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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  For the money... - 2007 Scion TC
  By Tankery - May 2 - 12:50 am

  I couldnt find a half way sporty car for under 20 grand until this came along. Its bland yet cute and has some nice amenities like the glass roof and MP3 output, mp3 CD player - woo hoo!

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  A Car For Any Age - 2009 Scion XB
  By xFistsClenchedx - May 1 - 11:06 pm

  I love my xB! I have 800+ miles on my xB at the moment. Its quick, Im averaging around 27mpg, rides nicely and is comfortable. It really is a vehicle for everyone. Older/disabled folks will love that its easy to get in and out of and younger people will love how amazing xBs look lowered with different wheels/tires. I purchased the floor mats, sport steering wheel, upgraded pioneer head unit and rear bumper appliqué. The sound system is great for stock. Although its not recommended, some people do light towing with their xBs (such as one Waverunner or one ATV). Visibility is quite good. Windows are large and you have a great view of everything. The xB is very safe as well.

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  xB is OK - 2005 Scion XB
  By mathmjo - May 1 - 7:33 am

  This car has no side impact airbags. This car does not handle well over bumps in the road due to it being low to the ground.

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  Something different - 2009 Scion XB
  By Ardie - April 23 - 1:26 am

  Ive driven a Camry for the past 6 years; a nice but terribly boring car in every way. I was looking for something safe as my oldest just turned 16, and the Camry had no side airbags, ABS or traction control. The XB is fun to drive, very safe, better in the snow than the Camry, incredibly roomy, has a small turning radius, and a reasonably smooth ride. I drive 30 miles each way to work, and Im averaging 28 MPG at about 70 MPH. On long trips Ive exceeded 31 MPG. The car is a like a Tardis, small on the outside but huge on the inside. And Im very confident in the safety features for my new driver. I like having a car you dont see everywhere.

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  Hes a Champ...He Sure Knows It! - 2007 Scion TC
  By Andrea T - April 20 - 6:36 pm

  I am proud to admit out loud that my Classic Silver Mica tC already has 85,000 miles on it. I know it seems crazy but its too much of a fun car to drive. What makes it even more encouraging to drive it is the extra money to buy aftermarket parts. Im averaging 29 mpg (combined) with the Cold Air Intake even with my heavy lead-foot. My downs about it arenÂ’t serious defaults to not turn anyone away from test driving it and buying one. But its expensive to do dealer warranty maintenance like 30k or 60k; my dealer cost me $485.00 each time. My other down is I wish Toyota spent little more production money on better paint job. My final statement; This car is steal for what you pay! & its Toyota

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  New buyer potential - 2005 Scion TC
  By New buyer potential - April 10 - 10:00 am

  I narrowed down to Base RSX(no leather and 5sp) and TC(5sp). I have hard time to chose which car is more fun. I hold back the tC due to resale value of car because of low version of Toyota. Is there anyone give me some comparision between them beside the number on specification?

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  Worth the Wait - 2009 Scion XD
  By Mick - April 7 - 11:00 am

  I ordered my car the beginning of June and had to wait 3 months for the color I wanted but well worth the wait. I had test drove the Kia Spectra, Nissan Versa and the Xd. I have a SUV also. When on Edmunds, I fell over the review for the Xd and I am so glad I did. After reading multiple reviews I test drove and ordered all in the same day. This car is peppy, much faster than what I would have thought and great on the gas mileage. I no longer get a stomach ache when pulling up to the gas station. I have had it for one month and am averaging 36-38 MPG with about 75% freeway each day. Very happy with my choice. She is so dang cute with her rear spoiler !

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  Falls apart - 2008 Scion TC
  By LAMich - April 2 - 12:20 am

  Ive owned this car for more than 2 years and there always an issue. The original tires made the car lower than my previous car. So when I park head on, the high curb started pulling out the undercover. Next thing you know, my entire bumper is messed up because its attached to the undercover. A few months down the road, I had to replace all 4 tires after 35K miles. So when I finally fixed that, I hit a garbage bin which knock off my passenger side mirror. Then a couple months, the car wash "professional" managed to break off the rear hatchback garnish/handle when he cleaning the back. Next thing you know I hit a gutter/driveway and my undercover is bent. This car has been a headache.

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  Glad I Waited - 2008 Scion XB
  By gwoodjr - March 30 - 11:00 am

  I reviewed by driving and reading (Edmunds, of course) a lot of cars for over a year before deciding to test drive the xB. I was impressed immediately with the comfort, practicality, drivability, and value of the Scion. I wanted a car that I could haul stuff in, sleep in if necessary, and would look smart around town doing so. I quickly put a hitch on the end to enable the transport of two bicycles and can state you cannot tell two bicycles are mounted to the back end. The car has easy ingress and egress which makes my elderly mother happy. The sound system is great and how many value cars come with stock tinted windows? Totally cool. This is one quick, nimble, easy to drive car.

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  Awesome Car, with alot of Room and good MPG! - 2005 Scion XB
  By johnmolanii - March 22 - 8:07 pm

  Have a 2005 xB and im a easy driver. Get around 33 MPG city/highway mix. It doesnt have alot of Horsepower but it gets me from point a to point xB ;-)