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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  A little disappointed - 2005 Scion TC
  By Carey - January 8 - 5:43 am

  Not sure if its because I had such high expectations after waiting almost 3 MONTHS to actually get the car, but now that I have it, Im not as impressed with it as I feel I should be. I do love the car, but am bummed at the lousy gas mileage (my V6 Mustang got better gas mileage than the tC) and the teeny tiny trunk. The ride is really loud, but maybe its because of the low profile tires. But then again, for $19K out the door, you cant expect it to ride like a Lexus. It is a fun car to drive and the interior is huge. My 64" BF fits comfortably in the front seats.

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  Love my car - 2007 Scion TC
  By nestars - January 7 - 10:20 pm

  I bought my car for myself for my 18th birthday and I love it. I was debating between the tC and the Civic but once I was in the tC I knew I had to have it. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel and the whole design of the car. I have to agree with some reviews here that say it is a little hard to stay under the speed limit with this car =). I have had a few tires issues with this car. Had to replace 2 in about 2 years but overall i am extremely pleased with this car

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  A fun and practical car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Robert Strckland - January 7 - 8:56 pm

  Ive had my 2008, manual, Hypnotic Teal xB for about a week and have already put 700 miles on it. Its a real pleasure to drive and has lots of features and options that would normally be found in a much more expensive car. For a relatively small car it feels huge inside and is very comfortable. I highly recommend upgrading the stock stereo to the Scion navigation system. Its a much better sounding stereo and a great nav system all in one. Im averaging 27.5 mpg at the moment with mostly highway driving. I did a lot of research on the xB, Honda Element, Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber and the xB stood out as the clear winner. I couldnt be more pleased with my choice.

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  SWEET! - 2004 Scion xA
  By Renee - January 7 - 5:56 pm

  Have had the car for just over a month. Was my birthday prize from my husband. My 18 year old son loves it, although he can not drive it as it is MINE! It is a great get around the city and to work car. I have back problems and the seating is great for me to get in and out of.

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  good buy - 2004 Scion xA
  By casino - January 6 - 10:00 am

  its a good buy and turns heads as well

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  Toyota quality slipping - 2004 Scion XB
  By Steven41 - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Scion Xb about three weeks ago and for the most part its a good car/wagon/whatever. It has tonsof room inside yet it is so small on the outside. The 6-disc stereo is far better than the BOSE stereo in my Audi A4. The bad --rear bumper is already loose and looks like its coming off. Rubber trim coming off, rattles in dash. Rotten MPG

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  Amazing Car For the Money - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By rudycassap - January 4 - 6:31 am

  Lucky for us, Toyota put this under the Scion brand so dealers cannot mark it up. I live in the Los Angeles area and cars still disappear from some dealers lots in a matter of a day or two. I did accept the fact that the dealer installed Lojack. Got mine in Asphalt Black (dark grey metallic, really) with the rear wing and TRD exhaust installed from the factory. I had test driven a car with the stock exhaust. While the TRD exhaust has a beautiful note, it makes it difficult to have a conversation with a passenger. Still, I would take the exhaust over stock. Seats are supportive and instrument gauges are perfect (very much like Porsche). Car reminds me of a Lotus - light, small, minimalist.

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  I love my Xd:) - 2008 Scion XD
  By sayu - January 2 - 8:43 pm

  I wanted to get a car that is good on miles, reliable (I was only looking for a Japanese car), and safe. Ive researched so many cars for a few months and it was b/w Civic or Xd. I decided to buy Xd bc of its long list of standard options for this price, and was pretty much in love when I test drove one- it zips very well, inside is roomy, and I actually like its cute looks! Ive only put 200 miles on, and still have a half gas tank! I got close to 42 miles on highway, and Im getting about 31.5 miles in a city drive, with A/C on most of the time(the weakest level though). Ill get 18 inch wheels that makes the car look a lot better. I would buy one again, I love it!

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  A great buy , im so happy - 2005 Scion TC
  By Kelly - January 1 - 3:30 am

  I got my TC as a birthday gift for myself. This auto is so comfortable, so unique. I get looks everywhere I go. The best feature is the sunroof an the awesome steering & control it has.

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  Average Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By CuRiOuSfIsH - January 1 - 2:26 am

  I have had this car for four months. The car is a looker and thats where it ends. It doesnt perform much better than the average car, doesnt handle well, doesnt get good gas mileage, its paint is too thin, and its build quality and materials are not good. If youre looking for performance or practicality, look elsewhere. If you want a lot of features/toys, fairly cheap, reliable, and a nice looking commuter car, this is for you. The tC can be made to be fast but that would cost too much. My last car was an 02 Civic. I was happier with that. As an unhappy buyer said, if your last vehicle was an SUV or van, this may feel like a sports car but its far from it. No matter how they market this car, its just an average car