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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  XB stands for xceptional buy - 2005 Scion XB
  By pitchaman - June 5 - 10:00 am

  when i first saw it i thought it was very unattractive but once i took it on a test drive,then stretched out in the roomy backseat area with plenty of head room i was sold.i receive so many stares from passerbys its crazy.they all are impressed want to know what is it, who makes it,how much is it,they are floored when i give them their answers.i drove it to kentucky and it was an enjoyable trip,6 disc cd changer is the bomb.the l.e.d. lighting at night inside the vehicle is romantic.i cant wait to join a scion club i"ll be a member for life.

• 

  Proud Owner - 2005 Scion XB
  By Dorrial - June 3 - 9:56 am

  I purchased my Scion new and plan on keeping this model for many years. It is fun to drive, the visibility is exceptionally good, my mileage is anywhere between 30 and 35 MPG depending on how many people are in the car or, what I am transporting to college. Compared to the 2008, which is larger and not as pretty am mine, Ill stick to my 2005 XB.

• 

  Surprisingly awesome - 2011 Scion XB
  By Carolina T - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I went to the dealership to test drive the Toyota Matrix, and saw the XB sitting there. After test driving the Matrix and being unimpressed with the handling, I asked the dealer if I could test the Scion. I was amazed at how zippy this car is, especially for its size. I fell in love with the car right away, and bought it, and now I am a total convert. The car handles like a sportier, smaller car, but it has all the room in the world, and its got personality. Win.

• 

  Im in love! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Carol - May 31 - 11:40 pm

  I lost a 2000 Subaru Outback Sport to inexplicable engine trouble last spring, so I was left with a tiny down payment and a desperate need for a reliable car with superb fuel efficiency. My first choice would have been a Toyota Prius, but my tiny down payment eliminated that option. In hindsight, I am so glad it did...I love this little car! It turns heads as well as it turns corners, which is really saying something! I purposefully park far away from buildings so that I have a longer walk during which to admire its great shape as I return. I get between 35 and 39 mpg, and when curbside parking spaces are tight, I have no trouble -- its like parking a shoebox, but with a lot more headroom!

• 

  Love This Car - 2010 Scion XD
  By Otis - May 25 - 9:00 am

  Bought this little gem about 3 weeks ago. Simply blown away on mileage (35 mpg local driving). Car has all kinds of pep and is truly fun to drive. Only thing Im disappointed in is there is no seat height adjustment. After driving a RAV-4 since 2003 (in a RAV you have a birds eye view of everything) I wound up having to purchase a seat cushion to raise me up to see a little better. Im sure in time Ill get used to sitting lower and will eventually do away with the cushion. Husband has herniated disc and is very comfortable in the passenger seat.

• 

  2006 Scion tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By beckstc - May 24 - 3:06 pm

  The 2006 Scion tC is a great car. It is fun to drive, well built, and has a great sound system. I love it.

• 

  Great Car! Great Price! Well Equipped. G - 2004 Scion XB
  By Dick1234 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Ill write a review later after Ive had it for a longer period of time. I was delighted that this car was just becoming available as I started shopping for a new car.

• 

  OOOOOOOOOOOOH Yeah - 2007 Scion TC
  By Katie - May 23 - 1:06 pm

  I was actually planning on buying an xA, and I test drove two of them, but I loved the way the tC looked...and once I saw the inside, I was in love. Its beautifully designed, it absorbs about a million times more shock and the ride is much smoother than the VW Jetta that I traded in for this car. Theres a lot more space on the inside than you would think from looking at the outside of it, and the moonroofs are just perfect. All in all, I feel like I bought a very sporty performance car for about half of what I might expect to pay for one. And Scion has about every warranty extension under the sun; the warranty I got was about $1,100 extra and it covers me for six years completely.

• 

  FUN, FUN - 2006 Scion TC
  By OK2NVAZ - May 22 - 7:26 pm

  I love this car. It is fun, fast, and the price is great. My friend has a tC also and he loves it too.

• 

  Perfect car (MPG & FUN) - 2006 Scion TC
  By Dave - May 18 - 8:40 pm

  I replaced my 96 Ford Probe GT with a lowered (TRD springs) dark blue, 5- speed Scion tC. Its perfect, quiet, gets great mpg, and looks the part. Everyone that has looked at it thinks I made a great purchase and they are all right on the money. My first 331 miles netted 28.4 mpg. It should get better with a good break-in to! I also had heated seats and floor mats added but nothing else. I suggest you look at it if your in this market because you get Toyota build quality and some great looks to boot. Also with it being a hatchback you cant believe how much stuff you can get in one to. Buy one they rock!