Mini Cooper & a Toyota Matrix. The torque is weak for the first few hundred miles and then it seems to warm up to your style of driving, i.e. mine picks up and gets going a lot faster now than it did in its first 500 miles. Standard auto windows and cd player are great! Back seat folds down and makes for lots of room to transport larger items. I am very happy with my purchase.

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  need more like this one - 2005 Scion XB
  By tobin - November 3 - 10:00 am

  easy on the back and pocketbook

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  fun to own - 2005 Scion XB
  By bruceg - November 3 - 10:00 am

  the bomb-love this car-great milage- much room-awesoom toons-black is beautiful-like a mirror-check it out

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  Great Purchase - 2007 Scion TC
  By Tom - October 31 - 12:00 pm

  I really researched the car market for about a month and this had to be one of the best cars on the market. It has a nice sleak design that really turns heads. Also, the interior is so clean and very nice. The seats hug to you and make you feel comfortable. Even though there is a bit of a blind spot on the back left and back right, it is not as bad as in most cars. The trunk, while not that big, was bigger then expected and the glove compartment is HUGE. The gauges light up really nicely and the radio is nicely hidden by the sliding door. The sun/moonroof is the best part of the car because no one has seen something like this yet. This is a total chick magnet car. I will be loving this car for a long time.

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  79K and all major parts needed replacement - 2006 Scion TC
  By Tom Jackson - October 30 - 8:30 am

  Every plastic piece in the interior that can snap has. And of course the exterior rear lift/license plate cover has too. Also cracked lower front cladding when almost new just by tapping a curb. Very comfortable seats, even in the back. Great ergonomics, instrumentation, and electronics for 2006. Audio quite good. Noise is completely tire related - originals and Goodyears were terrible. Michelin Pilots are great. In town mileage is terrible - ~17 at best. Have gotten 30 on long trips. Mechanicals quality are terrible: have replaced - brakes and rotors x2, tires x3, clutch, And now needs a new transmission (bearings and shifter linkage) at 79K. Would NEVER buy another Scion or Toyota ever, despite everyone I know who has one feeling the opposite. Have had a Nissan and 2 Hondas and will be going back to them.