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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Fun to drive - 2005 Scion TC
  By ImranJavaid - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Been driving a Flint Mica Automatic for a few days now. Really fun to drive although my 1.8T Jetta had more zip to it. Interior design is very good, except the flip top for the stereo. The exterior design is perfect. The Flint Mica color always turns heads because it glitters in sunlight. For the price I have no complaints.

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  Unique and Eclectic, Great for the City... - 2006 Scion XB
  By The_Box - May 17 - 6:33 am

  I purchased my xB because I was attracted to its unique shape, efficiency, interior space, and low price. I bought it with the full intention of customizing it a bit to express my personal style. After a year of ownership my xB has served me well without a single hiccup. It delivers excellent gas mileage when its warm-around 32 mpg, however falls to a dismal 25/26 mpg when its cold out. I love the xBs funk factor and unique shape. The kids especially love it; once at a drive-in, a little boy called it a little limo. However, the xB suffers from lackluster materials, and is certainly not meant for highway driving. At high speeds (75+) the xBs engine is overwhelmed @ 3700 RMP and starts to suck gas.

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  scion xb - 2005 Scion XB
  By let - May 16 - 4:26 am

  great fun to drive. plenty of room. love the standard features

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  Bang for the Buck!!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By jimmy5150 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  When reseaching vehicles under $15,000, on paper the xB is the clear winner. After driving it for a week, "the box" delivers. All of the comforts I wanted...A/C, power locks, mirrors and windows...auto....the list goes on. While being a little tight in the "hip and shoulder department", the xB has got tons of leg and headroom. The leg room does come at a cost, very little cargo room with rear seats up. The ride is choppy and rough. The vehcile is underpowered, but sufficent for most driving. And it handles well...really well. Stick in a turn and keep the gas on..it might not go fast in straight line, but it makes a turn fun!!!

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  The perfect vehicle! - 2005 Scion XB
  By dancsontos - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this for my wife and she loves it so much! And I do as well! She had a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport and she didnt think shed like as much, but she would never look back now. SO much space, adequate power, great gas mileage, and dependibilty combined with head-turning style will keep this car in our driveway for a long time.

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  Happy with 08 - 2008 Scion XB
  By mark mckee - May 12 - 5:10 pm

  Overall the car has good pickup for a 4 cylinder. I am getting 27.5 mpg driving 16 miles through 30 stoplights in a major us city. No one can believe the interior room the car has. Went out on a double date and fit 4 adults in the car comfortably. I do suggest upgrading the radio to the second upgrade pioneer if you want to enhance the sound quality in the future. I have added a bazooka subwoofer aftermarket and the audio installers could not believe the quality of stereo that came from the factory. The ride is smooth for a small size vehicle. Overall people like to ask me about the car. Everywhere you go someone will be looking at it wondering what it is.

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  Great Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By sciontologist - May 12 - 5:53 am

  The acceleration is very good. I only have 2,000 miles on mine but have not experienced any problems. I have seen only one other tC on the road (in Ohio). I like the availability of reasonably priced accessories on the Internet.

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  I am in Love with my X-Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By jennifer - May 10 - 10:43 pm

  I get 35 mpg in my Scion xB! Thats right. I love it. It is so much fun to drive and I get major looks around town. The kids love it too. The standard features are awsome and the satilite radio is cool. My dealer gave me Sirus free for 9 months and threw in a free cruise control!

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  Scion xB - The Best Deal Money Can Buy! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Jeffrey A. - May 7 - 9:50 pm

  Ive had my xB for two years and still love it the way I did when I brought it home. Its getting 33 mpg and still gets plenty of attention on the street and at shows. If you want a vehicle that dang near does it all the xB has you covered and then some.

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  Scion Is Great - 2006 Scion XB
  By amy - May 5 - 10:50 pm

  I think this is a great vehicle. The interior has plenty of room . My husband is 6 feet tall and has plenty of room in it. It gets great gas mileage.