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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 Scion of the times. - 2008 Scion XD
  By JT Hall - October 17 - 8:03 pm

  I bought the Scion xD after driving the xA from an ebay sale, downsizing from a pickup truck which i can no longer afford to drive. After two weeks of both highway and around town driving, I find the xD to be fun to drive,comfortable and very economical (35+ combined mpg.) Although you wont win any drag races in a Scion, it will zoom up to highway speeds quickly enough where it floats effortlessly at 75+ mph. Handling and cornering are excellent and the seats are firm and supportive. In spite of its size the xD drives like a larger vehicle. Fold the seats down and theres plenty of room for your stuff. It was a great choice. Im going to keep it.

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  Great except the gas mileage - 2004 Scion XB
  By Don - October 15 - 4:56 pm

  My car is phenomenal. It is sensible, practical and fun. My only issue is that gas mileage is poor. On the highway I typically attain 28 miles per gallon. Not great for a tiny 4 cylinder. Both dealer and Scion of America insist that I am the issue. Apparently all others do get the mileage rated on the window sticker. Very disappointing to an almost perfect car in every other way.

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  Trd is a must - 2009 Scion XB
  By STEVE - October 14 - 3:33 pm

  Looking for a car/SUV this is a great pic with a Toyota build. My was bought for $17,091. Always go with a credit union for the best deal. Sticker was 20k included upgraded radio tint and fog lights. I had the dealer add trd air intake, lowering springs, grill, rear wind deflector, cargo box. It rides well with near 50/50 weight transfer with very little body roll. Floor it and it sounds like a turbo. The ride is quick for a 167.3 inch ride. Next is a trd supercharger duel borla exhaust, this will hit just over 300 hp.

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  Great Little Car - 2009 Scion XD
  By Jim - October 14 - 2:10 am

  We bought our Scion two weeks ago and are really love it. It has more power than we need, is comfortable, build quality is superb, and gas mileage is also really good. Weve only gone through one tank of gas so the following numbers may be not be real accurate. However, the calculated mileage was 31.5 mpg while the computer average said it would be 32.9 mpg. We live in the Sierra Foothills and go up and down 1,000 to 2,000 feet and that cuts into our mileage. Our driving is probably 70% highway and 30% up and down. On the highway, I believe we are exceeding 40 mpg when "straight and level" if the computer is accurate within 2 mpg.

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  Excellent car - 2005 Scion XB
  By Andrew - October 13 - 7:06 am

  This is a great little car. You only need to step inside to see why its such a good deal for $15k - its huge inside. Being a box makes it very space efficient; awkwardly tall friends will appreciate the rear leg and head room. However, the car is still narrow and short enough that its easy to park anywhere, and the sitting position is surprisingly high. Handling and road noise are decent considering its a box with wheels, and the standard traction and stability control do wonderfully in bad weather. A bigger engine would be nice at times, but it usually feels plenty peppy and gets great gas milage. Toyota quality for this price makes this car hard to resist.

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  Great Family Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Krystal - October 13 - 1:56 am

  I love my car. Easy for moms to get kids in and out. The headlights are a pain. It has a distinct line in your vision where it all the sudden goes from light to pitch black. Not good for traveling to places youve never been cause you cant see road names until you are right up on them. But for everyday around the town driving its great.

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  Proud Owner - 2004 Scion XB
  By karae3 - October 12 - 10:00 am

  I Love My Scion! This car is the best value on the market for a fully loaded vehicle. Its so fun to be able to bulid your own car.

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  I love it, but... - 2004 Scion xA
  By KKyle - October 12 - 7:33 am

  I enjoy driving my Scion xA a lot, and I do drive a lot, which is why I bought it. I have had maintenance issues with the car, having to replace the whole air conditioning unit (warranty), brake problems (corrected by dealer), and a worn out serpentine belt already (changed ourselves), all with less than 45,000 miles. I have noticed some shift troubles with the car, most noticibly when it is cold of course, but at other times as well, revving the engine to over 4,000 rpms in 3rd. Other then that (lol) I love it!

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  Get what you pay for - 2006 Scion TC
  By mjons - October 12 - 5:46 am

  It is not a great car, just a car. The Scion tC is a good entry level car and but I do not think that it will hold its value when I go to sell it. I am just waiting to make more money to buy a nicer car.

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  Paint an issue - 2008 Scion XD
  By WHY? - October 9 - 11:36 am

  I am so disappointed with my xD. I researched countless vehicles until I decided on the xD. Bought it last week and it already has paint chips and scratches (and I dont drive in rough areas). In fact, upon closer inspection -- dirt combined with dew is actually what is causing the scratching, while Im driving. Also has a small rust spot on the back. This car is only one week old!! Will be taking it back to the dealer tomorrow for inspection. Be warned!! I wish I stayed with Honda.