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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  No One Knew - 2004 Scion XB
  By SCION - December 30 - 3:06 pm

  Whwn we bought our Scion xB in 2003, most people had not even heard of a Scion. We took a trip cross country in our "Little Baby Boots," we had the best drive. It is great on gas and confort, and easy for my handicaped wife to get in and out of. We could not have asked for any better car. The funny thing was, the further East we got the less people knew what a Scion was, even a Highway Patrol officer pulled us over to ask what it was, so not only did we have a great ride, we had a lot of fun.

• 

  It is a Very Good Deal - 2005 Scion xA
  By JS - December 30 - 6:03 am

  This is an excellent economy car. Has good mileage and handles well. It has decent accelaration and a cool sound system. It is a great commuter car, especially in California where gas is $2+ a gallon. Its great forfor stop and go traffic. Where can you find a car for $13,000 that gives you ABS, AC, power windows, and doors. It has a Pioneer stereo system with 160w speakers. The Scion Xa has it all! Did I mention a Toyota VVTI engine and RELIABILITY!!

• 

  Best Buy Under $20,000 - 2004 Scion XB
  By paulpalmsprings - December 29 - 10:00 am

  I have 1000 miles on the car. 31 MPG average. Very quiet for a small vehicle. For its size, it holds a lot of stuff. Mountain bikes, telescopes, friends. This is one fun car to drive and own. I looked at minivans. Looked at trucks....Boring! xB is the answer to a boring car world.

• 

  2008 Scion xB 5-speed - 2008 Scion XB
  By nots4u2001 - December 27 - 12:33 pm

  The car has really good suspension, I normally drive the mountain rode everyday and handles really well. The car is a really great car for the price as well the reliability of Toyota. I thought the car would lack power but I found myself beating everyone off the line.

• 

  Lovin my XB - 2009 Scion XB
  By shelster - December 27 - 10:36 am

  My XB is comfortable to drive. I love the easy access getting in. I love the roominess. It feels like your in a larger SUV. Its easy to park, turn and it looks great. I had it lowered. I get compliments on it daily.

• 

  Kermies Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Kathleen - December 24 - 10:10 am

  My Scion xB handles well and is not affected by the wind, which is surprising in a car shaped like a box. I am getting 32 mpg city/highway combined. It is easy to drive and its seats are very comfortable and back supportive. My sons are all 6 feet tall or taller and they can sit in the back seat with ample leg room. This car is fun to drive. I have the Special Edition which is Kermit green so I get lots of looks, double takes, and waves from other xB drivers. I also get a lot of "what kind of car is that anyway?" It has plenty of cargo room, we hauled two weeks worth of supplies, two adults, and a dog to the cottage we rent every summer. It is a decent car for well under $20,000.

• 

  On the roads of California - 2008 Scion XD
  By ACV - December 22 - 3:06 pm

  A bit noisy when driving past 50 MPH but otherwise a perfect car with lots of great features like a perfect sound system and the abs and airbags throughout features.

• 

  The Little Car that is Often Overlooked - 2006 Scion xA
  By bryan - December 19 - 4:56 am

  I absolutly love the Scion xA. It runs a bit rich from the factory so changing to iridium spark plugs and a performance filter will increase fuel mileage to over the EPA rating. This car has kyb shocks and will carve a curvy road like a knife with the TRD upgrade springs. The interior takes a bit to get used to but once you do you find it extremely convient. This is the finest Japanese engineering I have seen in along time. The engine internals are forged including cast iron sleeved cylinders. I find the automatic to be more fun then the manual, we have one of each. The automatic has more top end and goes through the gears better giving you better gas mileage. I cannot think of a better car to recommend.

• 

  No More Chevys - 2006 Scion xA
  By SCION ROCKS!!!! - December 19 - 1:16 am

  The wife and I just got OUR 2006 Scion aX for me to drive at work. This car is THE BEST! I have been a hardcore Chevy man all of my life UNTIL I drove this car! Ours has cruise control, an arm rest, he red LED Package, upgraded Pioneer stereo, floor mat pkg., keyless doors, and a factory alarm. It is the BEAUTIFUL Salsa Red Pearl color. I average about 42 to 45 MPG! I would suggest getting the options that we ordered to really complete YOUR Scion xA. These options make it even more fun to drive. It has good power, awesome gas mileage, and the options are sweet! We highly recommend the scion xA to anybody!

• 

  Gotta Love the Box! - 2006 Scion XB
  By cogerwd - December 18 - 9:30 pm

  Were an active couple in our 50s and were looking for a spacious, gas conserving car that could also carry our kayaks and bikes. We love the Scion xB. We should have the Kayak rack put on this week. Our bikes just do make it inside if their front wheels are removed. We are considering mounting them on-top. Its responsive, and to me has plenty of power. I ordered through the dealership and it took 70 days for my car to arrive. I got the 2006 polar-white, 5-speed with armrest and cruise-control. That was it. The total cost was just under $16,000. The reviews on this site are right on the money to me when describing this car. I read them before I test drove and purchased. I only have 200 miles on mine so far but I am extremely happy.