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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Blast to Drive - 2005 Scion TC
  By Cary - August 4 - 8:00 pm

  This is a world leader car in its class. It can compete with $30,000 cars in ride, handling, looks and personality. It is loaded with amenities and has the highest crash rating. The back seat is huge for a sports coupe. The Yokohama tires and 17 inch alloy wheels that are standard. Extremely underpriced.

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  I Love My Scion - 2006 Scion xA
  By PyroSaGMaN - August 4 - 12:36 am

  It is so easy to shift. It has a lot of power, unlike the automatic. I can zoom zoom. This car is just amazing, Im so in love with my car. All the things in the reviews that downgraded this car are the reason I love the car, such as where the gauges are located. Mine has more power than I need. I frequently find myself doing over the speed limit before I even get on the freeway as I merge onto the interstate. It has so much room inside I can fit camping gear and go on shopping trips and fill it to the brim and the car still has power to zoom zoom. Also not a problem for my heavy family inside. It is just too perfect for me.

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  the car I thought I would not buy... - 2005 Scion XB
  By hawaiiguy - August 1 - 2:16 pm

  a beatiful car in and out...present problem with my 05 (manufactured 11/04) concerning a/c (not cold enough), parts ordered, and have to wait 4 weeks until the next opening at my nearby Toyota service dealership! Easy to get into/out with no contortions necessary, a lot of people will appreciate this! Has a nice tone on the stock exhaust system not too quiet nor too loud... Hear that some people use the rear right side storage in the back as an ice cooler, though I have not tried it yet. better handling performance with a rear sway bar,,,if you intend to make any handling improvements, this may be the only one you *MAY* need. gas mileage is about 30-32 on average with my auto.

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  Sexy, fun to drive tC - 2009 Scion TC
  By decseh - August 1 - 4:03 am

  This car is so much fun to drive. For what you get with this car and the looks you cant beat the price. Plus you get Toyota reliability as a perk. Ive only had my car for a month, but overall I am satisfied and impressed. It has many more features than me $32K Jeep did. Its only a few more dollars a month, its brand new, and gets me a lot better gas mileage. I am very glad I looked this way. I drove a Corolla, Civic, and a few other competitors and none really compared to this car. I suggest you drive one. My other car is an automatic, and I didnt like the tC when I drove it in an auto even though it was peppy, the manual won me over. Scion dealers are easy to work with too.

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  Traded from Rav4 - Surprised and Satisfied! - 2012 Scion XB
  By corolla_scion - August 1 - 3:43 am

  I had an 04 Rav4 that blew a head gasket with 120k miles. Unfortunate and unlikely, but it happened. This brought us to the dealer to repair the Rav4 or buy a new one. After considering a new Rav, and much deliberation, we decided on a 2012 Scion xB instead. I must say it was a good decision. Its hard to get the cargo, features, and quality for under $20K. We are very happy with our decision. Cargo is not much smaller than an SUV in the Rav4 class and the TCO is much lower. Smaller tires and engine, similar MPGs, cheaper oil changes, insurance rates, etc.

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  The shape of things to come - 2004 Scion XB
  By Ernest - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I got this because I could no longer drag myself out of my sports car. I cant believe the ease of entry & exit. It is fun to drive and gets plenty of looks from fellow motorists. I love the mileage I get that I no longer need to buy premium.

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  08 Scion xB is Great! - 2008 Scion XB
  By N4SX - July 28 - 6:20 am

  I wanted a roomy car that was fun to drive and would stand out. My expectations were exceeded. Fit and finish are great, the interior is huge and works well for me and my tall friends. It carries a huge amount of stuff, and, with the manual transmission, I can flat tow it behind my RV.

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  I heart my Scion xA, even after 4 years. - 2004 Scion xA
  By anna.bella - July 27 - 8:20 pm

  I am a single mom with two kids, and this car has always been reliable, fun, and stylish! I would recommend it to anyone. I just wish it got better gas mileage!

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  I Want to Tow - 2005 Scion XB
  By scionking - July 27 - 5:00 am

  First off, if youre big and tall and sick of trying to fit in those little cars, this is your ride. Ive had my xB going on 1.5 years now and I really enjoy it. I drive in a lot of high traffic areas and Im positive no full size SUV can match it. Yeah sure, I cant tow stuff, but I can park anywhere and getting around 30 mpg is a life saver. Its great on lane changes and when you lay the seats down you have a lot of room to carry all sorts of goodies. Ive even slept in it twice, no not because Im a weirdo, but because the tent just isnt as fun as it once was. I had the cold air induction put on and the exhaust added but you really dont get much bang from those mods. At least it sounds kinda neat.

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  The Scion Xb - 2006 Scion XB
  By dada765 - July 26 - 9:06 pm

  I have had 2 Scion xBs. The first one I got was in August of 2004. I sold that one and took out all my little goodies and bought another brand new one. The reason I did this was because I got tired with a black car and always needing to wash it. So i got a silver one this time. The car is great. I would think more people my age would like the Scion xB then the old guys. Its a teenagers car.