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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  What is Wrong With the Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By John Markle - June 16 - 8:26 pm

  After owning the Scion tC for over a year I think that this car is an awesome car to get and is the best car for the price range it is in. I have many suggested improvements, but the car is in my opinion much better than the Civic (my brother owns one and I have driven it in comparison) or any other car in the market. My main suggestion is that if you are getting a manual transmission to be aware that a new set of tires would be a great investment due to its ability to peel out easily.

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  Love my XB - 2009 Scion XB
  By kelmack - June 16 - 1:36 am

  I have been driving a suburban since 2001. I recently totaled the vehicle and had to purchase something new. I was looking for something with good gas mileage, smaller, not too small, lots of leg room and could still haul stuff in the back if need be. The Scion XB was the perfect solution. I absolutely love this vehicle and look forward to driving it. I havent found anything negative about it. I added the spoiler, and leather. Its a great car!

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  Awesome Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Worm - June 15 - 7:40 am

  Really simple, I love this car. Went to the dealership looking for economical Toyota and fell in love with the Scion.

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  Very Cool Econobox - 2008 Scion XD
  By BillyBones - June 15 - 4:23 am

  Wifey and I owned a 2002 Envoy before buying our Xd. We got it with black 18 inch wheels, rear spoiler, mats, chrome decoration and the blingy interior lights. Got hosed on our trade, but doesnt everyone with an SUV today. Went from putting $70 a week in gas to $35 every 2 weeks. Maiden voyage was 1200 miles round trip from Ct. to southern Virginia. Highway average was 38 mpg. After coming home, we get 30 mpg in all around driving. Thats with a straight gear, light foot and hyper-mile-ing. A very comfortable car(we drove 10 hrs), power is a little short, but past 3500 rpm and it zips real nicely. We drove the Civic and I really liked it. But, I liked the hatchback and the Fit was just boring

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  Great for the money! - 2005 Scion TC
  By GA tC - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Having had many other cars, some costing almost 3 times as many, it was time to not spend as much. This little car is fantastic. Admittedly not the greatest for a family of over 6 foot people, the driver and passenger side certainly are accomadating for us tall folks. Excellent pick-up and cornering. Really, it is a hard bargain to beat.

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  I love it - 2006 Scion xA
  By Erin - June 11 - 6:16 pm

  I love this car! When I bought it I was unsure about the shape but have found it to be very user friendly. You can fit more in the back with the seats up than you would think. You do not have to worry about gas consumption either. The xA is a very comfortable car for a family.

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  This car rocks! - 2008 Scion TC
  By John - June 8 - 8:10 am

  I just bought this car a week ago. It is just amazing. I have been wanting one for almost 2 years now, so I just went ahead and did it. I had just bought a 2007 hyundai elantra in 12/06, so I traded it in for this. My first tank of gas got me almost 28 mpg, which is exactly what I was getting in the elantra.

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  Great Car For The Money! - 2009 Scion XD
  By Mike Sanchez - June 4 - 6:16 pm

  Over all Ive been very impressed with my 2009 xD. Im a little less than two years out of college and it has been an excellent car for the money. I never thought of myself ever driving a Scion as they tend to be a little quirky looking, some could argue juvenile, but thats what gives it personality. Over all car handling, acceleration, reliability, residual value retention, over all performance, and many awards has made it a reassuring purchase. Ive heard of negative comments about the paint job, road noise, etc but the optional sound deadening package, luster paint finish, etc (Vehicle Shield Protection) makes quite the improvement.

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  Love My Car it Is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2009 Scion XD
  By PRBEBA - June 4 - 1:10 pm

  I went into the toyota dealer looking for a car that I had rented in PR when I was on vacation. It was the Yaris very good on fuel. Kept looking and saw the new release XD which I fell in love with because the color was green which is my favorite color. I spoke with a scion rep. decided to get the scion XD. Great on gas. Size is perfect for me, im only 4"11 so its just the right size for me. I highly recommend this car to all. It has every thing you need.

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  Love My Scion XB - 2013 Scion XB
  By Sandra Stahler - June 4 - 8:26 am