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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Sweetest Ride - 2008 Scion XB
  By infiniteparadox - December 17 - 2:23 pm

  This is my first car at 17 almost 18. Honestly I could not be happier with this ride. I decided to go with the aqua green color (Hypnotic Teal Mica) and this color/car is definitely a head turner. In fact when I was driving, my neighbors literally couldnt believe I was driving in this hip car. So after driving the car for about a good 1/2 hour this is what I have to say about it. The car on the outside doesnt look that big but on the inside there is a lot of interior. The thing I like the most about it is just how easy it is to get out and in. Plus the seats are the most comfortable Ive ever been in. Feels like they were custom made just for me. The car has a quiet interior, very smooth.

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  The Best Car You Will Ever Own - 2007 Scion TC
  By Hayabusa4u - December 14 - 4:20 pm

  This is truly the best car I have ever owned. The fit and finish are awesome. This car is very fast for a 4-cylinder. Finally, I dont have to floor the pedal to keep up a hill. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants a sports car that gets great gas mileage.

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  Some good, some bad - 2008 Scion XB
  By woodywrkng - December 13 - 4:15 pm

  I bought my 2008 XB used, with 26k miles at around 25 months old. Its a 5-speed model, and was at a dealership for a very nice price, perhaps because most people dont drive cars with manuals these days. Most of these Scions are holding their value very well, so it was hard to pass this one up. Im a 50 year old guy, whos now more interested in a roomy, economical, and reliable car, than one which I hope will impress people. Ive owned it for over one year now, and have some good impressions, and some not so good. Driving experience: The car handles and brakes surprisingly well. The suspension is very simple and should prove rugged and reliable. The steering ratio is quick, the turning radius short, and the suspension quite firm without being harsh. The driving position however seems at odds with the handling prowess of the car. From the drivers seat, it just doesnt feel particularly sporty. There are minimal seat adjustments, decent but not well bolstered seats, and a rather high mounted shift lever, with the end result just feeling a bit awkward if you try to drive in too agressive of a manner. While the seats are indeed better than most I found in this price/class of vehicle, it would be nice for a lumbar control or lower seat angle adjustment. The drivers seat will raise and lower, but its pivoted at the front, thus when raised you tip forward. On the highway its surprisingly quiet and composed for an econocar. One odd problem Ive found is when wearing my size 11 work boots, my left toe rubs on the clutch pedal lever unless I pull my leg back un-naturally, while my right foot can just barely fit between the brake pedal and the center housing to reach the gas pedal. There simply isnt much room under there for an average work boot. My normal shoes dont experience this problem. Theres a sizable right rear blind spot, which makes it a crap shoot backing out of an angled parking space, as well as large side view mirrors which obstruct your view to the side. If you tend to drive in nice weather with the window down and your arm hanging out, you may want to begin looking for a decent physical therapist since the window opening is quite high and youll eventually tear your rotator cuff. Winter driving: The standard tires are round, and thats about it. The traction control works very well, asuming its working (more later) and its needed, due to the lame tread pattern of the Bridgestone tires, and very low ground clearance of the car. Many people lower these cars, which should make them a real adventure when encountering a pothole. Speaking of tires, the spacesaver spare is mounted on a wheel, the color of which should be called puke yellow. I reckon thats so you wont be tempted to leave it on for long. Theres no discrete vent always aimed at the drivers side window to keep the side view mirror visible on frosty days, so youll need to aim your dash vent in that direction. The passenger side has a separate vent. Perhaps its the small wheel wells, but ice tends to form in the front wheel wells and rub on the tires, more than in most cars. Engine: Impressive low rpm punch, acceleration, snort, whatever you want to call it. This thing just plain scoots if you want it to. I do my own repairs, and the normal maintenance items are easy to find under the hood, with the parts that will eventually fail (alternator, water pump, A/C compressor) easy to see and reach. There is some chatter on a Scion forum about leaking water pumps, and mine isnt visibly leaking yet, although there is a pink stripe directly above the pump on the underside of the hood. Gas mileage-wise, I get 23-26 in city winter driving, in the cold state of Iowa, which I feel is fine since my daily commute is only a few miles each way. In warm weather the number rises to 25-28 in town, and up to 35 on a mixture of 55 and 65 mph roads. These figures are when the car is carefully driven however. Transmission: A smooth but long throw hydraulic clutch, widely spaced gear ratios, and a high mounted shifter without a reverse lock result in a car that doesnt ask to be driven aggressively. It took me a few weeks of driving to make nice smooth shifts. People do praise the automatic transmission, but I never drove one. 65 mph occurs at 2700 rpm, which is fairly normal for a car like this, although I do feel the car has the power to be geared higher. Interior: I like the blank dash in front of my face when looking straight down the road. Having the instruments slightly to the right gives you an un-cluttered view of where youre going, which is a good thing. A few of the oddities are slightly annoying however. The only clock is part of the trip computer, which has 8 functions. You can only view one at a time, so if youre watching the gas mileage, you dont see the clock. If you could choose which function to view from the steering wheel there would be no problem, but you cant. The standard radio is actually closer to the passenger than the driver, which is a bit odd, and the climate controls temperature knob is behind the shifter knob when in odd numbered gears. Speaking of the standard Pioneer stereo system, its impressive. Im an audio nut from long ago, and can honestly say that unless youre a kid wishing to annoy entire neighborhoods with hip-hop, you wont be upset with the sound quality, assuming you learn how to use the various features of the stereo. Most factory stereos in a car of this price are fairly basic, but this one is a nice surprise. Well done Scion. The interior feels cavernous, with easy access (meeting the approval of my 89 year old Mom), backseat legroom like a limo, and enough hard surfaces to create echos. The center console is a few inches too low to be of any use as an armrest, but its storage area is deep enough to hold CDs. The drivers seat has a fold down arm rest, that gets in the way of the seat belt when up, so thats a minor annoyance. Theres a storage area under the rear seats, which is a fine idea, except that whatever you put under there tends to slide around a lot on the hard plastic. I recently loaded a standard sized kitchen range into the rear and closed the hatch, so there is indeed lots of useful space. Exterior: Yeah, its odd looking, so what? It would be nice to have a key lock for the rear hatch, just in case. The only keyhole on the outside of the car is for the drivers door. The roof is the longest, flattest expanse seen since the early 70s full sized station wagons, which is a good thing since I use an aftermarket roof rack for a canoe or kayak, and the further apart the bars are, the better. The paint seems to be very thin and dainty. Its just too easy to scratch, so youll be needing a container of touch-up paint, which judging from the price at the Scion dealer, contains precious metals and diamonds. Problems: Being the first year for this model, there are indeed some bugs. Some quite serious and pricy, if they occur after the warranty expires. In my case, my anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control are now kaput due to a known problem with a rear wheel speed sensor, and being two months out of warranty, Im looking at a 700 - 900 dollar repair. And thats only for one of the sensors. Double that number when the other one fails. It seems as though they arent waterproof. Scion knows about the problem, theres a TSB on it, but chooses not to issue a recall or an extended warranty on this issue. Since it concerns most of the safety functions of the car, I find that disturbing. There are also issues with the water pump, electric power steering, windshield cracking, and an assortment of creaks and groans to name a few. Overall, Im basically pleased with the car, but disturbed by the reliabilty concerns. It reminds me of the Ford Fiestas from the late 70s, on a larger scale, but without the simplicity and reliability.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Lewiston Rob - December 13 - 10:00 am

