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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Good Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By Sylvia - January 6 - 2:13 pm

  The scion does have the problems mentioned in other reviews such as easily scratched paint and a little rattling and sealing issues. I recently had a problem where my parking brake light goes on and off even though it is completely down. However these are minor issues. I got a cute, sporty car that I can afford and I feel good about the Toyota reliability. Ive never had any tire problems but I would watch those bumps! Theyll get the under-side of the body before theyll ever get the tires. Overall, a very good, reliable car that gets compliments.

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  Love My 2008 "Lil Hottie" Scion XD - 2008 Scion XD
  By Love My Scion XD - January 6 - 11:56 am

  I purchased my 2008 Scion Xd a week ago and I am enjoying my drive. It is a fun car to drive and I look forward to driving it every day. It is a little noisy but the standard features outweigh the road noise. I test drove the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa and the Honda Civic before test driving the Scion Xd and when I did I knew I had found the car. It was fun to drive and all the standard features. The gas mileage is what they say 26 city avg. and 32 hwy miles. I mainly drive city miles. I do wish it had a center armrest. Wished the VSC would come standard but other than that I love my Scion in red. Enjoy when I see turned heads as I drive by. I love its uniqueness in looks. Love it!

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  Wheres the Toyota quality? - 2005 Scion XB
  By JoeinWA - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Got my xB in June of 2003. After 500 miles, had 3 annoying rattles coming from dash, rear seat latch and driver seatbelt anchor. Seats are comfy. Lots of storage space when seats folded down. I moved from San Diego to Seattle in this! Stability and traction control work well in the snow! Gas milage is not what was promised, but still good. I now have 22,000 miles on it.

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  good car - 2008 Scion TC
  By brett - December 20 - 10:46 am

  love it how ever it needs more power

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  Not for everybody; great for me - 2005 Scion xA
  By WML - December 17 - 4:33 pm

  Had it for two weeks now but I researched for over a year to decide on which car to buy. I wanted just a trendy, fuel-efficient car to "get me there." Nothing else comes close in this class of sub-$15k cars (why is it a sedan here?). And Toyota reliability -- enough said. I drive long distances on weekends and its great for that. Power/weight ratio makes it light and zippy. Feels very solid, steering is weighty and substantial. The ride is very bumpy, though. You feel everything on the road and it seems like nothing is dampened. I opted for the side airbags, which is an expensive option but better safe than sorry. Fuel economy is less than advertised; maybe 33 on the highway

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  Thanks Scion - 2006 Scion XB
  By bigy - December 8 - 12:26 am

  The new 2006 Scion xB is the best small car for local driving. It is great on gas and easy and fun to drive. I looked at tons of cars, this was my choice, and I made the right choice. I have driven one for a month and 2,000 miles and it still makes me happy.

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  Fun car to drive, but not at night. - 2006 Scion xA
  By Thor - December 4 - 1:36 pm

  I like this little car. I enjoy driving it, but not at night. It feels weird driving at night because you dont see the steering that well with the dark interior.

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  My Review - 2006 Scion xA
  By MMMurano - December 1 - 12:33 pm

  My car is perfect for city driving as well as road trips. I fit in almost any small parking space and the fuel efficiency is one of the best Ive experienced. This is a great first car for the younger generation because it is reliable, very easy to maintain, and affordable in the long-term. I love it.

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  Another Old Timer Likes It - 2006 Scion XB
  By baragon - December 1 - 3:20 am

  The automatic Scion xB is underpowered but the 5-speed has enough power to merge into busy traffic. Its gas mileage is amazing [40+ mpg] with the 5-speed if you keep it at 55 mph and drive with a very light foot without the air conditioning on during a trip. If you want the 5-speed you may have to order it since it seems few dealers have them on the lot and it may take 6-8 weeks.

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  Excellent quality, price, & fun to drive - 2011 Scion TC
  By thegreatga - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this 2011 w/6 manual in magnetic gray with rear spoiler (spoiler made the purchase point for me). After looking at a 2010 & 2011, the interior blew me away for quality, and style for the new 11 vs the 10. The new engine and drive train and hands down better than the 10. Driving the 10 seemed to be like a driving a turd. And the while the 11 is most certainly full of power, it still isnt a SPORTS car. The improved width made comfort hands down top notch, and while Im 61" and a huge dude, i feel comfortable in the back seat, something rare for a two door. The 6 speed manual is smooth, and the gears fall into place naturally, without fumbling.