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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Big band for a few bucks! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Duane - November 27 - 10:10 pm

  I am 64" and 230 lbs. I am not their normal customer. I am a 43 year old single male who uses this for my business. The fact that I fit in it with extra room, it came with many options, it gets awesome gas mileage, and its a Toyota made buying it a no brainer. Id buy it again!

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  Get a tC now! - 2008 Scion TC
  By Carlos - November 22 - 8:03 am

  I used to be a VW fanatic but getting into a TC changed the way I look at sport cars. I bought mines used with 18,000 miles. The person that owned the car before must have loved driving it. It came with TRD exhaust and cold air intake. It most certainly changed the feel of the car compared the a stock TC. VERY Sporty, in time this car should catch up like Acuras Integra all it needs is a rear wiper and make it 200 hp stock maybe a 3.2 engine

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  08 Scion XB - 2008 Scion XB
  By 08 XB review - November 18 - 3:26 am

  08 XB=car is OK but very noisy at freeway speeds. Mileage is low at nfreeway speeds...26mpg at 75mph. Engine just revs too high which is noisy and high revs also reduces mpg. Needs 5sp/6sp auto as in 07Camry. Traction in snow excellent for front wheel drive with standard traction control. Performance is good. Handy as heck...short vehicle yet big room inside.

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  Amazing Space - 2006 Scion XB
  By David - November 5 - 4:36 am

  My xB handles amazingly well, with Scions optional suspension additions. I added chrome wheels and a leather interior with heated seats. This is one marvelous, albeit underpowered. It would benefit from a turbocharger. My only complaint, and one the dealer is trying to help me with, is the terribly uncomfortable drivers seat. If I cant get this corrected through Scion I will move to an aftermarket seat, such as recaro or Corbeau. I might even modify it with stock power seats from another manufacturer. I am averaging 33 mpg and am barely broken in. All in all the xB is a great value. My extended warranty runs through 2013.

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  Fill it shut it and forget it !!! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Urbandale XB 2008 - October 21 - 8:10 am

  Very practical, no nonsense reliable car for the long run. This car is a glue in snow and the stability control (VSC) works amazingly in snow. Had 2 blizards each amounting 16 inch of snow within 2 weeks and it drives amazingly with VSC taking care of skids. I have a Nissan Quest minivan which has VDC same as VSC but it doesnt work this good. I felt very secured driving this car in ice and snow

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  Rating my xA R.S. 1.0 - 2005 Scion xA
  By Mike Angelo - October 20 - 12:36 pm

  Great auto, gets lots attention. People ask "what kind of car is it?"

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  Scion xB 2006 Model - 2006 Scion XB
  By Viv - October 18 - 1:56 pm

  I traded in a 2004 Jeep Liberty (avg. 17 mpg) for a 2006 Scion xB for better gas mileage. So far, we are averaging 28 to 30 mpg for around town driving, and it costs so little to fill the tank. The only downside to this car is you feel every bump in the road, I would not recommend it if you have back problems. Also, our insurance company rates it as an SUV, not as a wagon. So if you buy one check out how much it will cost to insure it. We are happy with this car and would buy another one!

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  Wish I Could Return it - 2008 Scion XD
  By Tom Gandy - October 9 - 1:46 pm

  I bought this XD with the auto trans, that was the first mistake. This thing scares the heck our of me while trying to merge into 70 mph traffic. Road noise is excessive and the ride is rather bumpy. The brakes are adequate but spongy. Highway mpg is not too bad at 38 but local driving is a dismal 23 mpg. Rear passenger space is surprisingly adequate for average sized people. Rear storage space is small but this a sub compact and is to be expected. The hubcaps had to go. I bought 7 spoke wheels that look much better.

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  2nd Scion XB, Love em! - 2009 Scion XB
  By Seattlescottb - October 6 - 7:30 pm

  I bought my Son-in-law an XB 18 months ago, and when we got back to Seattle decided to buy myself one. I was looking at the Honda CRV, but at 10K more I just couldnt justify the cost. Granted the CRV is a more plush car, functionally they are very similar. I wish the XB had an extra 12v outlet, but other than that its exceeded my expectations. After 1 week of driving we are averaging 25.7mpg, MUCH better than I expected. I didnt get many of the extras (unlike my Son-in-Laws car) but I did get the rear cargo deck. Only one other thing Id be critical of is the Pioneer Radio. It has an SSR feature that I cant quite get right? Anyway, overall a wonderful, cost effective car.

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  Best small wagon - 2008 Scion XB
  By Almadcity - September 24 - 1:40 pm

  Coming up on 15,000 miles my overall mileage is 30.4. The dealer tells me many other customers report similar so whats with the EPA ratings? Build quality is great but thats to be expected with a car that has a VIN starting with the letter "J" (made in Japan). The interior size and cool styling with 2010 MY safety features at a good price won this old guy over.