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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My first purchase - 2006 Scion TC
  By Anthony - October 29 - 1:03 am

  Ive driven a 98 Corolla for the past 7 years and the occasional Camry drive, so it was difficult to push me out of the Toyota family. When I went to buy a new car I narrowed it down to the under $22,000 range because I didnt want to spend THAT MUCH on a car, though I probably can easily. I ended up test driving the 06 Impreza, and this car and it was quite easy. The Civic was another option and a relative had recently bought one so I got to play with that a bit. But it was really easy to decide. The tC has way more features, the looks, and the Toyota Camry reliability in it for the same price.

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  Great if Youre Under 56" - 2006 Scion xA
  By Duley - October 27 - 3:50 pm

  I drove my wifes car - 2,000 miles in seven days. Im 61"at 200 lbs. The car sipped gas, saving $180 in fuel over my car. It is very nimble at cruising speeds. I expected a buzzy engine, wind noise and stiff suspension from a small car and I wasnt disappointed. Luckily, the stereo worked perfectly and for the price it performed great, climbing hills at 75 in 4th. The AC handled 100+ temps with no problems.

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  xB is FUNctional! - 2004 Scion XB
  By Debralynn - October 26 - 4:30 pm

  I fell for the xB at first sight. I needed a reliable car for a long commute, am as happy as can be with my little black box today as I was the day I drove it off the lot. Its FUNky, its FUNctional, its just plain FUN.

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  Great Value / Fun to Drive / Minor Flaws - 2005 Scion TC
  By shifter - October 26 - 10:00 am

  The tC is really fun to drive. I bought it based on the Low Price & Toyotas Quality. It has plenty of power & the handling is excellent. I found myself wanting a 6th gear since it tachs 3K at 65. Also, 1st gear is very short causing you to shift almost immediately to 2nd & overall itÂ’s hard to shift the tC smoothly, but it does have very good acceleration. The tCs exterior is a piece of art & I wouldnt change a thing. The interior layout is great, the gauges are easy to read, & the seats are very comfortable with plenty of adjustments for the driver. The arm rest could be a little longer and ditto about the flimsy radio cover. A great car for $16,500!

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  A PERFECT 1st CAR!!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Ex_CIVIC_Dryver - October 26 - 10:00 am

  Toyota has finally come up with a contender that will be competetive with Civic and RSX in the performance crowd. This car is LOADED! Dont blow your dough on a blandly designed Civic EX, where you have to spend a ton for the same options that come standard on this Scion tC. The RSX meanwhile, due to its semi-luxury assumptions, automatically starts at $20K, and rises from there. For around $17K, ($19K TOTALLY equipped), the Scion tC delivers a host of refined standard features. The only practical options I implemented were side impact airbags ($600) and larger wheels.

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  Go speed racer - 2006 Scion XB
  By Frighteningly good - October 25 - 9:00 am

  My Scion xB is silver with a stick. It is a very slow car, but its so sweet. I cant stand myself. Its love. I have the blue light in the footwells, and the armrest which is essential. This is a very dark car on the inside, so get a light. Im getting 32 MPG combined. Again, this car is extremely slow. The back phony lowrider tail section is falling off because I cracked it on a curb. You need to be careful. Buy this car immediately. It doesnt get any better. The dealer will have nothing to do with haggling. Get them on the interest rate of the loan you will pay. They will go into the other room, their face will turn red, and theyll make the deal - sort of. Good luck, and happy driving.

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  Ugly but GREAT - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mark - October 21 - 9:56 pm

  Ok, the 2006 xb is ugly but because of that design the interior space is amazing! My wife averages 31 mpg in daily commuter driving including stop-and-go traffic. The interior feels cheap and the ride is stiff. You sit very high for a small car which improves visibility. Not much power from the 1.5 liter engine but who cares with that gas mileage. Very cheap to purchase new, only costing $15,000 with the optional cruise and armrest. The rear liftgate is the entire height of the car so its a bit awkward to open. The cruise control is awful to use as it drops 3 to 5 mpg before engaging, but once it does it works fine. This is the best car for the money and thats why the resale is so high

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  No better bang for the buck - 2005 Scion TC
  By Michael - October 21 - 7:23 am

  I looked at just about every small sporty car under $20k and chose the tC. Panoramic moonroof, good stock stereo(!), knee airbag, ABS, power windows/locks and alloys all standard - plus good looks, and a tested engine (same used in the Camry) add up to an amazing deal. More than enough power to pass on the freeway, and gets lots of stares as I pass.

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  Perfect for a Big Person - 2006 Scion XB
  By Robster - October 21 - 4:50 am

  I just purchased the 2006 xB today and I love it! I am a large man at 64" and 285 lbs and this car is unbelievable. If you are on the bigger side and would like to have a car with great gas mileage, but can never fit in one, this is YOUR CAR! Even in full-size SUVs I sometimes have difficulty with headroom. The xB gives me as much leg room as my Suburban (just sold) and 6 inches of clearance above my head. It drives and handles like a small sports car. The stereo is fantastic, and I got 31.8 MPG on my first tank of gas! Frankly, I would drive it all night if I didnt have things to do tomorrow. Please dont buy before driving this vehicle. The quality and features are astounding.

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  I like it - 2008 Scion XD
  By I like - October 19 - 3:13 am

  Wife and I test drove corolla, yaris, civic, fit, suzuki. The xD had the best drivers seat for my 210 lbs. The interior did not feel cheap like the other cars did. Did not even look at the scion brand, untill salesman pointed out the new xD, at first I did not like it. It looked tiny from the outside, however after riding in the back and then driving the xD my opinion completely changed. Wife and I bought the black xD. First tank of gas mpg 41, we live in a rural area 50 mph highway, pacific northwest area.