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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By slnthntr - September 30 - 6:53 am

  This car is a blast to drive, with the 5-speed manual I am getting 36 mpg in the city. It handles the corners great and has outstanding acceleration.

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  What a great and fun car - 2008 Scion XD
  By Love It! - September 30 - 4:50 am

  My initial opinion of the car was that it looked so small. Once I opened the door and got inside, however, I was shocked! The interior is not only spacious but incredibly well laid out. Im six feet tall and fit easily into the seats with ample head room to spare. The controls were especially well designed and the overall feel of the dash was that it was designed with purpose and care. Comparable models and brands often just throw a slab of plastic on and a few radio knobs and call it a dash but Scion thoughtfully put together a great interior for its owners.

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  I love my scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By faye creter - September 28 - 10:26 am

  I have found nothing to complain about with this car yet.

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  Scion TC 1.0 - 2005 Scion TC
  By Tony - September 27 - 9:36 pm

  This is one hot vehicle. This is the limited edition TC 1.0 in Absolute Red. The car is very sharp looking with the 18 inch black rims. This one came with the spoiler and ground effects. This particular car is #6 of 2,500. This car is quick and handles great. The interior is very sharp looking and the seats are very comfortable. The stereo also sounds great. The car comes with a Panasonic stereo as standard equipment. Also the sunroof is standard. The entire top of the car is glass. Real cool!! I am also very happy with the build quality. So far so good. The engine is smooth and the auto trans four speed is fine. You can also add a lot of options to the TC. I recommend this car!!

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  Thrill Ride - 2008 Scion XB
  By 08xBthrill - September 26 - 1:46 pm

  What a trill to drive. The Nypnotic Teal Mica gets many stares, particularly with the black and polished aluminum wheels that I added immediately. I travel frequently for long distances, so having cruise control is a ticket saver. I discovered that you can be doing 80 mhp and not realize it. One of the main reasons for my decision to purchase the 08 xB was the ability to make it a very personal vehicle, its hard to beat the value for your dollar ratio. Shape, weight and power were my second reasons.

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  My tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By RICK - September 24 - 10:36 pm

  This car provides more bang for the buck than its nearest competitors. It is fun to drive and admired by many as it drives by. It delivers great performance, outstanding features, and style. I am an auto/truck wholesale buyer by profession and I find the tC to be well worth the money! Toyota needs to add leather seats and Pearl White paint to their new models to further cut the competion down. The 2.4 Camry 4-cylinder motor delivers outstanding performance.

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  2008 Scion xD - 2008 Scion XD
  By Lane - September 24 - 6:26 pm

  I went to look for a new car. Open minded and looked at a number of different ones and test drove more than I probably should. I saw a nice custom jeep, looked at a number of new BMWs then I saw it from across the lot: the new Scion xD. Nice looking, great features, 100s of accessories, great gas mileage, great warranty, etc. The list just went on and on. Then I drove and immediately fell in love. My partner kept pushing the BMW, which was really nice and I was about to get it but, I liked the Scion. I would recommend this car as well as the other Scion models to anyone.

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  Fantastic - 2006 Scion TC
  By jay - September 21 - 4:00 pm

  This car is wonderful. It is fast, turns heads, and gets pretty good gas mileage for such a sporty car. I previously drove a Honda Civic and this just blows the doors off in comparison. In its price range, it is really untouchable. I spent a great deal of time comparing cars and was, at first, wary because I did not have much familiarity with the brand. Any trepidation I had was completely unfounded. My experience at the dealership was straightforward and low pressure. I strongly recommend that any person looking for a great looking and affordable car that handles well give the Scion tC some serious consideration.

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  Even better than the first generation! - 2009 Scion XB
  By Oscar - September 21 - 1:53 pm

  Although my fiance is the owner of this vehicle, I drive it a heck of a lot, and I am giving serious consideration to trading my `05 tC for one of these. My family has two first-gen xBs, and while they are what put Scion on the map, and are still cool, the gen2 xB is a dramatic improvement over the first generation, albeit a little less funky-looking. The xB purists may not like it, but I do. In the Stingray Metallic color, this little wagon looks great. the only accessories ordered at delivery were fog lights, overhead console, and rear bumper applique. My fiance traded in a 2001 Taurus for this vehicle, and she doesnt regret it. This is her first non-Ford vehicle.

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  Putting Fun Back into Driving - 2007 Scion TC
  By Steve - September 20 - 12:03 am

  I just got my tC three days ago and really like driving the car. We have a Toyota Sienna as the family car and wanted a small sports car to drive when only one or two of us are going out. I do not think you can beat the tC for value. It has great equipment and is very solid. My sons are over six feet tall and find it very comfortable. There is no sports car with as much leg room in the back seat.