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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Excellent car - 2005 Scion XB
  By Andrew - October 13 - 7:06 am

  This is a great little car. You only need to step inside to see why its such a good deal for $15k - its huge inside. Being a box makes it very space efficient; awkwardly tall friends will appreciate the rear leg and head room. However, the car is still narrow and short enough that its easy to park anywhere, and the sitting position is surprisingly high. Handling and road noise are decent considering its a box with wheels, and the standard traction and stability control do wonderfully in bad weather. A bigger engine would be nice at times, but it usually feels plenty peppy and gets great gas milage. Toyota quality for this price makes this car hard to resist.

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  Great Family Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Krystal - October 13 - 1:56 am

  I love my car. Easy for moms to get kids in and out. The headlights are a pain. It has a distinct line in your vision where it all the sudden goes from light to pitch black. Not good for traveling to places youve never been cause you cant see road names until you are right up on them. But for everyday around the town driving its great.

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  Proud Owner - 2004 Scion XB
  By karae3 - October 12 - 10:00 am

  I Love My Scion! This car is the best value on the market for a fully loaded vehicle. Its so fun to be able to bulid your own car.

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  I love it, but... - 2004 Scion xA
  By KKyle - October 12 - 7:33 am

  I enjoy driving my Scion xA a lot, and I do drive a lot, which is why I bought it. I have had maintenance issues with the car, having to replace the whole air conditioning unit (warranty), brake problems (corrected by dealer), and a worn out serpentine belt already (changed ourselves), all with less than 45,000 miles. I have noticed some shift troubles with the car, most noticibly when it is cold of course, but at other times as well, revving the engine to over 4,000 rpms in 3rd. Other then that (lol) I love it!

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  2005 Scion tC Release Series 1.0 - 2005 Scion TC
  By Christopher Case - October 9 - 3:43 am

  Great vehicle.. Great on gas.. Will be very reliable since it is a Toyota.. Peppy 2.4L engine.. The Release Series 1.0 is a real head turner.. I love this car..

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  Still Love my Black Box! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Kelley - October 6 - 8:00 pm

  Ive had my Scion xB since February 2004 and still love everything about it. The gas milage is great and I havent had any trouble of any kind at all. I travel a lot and find it comfortable and easy running. I saw a white xB on a Tuesday and bought my black one the very next Saturday. I have lots of room for my grandson and my dog!

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  Excellent Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By rdcd - October 6 - 12:31 pm

  I cant believe these neg comments about this Scion XB. They must work for the UAW in Detroit? The 2.4 ltr 4 cyl is the best 4 cyl on the market. I had that same engine in my 2004 Toyota Solara and my daughter is now driveing it with over 200k mi and not one problem. My 08 XB has been 100% no problem. I have the 5speed trans, and average 27 city and 32 highway. I put Michelin MXV4 tires on and the ride is perfect. Love the car and dont believe these neg comments. I Dont!!

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  Incredible value - 2004 Scion xA
  By MRM - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I was initially attracted to this car because of the fantastic interior quality. The more I shopped around and researched the xA, I realized that its quality and value were impossible to beat. The engine, despite being 1.5l, is a nice surprise. It isnt a V8, but for the fuel economy, it picks up nicely and is a joy to drive.

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  Best Value! - 2010 Scion XB
  By Sparkberry - October 3 - 8:23 am

  I cant believe that this car doesnt cost more. Its spacious, safe, comfortable, has great interior features, and has great style. This is definitely the best value for your money. I love it!

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  What a freaking fun car!!! - 2008 Scion XD
  By Jamie - October 1 - 4:40 pm

  I love this car! I test drove the Yaris, the Chevy Aveo and the Corolla and then my salesperson introduced me to the Scion xD. I loved it from the moment I test drove it. I have never smiled during a test drive, but the xD just is fun! I couldnt help it. The standard upgrades like great stereo and iPod hook ups are really great. The get up and go power is much better than the other vehicles that I compared it with. Also the interior room is much more spacious. I wasnt really fond of the interior black color at first, but I have really come to like it. The standard safety features are really nice too. Also, the pure price deal makes the buying process so much easier! I love my scion!