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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best Box Made...Anywhere - 2006 Scion XB
  By OldDaddy - January 20 - 4:36 pm

  Purshased this car new in 2005. I can not say enough good things about it and I have had 57 cars...by actual count. I dont know what the guy is doing that got only 14 mpg, but I think he needs a new calculator. I have never gotten less than 26 mpg and even got 40.1 mpg on one freeway trip with one aboard. I know it looks nerdy but it is more fun to drive than any car I have ever had(the list includes sport cars, Mercedes, Volvos, etc.). We have 90K on the box and expect to go to 200K then give it to a grandchild.

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  Great little car - 2009 Scion XB
  By Old Man - January 20 - 4:33 pm

  Ive had my xB for 4 days now. The hardest thing about buying one was deciding between Stingray Metallic and Black. I chose Black because I figured Black would always be in style. It actually has a metallic gray look to it, which really sets it off. This car is so much fun to drive. Its quick, agile, and very responsive. Even with the A/C on, I can merge onto the expressway with no problem. The ride is comfortable, although my wife prefers the cushier seats in her Lexus. There is very little road or engine noise. The stock radio/CD player sounds great. We have 4 Toyotas in the family, and this one certainly does not disappoint. It has the same build quality as the others.

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  Get it if you want to be actively involved in driving. - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By eperris - January 20 - 12:26 pm

  The FR-S rewards focused driving. Though it is easy to drive at low speeds and in the city, it really comes alive when you push it along windy roads and at high speed. It is simply the most solid, capable car I have ever driven. If you just want to look good, accelerate quickly and tour around - this isnt the car for you. I also like its small environmental footprint and ultra-sophisticated engineering where it counts. This car has a bleeding edge fuel system, a high performance, but ultra-reliable engine and Toyota/Subaru quality. It is small and lightweight. If you drive thoughtfully, the mileage is about 26 City and 36 highway - much higher than EPAs estimate.

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  Not Bad, but also Not Good Enough - 2004 Scion xA
  By calimania - January 18 - 2:00 am

  First thing I should say is... I like this car. Its well-built, all-around- not-bad features.. Im satisfied with this car. However, the most factor that affected me to buy it is definitely the PRICE!

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  Great First Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Yaileen - January 17 - 10:30 pm

  The scion xA was our very first new car and it has been wonderful. We have taken it on trips and it is great on fuel. It is comfortable for 2 to 4 people for traveling.

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  fun mommy car - 2009 Scion XB
  By renee27 - January 16 - 12:53 am

  My father suggested I try sion xb out instead of a suv with my children in mind, I love this car. The dealership was friendly and informative, I have to be honest I thought the car was ugly but when I drove it I fell in love, smooth fun driving, love the hatch back for beach and groceries, and fold down seats, my two bucket car seats fit perfect in the back for my 3 and 5 year old the only complaint I have is my children have a hard time looking out the window problem at Christmas with all the light, ,, I average about 32 mpg on fuel and even drove in the snow without problems, my driveway is steep and have no problem getting up. I would recommend this car to all fun mommies with 1-2 kids, safe

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  Post-modern Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By mattblowers - January 15 - 2:50 am

  This is a great car. It is a car that is either loved or hated by consumers. There is no middle ground. It is fun, fun, fun. It is a nimble, little, urban loving car. It has a very tight turning radius. It darts in and out of traffic effortlessly. If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, with great fuel mileage and reliability, this is the car for you.

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  I love this car - 2005 Scion TC
  By scion - January 8 - 10:00 am

  This car is excellent. I love how it rides, how it drives and handles. And for the price you cant beat it. Mine is indigo ink with the ground effects, exhaust and I even added leather.

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  I have a white scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By Joe Rivers - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I purchased mine about two weeks ago and I have yet to find something that I do not like about it. I guess I wish it was faster, but what should I expect from 160 horsepower? It is exactly what I needed.

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  Best Fun since the "60s" - 2006 Scion XB
  By Izzy - January 8 - 1:16 am

  This car is fun and economical. I am in the process of trading in my New Beetle Turbo for my second Scion xB. We are now a 3 xB family, soon to make it 4 xBs in the family.