  I saw it one night after work and was into the dealership before work the next morning, drove it just six blocks and bought it!

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  I Love My tC - 2007 Scion TC
  By quickchix - December 12 - 2:53 pm

  I have had my Scion for a little over a year! I love this car. I was in love with it from the first time I saw a tC! Especially the tC With all the upgrades! It has great power for the import class. This is my first 5-speed and it is so smooth and easy to learn. It handles great and the 5-speed is a BLAST to drive The interior is HUGE for a car this small. It has plenty of room for four adults. With all the standard options plus all the add ons the car is still affordable and is backed by Toyotas reliability. It doesnt get any better than that! If I had to buy another car iI would most definitely buy this car all over again! I fall in love with it every time i drive it!

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  The affordable MINI - 2005 Scion xA
  By pharaoh13 - December 11 - 11:43 am

  I absolutely love this car! Im in the process of getting the cold air intake to beef up the slightly underpowered HP. This thing handles like a sports car and I crave for turns at high speed. The xA begs to be thrown into turns and driven though heavy traffic due to its small demeanor. I would have bought two if I had enough money, just so I wouldnt have to drive a loaner in the rare event that it would have to be in the shop. Test drive this car and you will not look at anything else thats in its class. Theres no point!

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  best car for humans - 2005 Scion XB
  By Kryten - December 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is wonderfully thought out in design. It is made with the human being in mind. Armrests are where they are supposed to be, windshield is larger.The roof supports have been removed from the vision are. If you are handicapped in anyway, it is simply marvelous. The seats are at just the right height and the doors open wide. The head room is phenomenal, making the car feel roomy and non-confining.

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  bought my xb for economy, love it!!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By gregdj - December 7 - 10:00 am

  bought my xb in 02-04...i drive at least 150 miles per day, 6 days a week...i am a working dj, and people are amazed when they see my set up and then see the car i bring it in...roomy, fun, but could use an armrest! cruise control would be nice as well, but you make do without it...the money i save on gas each month makes my car payment, as i used to drive a full size dodge club cab...will buy another!

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  Amazing luxury car! - 2005 Scion TC
  By morimori - December 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is so phenomenal, I dont know where to start. It has just as many, if not more gadgets than cars twice the price. My parents have a Lexus SUV, and got upset when I topped the features of their car. The ride is incredible, the stereo system sounds terrific with great base, the interior is comfortable, and the best thing: it takes off like a rocket to where I left a Mitsubishi 3000 behind in the dust (not that Im into racing), but if power is needed..its there! It also has Toyota quality with a great warranty. For up to $30,000, I truly believe that you cant do better when everything is considered. It really is the best kept secret!

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  Good honest car - 2005 Scion XB
  By joe - December 5 - 8:06 am

  The Scion xB provides the best value, utility, and reliability expectations in this price range. Plus is has a good expected trade in value and low maintenance expenses. It has a good ride, the noise level is acceptable, cargo space is amazing, and its finish quality good - havent found anything disappointing yet. i have been [leased with my dealerships professionalism, and found the car to be sound and secure feeling. Its boxy design, with vertical sides, give ample shoulder room for three people in the back seat, but the vertical widshield catches a lot of bugs! It needs a good deflector.