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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  2005 SCION XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By 05XBINSC - March 21 - 11:46 pm

  I bought my XB new in 2005 because I got tired of working on my previous car a Ford/Mazda Probe GT. Big change in terms of power and handling but I adjusted fairly easy. I find myself driving the XB HARD so I cant really complain about 28MPG, that being said, after 58K miles I have had not one single mechanical problem! I had a small chip in the windshield in the first month, used a "repair kit" and did not have to replace that until Jan of 2009. Getting ready to replace my 2nd set of tires. Lots of interior room, poor interior lighting, good seating position, good (not great) stereo. Buzzy on the highway, could use an extra gear, or "taller" 5th. Great value for the money! Paid 13,750.

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  Scion owner and fan - 2004 Scion XB
  By bea golden - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The drive is smooth and with very little outside noise. Price is reasonable and we loved the uniqueness of the car. Gas mileage is good, averages 23 miles per gallon combined city and highway.The seating is comfortable and we loved the placement of the gauges. The leg room and the head room is great for anyone.I have never owned a car that got as much attention as this has. I am repeatedly being stopped and asked what kind of car I have,who makes it,and most of the time they are leaning in to get a better look.

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  Nice little car - 2007 Scion TC
  By msfirefly36 - March 17 - 3:06 am

  Turns around curves good. Zippy.. holds its own, passes well. Black cherry color has got many compliments. Its an all around good car for going to/from work. I wouldnt drive it in the deep snow. On long trips the seats killed my back. Not much room inside for toting alot of luggage on a long trip - else all good. After 57K no problems with the mechanical. 30mpg highway

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  One week and counting... - 2010 Scion XB
  By MikeP - March 8 - 1:43 pm

  Ive had the "sizzling crimson mica" (fine, its purplish-brown) for about a week now. Almost 400 miles on it so far (long commute). MPG is, to date, about 27 with a mix of 75% hw, 25% stop & go so Im a happy camper, based on expectations going into it. Prior to purchasing, I considered and test drove a number of others in the same gen. $ range: Soul, Fit, Versa, Cube. Very tempted by the Cube but the xB simply felt more stable (and slightly less noisy) on the highway and the cargo capacity is great. The comfort of the car is very good, relatively speaking (keeping in mind youre not paying for a luxury car). Exterior is..well, its an xB so folks tend to love em or hate em.

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  Good Little Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Joanne Griffin - February 26 - 5:36 pm

  I had a 2005 Scion XB and loved it but it was a little slower than I liked. So I traded it in for the 2008 Scion with the new body style. Love the car. She has enough power to get out of the way of fast approaching vehicles that dont want to let you merge into traffic.

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  Wheeeeeee! - 2006 Scion XB
  By sk8teacher - February 21 - 4:54 am

  Bought my xB a year ago with 28K miles on it. Pure stock with automatic. Driving around the Northern VA/DC area averaging 32-33mpg, max mpg was a trip between NVA and Williamsburg - 38mpg. Ride is OK for a small car, handling fantastic. Keep the RPMs around 3K and your mpg will be great (that will give you 70mph on the highway). I call it my mini-truck. Hauls a LOT of stuff. I plan on running until it dies! Maintenance costs are a bit stiff if you follow the book and go to the dealer, but overall a fantastic little car.

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  Geat Car - 2005 Scion XB
  By fifelo - February 18 - 9:16 pm

  I couldnt be more pleased with my car, it was most everything I was looking for. Im 66", and this car had the leg room and head room I was looking for, the low cost, good gas mileage, extended warrenty, and that "turns heads" factor that Ive come to enjoy. I was looking for a simple comfortable car that I could drive for many years and still haul some friends around in, and this car fits the bill perfectly. Ive had the car a short while, but Im betting on toyotas typical high quality and low frequency of repairs. As long as this car doesnt break down often I will be very pleased for years to come.

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  Great, Except for Minor Things - 2005 Scion TC
  By Desertdweller - February 12 - 12:56 pm

  We were the first Scion tC owners in our area, buying the first one to hit the local dealership. Our tC now has 45,000 miles on it with no engine problems. It has been a blast to drive. There is plenty of room in front, and the engine is peppy, though a turbo would be extra cool. I drive through a tight hair-pin down-hill grade every morning to work. I have noticed that the tC handles nicely and I frequently pass more expensive sports cars with ease. Id say the tC is a great deal for the money. Our only complaint is the paint does not hold up at all! There are chips and door-dings everywhere. The front bumper and head light domes are riddled with a permanent sandblast from driving in the desert.

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  2008 scion tc - 2008 Scion TC
  By cocacolagrl - February 10 - 7:10 am

  The 2008 scion tc is a great car. I have owned it since January 2011 and i bought it with 19000 miles. now almost a year later it has over 30,000. I love to drive it. I bought this car after owning a 1992 toyota camry for 5 years, so this was quite an upgrade for me. It has only been in the dealership for oil changes and a battery change. The only person who doesnt seem to like it is my father. He is tall and he cant really get very comfortable in the front seat. my scion is the azure pearl color which turns alot of heads. its not as sporty looking as some other cars but its good enough for me! the only thing i dont like is the paint is very prone to chipping..

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  Nice - 2011 Scion XB
  By Ih8reno - January 29 - 2:00 am

  had to return my last car and was checking for 1 month every dealership i could think of. ended up at Toyota and test drove the Matrix. Came close to signing but saw the Xb close by and had to try it. i loved it, and a week later am driving it. Nice looks, fully loaded, and smooth to drive.