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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  What A Great Car - 2009 Scion XD
  By NC Rob - January 25 - 10:43 am

  It is fun to drive, gets great gas mileage (43 mpg, first fill up) and hauls my wife, two labs and groceries with no problems. Salesperson was wonderful - no surprises and all the tech info I needed. I would recommend this car and dealer to anyone wishing for max value and pleasant, safe and fun driving.

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  Still Having Fun - 2005 Scion XB
  By Big Ty - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I am having a good time. I have 2 Land Rovers and this car is gets all of the attention from me. Its different and I can go places without worrying about gas and it turns heads. I love it!

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By LostInDigital - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for 3 days. I love everything about it. Its fun to drivel great low end power; nice interior; great stock wheels; good stock sound. For the price it is the best deal out there right now. HAVE FUN!

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  Driven - 2005 Scion TC
  By CTimersq7 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is great to drive, first week I had it drove form St. Louis to pensacola, awesome ride. Cosiderable change from a truck, totally worth it.

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  Awesome first car!! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Ryan - January 23 - 7:13 pm

  My dad got the xB back in May 2007 with the spoiler and fog lights, and was his main car. A few months after, we put the TRD exhaust, racing springs, and front strut bar on, along with ASA rims and interior lights. In December 2007 I got my license, the xB, and a TRD cold air intake to go with it. Now, the handling, acceleration, sound - everything is amazing. I just cant help hitting the gas a bit to show off. The CAI sounds amazing under load. My iPod is hooked up 24/7, and I always have it playing whenever Im in the car. Sound quality of the base stereo is great, and the bass is great, but I am looking to get a subwoofer. Im also looking to add headers to the performance collection.

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  Awesome little box! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Thomas - January 23 - 10:13 am

  This is a great little car. Not only is it fun to drive (I have the 5 speed manual) but I get looks everywhere I go. And its so big inside! Tons of room! I only have 675 miles on it so far, but have averaged 27.5 miles per gallon in mixed city/hwy driving, which is a far cry from the 10-12 MPG I was getting in my F150. Build quality is better than Ive seen in other cars in its price range, and I looked at a lot before I drove this one. If youre looking for a lower priced, gas sipping, fun to drive car, you should really check out the Scion xB. Youll love it!

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  Best in Small Car Its Class - 2006 Scion TC
  By O - January 21 - 11:56 pm

  Before I bought the \tC I researched and test drove the Civic, RSX, and Eclipse. The tC offers the most interior room and most back seat comfort by far. It doesnÂ’t handle at all like a sports car, but the ride is smooth, its acceleration is peppy and its handling is accurate. I bought the iPod compatible radio which is fun, but the sound quality is greatly lacking. The seats are very comfortable for a small person and so far it has handled quite nicely in the snow!

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  Im Lovin It! - 2004 Scion XB
  By xbman - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This thing is great. Have only gotten around 31 mpg so far, but is still very new (950 miles). Very tight and controlled handling, and fairly quick (i only driven the 5 spd manual). Is actually quickier than my 03 Mit Eclipse Spyder GS. Comfortable seats, however, they only adjust forward and back, and of course the back reclines all the way. No height adjustments or lumbar support though. Ergonomics are great (including the center odometer), and storage is awesome. Plenty of nucks and crannys to store all kinds of stuff in. Not to mention great hauling capability to store your big stuff. Whether in the market for a compact-midsize car or small suv/van, this is something to consider.

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  This is a good, fun ride - 2005 Scion XB
  By OkThat - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I got rid of my minivan for the Scion and so far have been pleased. Its a good tall persons car (Im 6-7) and I have 3 inches of headroom clearance. The feel is like sitting in a chair, although i do want an aftermarket armrest. I miss map lights and doors that lock at speed, but the car is packed with about $2,000 worth of options. Cold Air inductions gives more hp and a bit better gas mileage. It handles highway acceleration well for a 4-cylinder. All in all, a fun car. Im looking forward to seeing how it handles winter.

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  little brother of lexus - 2005 Scion TC
  By golflover - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a wonderful car. It has exceeded all of my expectations. I have driven alot of cars and this is definitely the most fun car I have ever driven. Plenty of zip and great handling.