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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  WHERES 6TH GEAR? - 2006 Scion xA
  By ZEEMAN - October 8 - 8:40 pm

  I love my Scion. Its roomy, sporty, handles well, is a breeze to park, and, when driven properly (with the 5spd), gets good mileage and is comfortable on long trips. I am 6 and have plenty of head and leg room. I installed the better xB armrest that actually has storage and it fit perfectly. With the back seats down, theres plenty of room for my two huge labs and they love to ride with their heads out the window. It comes nicely equipped, and mine has no options but for the armrest. I like the iPod connect as well as the standard CD player. If you are single or childless, the xA will handle about 95% of your driving/transportation needs. Not just a kids car; Im 36 and love it.

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  Problems with the Scion xa model - 2005 Scion xA
  By T Dutcher - October 8 - 12:00 am

  Problems noted by consumers and reviewers. A/C not cold, Nose dive on hard stops, Wind nosie, Road nosie, No pick up. Now that I own a Scion heres my personal review. I previously drove a 95 toyota trecel with 133000 miles on it. For an economy car the xa has plenty of pick up. I can pass with ease, and get off the red light quick. A+ lots of pep. A/C they fixed that on the 2005 models. Hard stop dive. It is noticable if you slam the brakes down all the way to stop suddenly, but it is controlable and not worrisome. Nosie, wind is minimal even at 75 mph. Road, it could be a little better. Rough road = noise. This car is roomy, peppy, and a best buy in my book. A++ for its class.

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  Great Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Jay Cutler - October 6 - 5:40 pm

  Car has been great. Roomy and comfortable. Acceleration is good. Sound system is awesome including the iPod connector.

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  OK car - 2007 Scion TC
  By janno95 - October 5 - 12:18 am

  I got my 2007 scion tc when it had 167k miles on it 2 years ago. I currently have 216k on it and it was running very good until my oil light came on. Come to find out Scion has a recall on the engine for OLDER scions. The mechanic I talked to said this would be a problem as the cars got more miles on them. Also, my car was awful in the rain and snow.

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  A fun, economical, and reliable car. (Stereo rocks too!) - 2012 Scion XD
  By bubba_hotep - October 4 - 5:53 pm

  My wifes 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe recently died (transmission) so we were in the market for a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. We took the Toyota Yaris (VERY small, no cargo room, lacking features) Honda Fit (Lots of cargo space but interior was *meh*, ugly exterior and overpriced) Nissan Versa (JUNK!) and Chevy Sonic (not bad, sporty but $20K was too much) for test drives. A co-worker suggested the xD. I took her 2009 for a spin and loved it. Went to the dealer the next day and bought a 2012 xD base (auto). Paid $15,500 out the door, exactly what I wanted to spend. A month later, this car has 1K miles on it and is sipping gas (avg. 33mpg) and the wife loves it. Handles well in the rain too!

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  Not so Happy - 2006 Scion XB
  By dee - October 2 - 5:56 pm

  My 2006 Scion xB has a bumpy ride. Ive only had it since May 2005. I thought it was a fun car in the beginning but it has no pickup upon take off. Is anybody else having the same problem?

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  A Car Thats Sensitive to Current World Needs... - 2006 Scion xA
  By Alejandro - October 2 - 4:13 pm

  At a time when the our (US) goverment mentioned our dependency-addiction to oil, the Scion xA brings the right mixture for a commuting car that includes excellent gas mileage, confort, looks and a low price with a conventional engine.

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  Impressed - 2004 Scion XB
  By Jim Thomson - October 1 - 2:00 am

  We just picked up our Scion xB last week and I have to say that I was very impressed. The engine feels like it has a lot more power than 108 hp. Everyone that has seen the car has commented very positively on the car looks and interior room. Not too bad for a car that was under $15,000.

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  Fun to Drive + Reliability = Scion - 2008 Scion TC
  By collegedude - September 30 - 10:46 pm

  This is a great car for anybody to drive. The styling inside and out is amazing. Scion is made by Toyota so the car is safe and reliable. Im a college student so it fits me perfectly.

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  Needs an armrest! - 2005 Scion xA
  By kevin - September 30 - 6:06 am

  Have had this car for 8 months. Great gas mileage, average 36, have gotten as high as 39. Im 61 and have had several back surgeries, so seats are important. I find these to be pretty comfortable with good lumbar support. Overall it is a great little car.