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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Crash Worthy - 2004 Scion XB
  By mustangsv - October 5 - 9:36 am

  Just totaled my XB (04/19/08) with a head-on crash with a Dodge Dakota P-up (airbags deployed). The drivers area was in perfect shape. The front end was crushed to the base of the windshield. Crumple zones worked as advertised. I walked away as did my 4 year old son who was strapped in his child seat in the back passenger side. Im back in the market to buy another one(2004-2006). 2008 XBs look like they were designed by the Michelin Man...Yuck!

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  Best Value available. - 2009 Scion XB
  By dan.oneil77 - October 3 - 8:33 pm

  As an engineer, I researched new cars for 6 months before buying. Were expecting a second child and needed more room over our Mazda Protege. The Scion xB is the best value possible! The rear seating beats EVERYTHING we looked at! Grown-ups can sit back there - no other vehicle offered this. I had a 1993 Toyota Pickup with the I4 2.4L engine and loved it - this engine has the juice when you need it! I added the cold air intake for a little more HP - at the cost of a few MPGs. Were seeing 28MPGs, but with 128+ FT^3 interior space, thats actually pretty amazing. It is a bit heavy and catches a lot of wind, but its meant more for utility, not speed. Great for small families!

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  Loved One, Bought Another - 2006 Scion xA
  By writeclik - October 3 - 12:26 pm

  I purchased an Xb for my daughter a year ago and love everything about it. Reliable, comfortable, cool. So when I needed a new car for myself, I picked up an Xa. It is more fun to drive than the Xb, but equally great on quality. Now my other daughter thinks we need a tC to complete the line in our driveway. I am not sure why the lack of cruise control is always mentioned, because I had no trouble ordering the car with cruise.

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  Never Own Anything Else - 2005 Scion XB
  By craiple - October 3 - 4:36 am

  If you want a fun, dependable, practical vehicle, with lots of PIZZAZ...this is it. Ive had my xB for one year and have driven it all over the country. It has more headroom and backseat legroom than any car on the market (Im 66")! The only thing I dont like is the only way to turn the dome light on is on the light itself, its a long reach. Otherwise, this is the best car Ive ever owned, and Ive owned 9 in my lifetime.

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  short people problem - 2009 Scion XB
  By RatAttackTeam - September 26 - 10:00 pm

  Hard decision - xB or xD I bought the xB as the seat is adjustable, just not high enough. Maybe if the side mirrors werent so big, they leave blind spots. Also I need to have the seat way forward so now window controls are hard to find and door arm rest too low. Otherwise I love the drive, ease of turning, gas mileage in town and instrument panel. Rides nice on our horrible streets too.

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  Excellent Choice - 2006 Scion xA
  By albanyscion - September 26 - 4:53 am

  If you do you homework, this car is a 10. If you want more HP, buy something else. I have a 2006 automatic Scion xA with 2,300 miles on it. In nearly a 50/50 split between city and highway driving I am getting 30/37 mpg in real world driving. Its fun to drive, very comfortable and extremely roomy in front seat and acceptable in back seat. this car is exceptionally quality.

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  Wonderful xA - 2005 Scion xA
  By StarWine - September 22 - 11:03 pm

  I have had my 2005 Scion xA for over a year now and am still in love with it. Actually, I love my car so much that I convinced my mom to buy one (exact same color, too) when she totaled her Jeep. This car gets terrific gas mileage, turns heads at every stop light, can zip in and out of traffic like a Mini, and is fun to drive. I always wish for a little more power, but who could really ask for more with this set of features? I put in my own stereo system, but even the standard MP3 setup impressed this stereo snob : ) .

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  2+ Months and Loving It - 2005 Scion TC
  By buckeyecase - September 20 - 3:56 am

  What can I say, besides the fact that I love the tC. It has very good acceleration from the 2.4L engine. Its handling is also top- notch. It is such a fun car to drive, and it turns heads. Nobody thinks I paid less than $17,000 for it. Considering the fact that its a Toyota, and shares its 4-cyl. engine with the Camry, and is built in Japan, its reliability should be great. The list of standard features is amazing. I challenge anybody to find a better overall package for under $17,000.

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  The Ultimate Transformer - 2005 Scion XB
  By Choder - September 18 - 2:40 pm

  I am a 35 year old and I cant say enough about my new Scion Xb. Great styling, great features, great value, and unlike most cars you purchase and then just drive, after you purchase your Xb you will feel compelled to pimp it anyway you want with all the after market accessories available directly from Scion. Save a couple hundred dollars and get the European style taillights, save another couple hundred more and get the fog lamps. There are so many options to choose from and the listed price of each includes installation at the nearest Scion dealership. So, instead of watching MTVs Pimp My Ride, now you have an affordable and fun way of pimping your own. Best of all, my kids love it!

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  Scion has made a me a customer for life! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Brian - September 17 - 2:16 pm

  Dropping down from an SUV to a small vehicle to make my commute more economical was my motivation. Scion xB has continued to amaze me as I use it for everything from Home Depot to camping. Plenty of interior space and it drives like a little sports car. What more can you ask for from a vehicle priced well below 20K that lets you do everything an SUV or truck can do. The new xB sacrificed MPG for more pep, and its a great trade-off. Ive had my xB for almost a year and its running like a champ. Getting about 25 mpg in mixed driving. If you need a little commuter car with big style and plenty of room (Im 60") then this is your car.