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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 d1webmaster - July 26 - 10:36 am

  I purchased my Scion xA a month ago and I love it! It gets great gas mileage and is really nice for the that I price paid. I am very happy with it so far.

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  WOW! What fun!!! - 2009 Scion XB
  By momsxb - July 24 - 3:30 pm

  Talk about one fun little ride!! This car feels more like an SUV. I love the style and room that this little jewel has. You can not go wrong with the price or the gas mileage. I traded in my 4 door toyota yaris and so glad I did! The yaris is great for the money but has nothing to offer as extras like this great ride. The yaris had no power windows, locks or keyless entry and not to mention the cheap carpet in it. I bought a black 5 speed manual and had the dealership put a hot pink stripe on the side. I am a 38 year old mother of 2 teenagers who also love my car. Cant wait to add the hot pink wheels for the final touch. I am still young at heart and this car makes me feel it!

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  My Toasty is the Best! - 2006 Scion XB
  By mimilou - July 24 - 4:33 am

  Ive had my Toasty for a week now, but have wanted her for a year. I test drove Scions (as well as other vehicles) and researched them extensively. I LOVE driving her. Shes Salsa Red Pearl. The gas mileage is unbelievable and the room she has is awesome as well. I love how these cars come equipped with really cool standard features that you have to pay extra for on other vehicles. She is so much fun to drive and I love how other Scion xB drivers always wave to me. I wanted to get the Yakima racks as an option but the dealer told me the racks had to be port-installed. I installed them myself and it was a bit tricky but I recommend it for the savings vs. financing them with Scion.

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  Fun, Sporty Scion - 2006 Scion TC
  By Larry - July 21 - 4:46 pm

  The Scion tC is a quick car after a 3,000 mile break in point for the cluch, the VVT-i engine allows you power right whan you need it. The sporty design is fun to drive and definitely will turn some heads of freinds and strangers alike. With the nearly unlimited accesories you can get for your Scion, its nothing short of a automotve masterpiece!

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  Solid as a rock... - 2008 Scion XB
  By kenwid1988 - July 21 - 7:12 am

  My mother bought the Scion XB brand new in Nov. 2007. It was a random choice I admit. She wanted me to test drive it before she bought it. I thought it would be sluggish, BOY WAS I WRONG! This car has pep in its step. Drives better than a V6, I think. 99% of new cars nowadays feels like a temporary car. The quality of the XB feels like 10+ years of ownership. The drive and flow feel tight and sturdy. People giving it crap for its drive needs to STHU. This car is under $20K, what do you expect? Interior room is shockingly roomy. I dont like all the crap my mom put on it. I would have liked it as the base model.

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  Fun, reliable and cheap - 2008 Scion XB
  By Paul - July 20 - 2:06 am

  Bought new and now have 50,000 miles. Have not had a single problem. Does not burn any oil. Ive used synthetic since 5K. Does well in snow. AC works well and iPod hookup is nice. Lots of room is nice. I knew I would be putting a lot of miles on this car and I wanted something practical that would deliver with no hassles, thats just what the XB does.

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  I LOVE This BOX! - 2006 Scion XB
  By FoxNBox - July 19 - 6:20 pm

  I wanted a car with more space for hauling and something that would get good gas mileage too. My Scion xB has exceeded all my dreams. My car is getting 35 mpg in the city! It is fun to drive; it handles great, and its visibility is amazing. Its litte on the outside (a dream to park!) and huge on the inside. I dont know how they do it but glad they did. I had a sunroof installed and love it, with the satelite XM radio, or my iPod playing through the speakers, sunroof open...it just doesnt get any better! Also, this car is SO easy to get in and out of. Senior passengers LOVE it! If you want a fun, zippy, roomy, inexpensive car for running around, I highly recommend it! I love this car. :-)

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  Fun little Car :) - 2006 Scion TC
  By Lyn - July 18 - 10:43 pm

  I think this is a fun sporty little car for the price. Im pleased with it! :)

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  scion tc 2005 - 2005 Scion TC
  By tonyamorrow - July 18 - 8:40 pm

  I love my little car it is good on gas and it is sharp. People always stopping me wanting to know what kind of car is it. It has been very reliable

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  For Its Class, Its the Best - 2007 Scion TC
  By sepx86 - July 17 - 5:36 pm

  Well, I waited for three month before I wrote this review. I wanted to buy either a Civic, Corolla S, Mazda3, or a Scion tC. The Civic and Corolla give you good gas mileage but the they are no fun. Both Mazda3 and Scion tC are very fun to drive. I drove both of them with manual transmissions. The Scion tC is better for couple of reason. First its a Toyota, which equals reliability. The Mazda is a European car, and at the end parts are more expensive. Second, the Scion just looks so much better. Just tint the windows. Overall I would highly recommend the Scion tC.