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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 daily driver - 2008 Scion XD
  By scionxd - January 18 - 11:23 pm

  The ride to work is better now with the new scion xd. From getting 13 mpg (gmc sierra 2500) to about 34.5 mpg now. The interior room is great for my wife who is currently pregnant, and my dog who loves to move around. The handling is great but it can use improvement, that is why i plan on improving it with official scion and trd parts.

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  Best Buy I Ever Made - 2005 Scion TC
  By SAshton - January 17 - 10:43 am

  I have owned several Honda Civics in the past and my last car was a Nissan Altima all of which I bought new. Even though the Scion has much less horsepower than the Nissan I find it much more exciting to drive. The standard features on the Scion far outpace the competition. I am definitely sold on Scion and have recommended the Tc to several people.

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  Loveeeddd it - 2006 Scion xA
  By souellette1 - January 11 - 6:57 pm

  My sister had this car for 4 years before she moved to Florida, i was devastated when she took her car with her. When i drove it gas was 1.68 in 2006 (detroit area michigan), so i would put 5 in it and drive forever with friends and go see the area. i was only 17 at the time but it was AWESOME. The only complaint is that its TERRIBLE in the snow.

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  Fun in the New Look - 2009 Scion XD
  By Charlie M. - January 11 - 12:36 am

  I just bought The 2009 XD Scion. It only gets better as you drive . The Fuel Economy is superb and the Pioneer sound system rocks.I looked at the Focus. I was sold on the XD. 15,800 for a fully loaded Automatic. I was looking for a manual But the dealer with the "Fixed pricing" cut a deal for a sure sale. Im not in anyway sorry for this choice. I came out of a Sable full loaded with sound system to rock your socks off 0-60 in 5.5. For the price and performance and GAS MILEAGE,you cant go wrong. It has pep like a V-6. Test drive one before you buy. You wont be sorry .Only down fall no center arm rest. Compartments everywhere.FUN TO DRIVE.... Oh yeah I wanted a sun roof like the sable .none

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  Dont believe the Naysayers! - 2009 Scion TC
  By Joe - January 10 - 8:03 am

  Yes this car is smaller than most but if you are a smaller person this car is perfect. I would not recommend the car to anyone who is taller than 58" because it has a bit low roof but other than that everything else about this car is great. Wonderful get up and go with fantastic handling. It also comes stock with a great Pioneer 7 speaker system (6.1 system). The car drives very quiet and will not disappoint. There is not a ton of trunk space but if you are not using the back seats they easily lay down and your trunk space is doubled. I would honestly recommend test driving this vehicle just to see if it works for you...because if you fit in it you will LOVE THIS CAR!

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  A fun and practical car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Robert Strckland - January 7 - 8:56 pm

  Ive had my 2008, manual, Hypnotic Teal xB for about a week and have already put 700 miles on it. Its a real pleasure to drive and has lots of features and options that would normally be found in a much more expensive car. For a relatively small car it feels huge inside and is very comfortable. I highly recommend upgrading the stock stereo to the Scion navigation system. Its a much better sounding stereo and a great nav system all in one. Im averaging 27.5 mpg at the moment with mostly highway driving. I did a lot of research on the xB, Honda Element, Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber and the xB stood out as the clear winner. I couldnt be more pleased with my choice.

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  good buy - 2004 Scion xA
  By casino - January 6 - 10:00 am

  its a good buy and turns heads as well

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  Amazing Car For the Money - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By rudycassap - January 4 - 6:31 am

  Lucky for us, Toyota put this under the Scion brand so dealers cannot mark it up. I live in the Los Angeles area and cars still disappear from some dealers lots in a matter of a day or two. I did accept the fact that the dealer installed Lojack. Got mine in Asphalt Black (dark grey metallic, really) with the rear wing and TRD exhaust installed from the factory. I had test driven a car with the stock exhaust. While the TRD exhaust has a beautiful note, it makes it difficult to have a conversation with a passenger. Still, I would take the exhaust over stock. Seats are supportive and instrument gauges are perfect (very much like Porsche). Car reminds me of a Lotus - light, small, minimalist.

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  I love my Xd:) - 2008 Scion XD
  By sayu - January 2 - 8:43 pm

  I wanted to get a car that is good on miles, reliable (I was only looking for a Japanese car), and safe. Ive researched so many cars for a few months and it was b/w Civic or Xd. I decided to buy Xd bc of its long list of standard options for this price, and was pretty much in love when I test drove one- it zips very well, inside is roomy, and I actually like its cute looks! Ive only put 200 miles on, and still have a half gas tank! I got close to 42 miles on highway, and Im getting about 31.5 miles in a city drive, with A/C on most of the time(the weakest level though). Ill get 18 inch wheels that makes the car look a lot better. I would buy one again, I love it!

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  A great buy , im so happy - 2005 Scion TC
  By Kelly - January 1 - 3:30 am

  I got my TC as a birthday gift for myself. This auto is so comfortable, so unique. I get looks everywhere I go. The best feature is the sunroof an the awesome steering & control it has.