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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Smart Design - 2006 Scion XB
  By Ed - March 30 - 2:13 pm

  This is my first new car. I did not like it until I drove it, but then I knew right away that it was the car that I had to have. Unless you plan on drag racing, the engine gets the job done. The interior design is brilliant. The head room is amazing and the leg room in the front and rear is more than most SUVs. The rear seats fold flat to make room for cargo. The sound system is fantastic with the iPod aux hook up. The automatic was sluggish so I went with the manual. I get between 33-37 mpg depending on how much highway driving is done on each tank, much better than EPA estimates. For the price and standard features, this car is a steal.

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  Reliable Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By DMWilks - March 28 - 2:20 am

  I bought my Scion back in June of 07. I have had NO problems with it. I disagree that the car handles bad in the rain. I live in florida where it rains a lot and I feel pretty safe when I drive it. It is a peppy little car when needed. There is a lot of room for rear passengers and I love the sleek looking silver accents . Great car for the money.

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  the right car for you - 2008 Scion TC
  By the best car for you - March 27 - 4:23 pm

  This car was my dream car. I now own one beautiful 2008 scion tc and I am proud of it. It has a ton of Nice features that come standard. This car was my first car and I am in high school at the age of 16.This little car is a fast little booger. When you are driving you dont hear the cars when you go past them. It is built on racing suspension and other race car stuff so it drives really smooth and comfortable. The gas mileage on this thing is awesome. My parents surprised me with it one day and I already wanted one so I was very happy. All my friends love it and my younger brothers want it. I am soon getting a spoiler and a Nice catback exhaust and an air intake system on it to make it More fast. Buy one

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  Love the new Design - 2011 Scion XB
  By Wags - March 26 - 6:30 pm

  Just received my XB after ordering it 3 months ago. I love it. I added the lower spring TRD 19" wheels and all the bells and whistles inside. So glad I got the stick adds so much fun to the driving aspect of the vehicle.

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  I love and miss my scion - 2007 Scion TC
  By Erin - March 24 - 1:03 pm

  I bought this car to replace my cavalier. I absolutely loved everything about it. It was cute, fun to drive, the layout inside the car was great. Very spacious. I owned it up until today (October 1, 2009). I was hit by an SUV going 55 mph on the passengers side, and smashed into a guardrail. The car was totaled, but the safety features on it really saved my life. I got out of the car with a few scratches and a busted lip from the airbag. So I will give all pluss safety wise. So any concerned parents for safety check it out. A beautiful good quality car, great sound system, spacious, and a great car to drive!

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  Great Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By tony - March 23 - 5:26 pm

  The Scion tC is a better Toyota Celica. I added leather seats and a quick shifter and its the best new car I ever had, over the Mazda RX-7, Celica GTS, and Camaro Z28.

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  Good, Safety features inc. - 2008 Scion XB
  By See Ya?? - March 23 - 3:23 pm

  Easy in and out. Power increase that was worth the 3-4 mpg difference. Easy to drve and to fall in love with. Center guages easy to view with out looking down and taking eyes off of road. This maks a different on long trips. Other seem to give me a headache now. Ride is just about right not too soft not too hard.

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  Chaz was beyond great - 2016 Scion TC
  By Zach Henry - March 23 - 5:23 am

  I came to Charles maund toyota to possibly lease or purchase a car. Not only did i leave with a car but left with a future salesman for my friends and family. You can bet i will be back as well as my family and all my friends. BUY from CHAZZZZZZ

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  GREAT CAR++++++ - 2005 Scion TC
  By Dave - March 22 - 3:20 pm

  You can see by my milage I drive a lot and love this car. I dont know how Edmunds.com only averaged 21.6 mpg in it, I drive hard and my worst tank was 26.5! I get 29-30 communting to work & 30-33 on trips. The only change that I would like to see would be to add a 6-speed, it needs another clog at freeway speeds.

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  This is the car you want - 2008 Scion XD
  By zzzdmd - March 20 - 1:53 am

  Looked @ xD, Fit, Yaris, Versa. For the money you cant beat xD. Went from Phx to Disney on one tank fully loaded with 5 people and luggage, no problem on hills, rained the whole way, at times by the bucket full, but xD stayed solid and true. Excellent interior design, clever dash, gets looks from other drivers. Will be using for work travel instead of my 2500 HD Duramax diesel, my gas savings will equal my new xD payment!