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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Love All of It, but the Drivers Seat - 2006 Scion XB
  By Don Baldwin - August 20 - 10:50 am

  I am 68 and the xB is one of the few inexpensive dependable cars I could consider. So far so good. I get about 33 mpg in all driving. My problem is that the drivers seat is very uncomfortable. I would benefit from having a power seat that allows more adjustment. I would not recommend this car anyone over 64". The available arm rest is cheap and does no good for me. Otherwise the xB is a pleasure to drive and surprisingly quiet when driven in town.

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  jfuentes - 2004 Scion XB
  By john fuentes - August 20 - 4:20 am

  its a great car I love it and hope that the new t2b is great too.

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  Love it! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Shawna - August 19 - 8:50 am

  This car is perfect for our family. It seems if you have kids, you must either have the gas guzzler SUV or the sooo suburban minivan. But the xB you get the ability to put your kids in the car without excessive reaching or knocking the kids heads on the doors, great gas mileage, and just enough room to carry their stroller and groceries in one trip. Not a great traveling car, but since I only use it in the city to cart my kids around, its perfect!!

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  Scions conquer America - 2004 Scion xA
  By jerryfan - August 18 - 2:00 pm

  As a long-time Toyota owner, I jumped at the Scion, an off-shoot of Toyota. I first had seen the Scions xB back in 2003, a bit boxy, but cool. Great price and fuel efficiency. When it came time to buy, I opted for the aX, the bX seemed a bit pimped-out for a 47-year-old. The cX was a bit pricey for my wallet. Im happy with the xA. Put 3000 miles on it in the first 21 days...The only luxury I demanded with it was dealer addition of cruise control. Five-speed is sweet. A great little car for the 21st century. The price tag was good, just over $14,000 with the cruise, the rides good, it turns heads and is great so far in my book.

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  Xd save me lots of $$$ - 2009 Scion XD
  By kmpennington - August 18 - 2:56 am

  Tottally worth the money!!! I have the 2009 model, I drove to Kingsport TN from Hudson, NC...all mountain terrain and still got a whopping 33 mpg...I do have the 5speed though. I loved the way it drives and that it fills up for 40.00. I would drive my scion anywhere short distance or long distance.

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  scion kicks a** - 2004 Scion XB
  By the one - August 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive. It drives like a sports car, and it is phenomenal for city driving. It zips out of tight situations, and no parking space is too small for this car.

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  2006 xB is Great! - 2006 Scion XB
  By rod - August 17 - 7:16 pm

  From the start this car has been nothing short of great. We have had no problems whatsoever. Im 60" tall and have ample leg room. For the money I believe its the best deal in the car market right now.

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  Best in class - 2010 Scion XD
  By Jamie - August 14 - 6:13 pm

  I believe this car is arguably the best in its class. It has a lot of impressive standard features, extensive customizable options, and solid safety ratings. Its efficient enough for the finance conscious buyer, and sleek enough for the young crowd. You can customize it with navigation, racing peddles, interior colored lights, XM satellite radio,etc. As far as safety, traction control and stability control come standard. The Honda Fit and Nissan Versa dont have those features. The electric steering is also very smooth. The soundsystem is sweet and comes equipped with 6 speakers, MP3/WMA capability, & an iPod/USB jack. Overall, its the coolest and most efficient car Ive owned.

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  I Love This Car! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Paintbox - August 13 - 1:40 pm

  Let me say it again! I love this car. I paint and finish woodwork for a living 90 miles from home. I put on lots of miles! Everything that fit in the box of my F-150 fits in my new paintbox except for the 6 foot ladder. (I havent tried yet) I now pay a lot less for gas. The day I picked it up i had bought 5 old chairs, the salesman laughed. I said I haul lots of junk all the time might as well start the first day, they all fit with room to spare. You have lots of people stare, strangers want to know what it is, if they can look in it. It is a conversation piece. The only negative I have about the car is that on gravel roads it lets in a lot of real fine dust into the car.

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  I love it - 2004 Scion xA
  By Kathitkd - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car almost 8 months ago and absolutely love it. I have received so many compliments on it. A lot of people have mistaken it for a hybrid.