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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Love it! - 2006 Scion TC
  By ames06tC - September 9 - 11:16 pm

  I just bought my 2006 Black Cherry Pearl Scion tC about a week and a half ago. I am getting super great gas mileage on my 66 mile round trip each day to work. I love the interior and exterior. The sunroofs are awesome!

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  Fun car but fuel eco. not what expected - 2008 Scion XD
  By jpowell - September 9 - 5:20 am

  This was my wifes first new car. We bought it because of the look, the navigation system, but mostly because of the "expected" great fuel economy. I dont have much to say about the design besides that there should be an arm rest and it is crazy that the nav system doesnt allow you to use some of the options when the car is moving. The only real disappointment is the gas mileage. I read many reviews that stated 30+ and much more on trips. We have never seen anything better than 26-27/gallon city or highway or some combination. I know its not way off, but I was planning to see better than what we are getting.

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  Meets or exceeds all expectations - 2005 Scion XB
  By rutabaga - September 6 - 10:29 pm

  I wanted a commuter car and got the xB. It had 20k on it when I bought it. Ive put 60k on it. Had a salvage title. It does everything I wanted it to and more. Im not too diligent about maintenance but its still rock-solid reliable. Spacious cabin room and very easy for the 3 kids to get in and out of. Not perfect, but just fine driving the occasional 200 mile trip to visit family. Consistently gets 30mpg *in town.* Here are some shortcomings to be aware of, although I dont hold them against the car AT ALL: weak on power; small cargo space in back; stock sound not very good; jeez, I really cant think of anything else. GREAT car. FYI, Im 65", 210lbs and fit just fine in it.

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  I named her Stella! - 2009 Scion XB
  By PDXScionLOVER - September 6 - 8:50 am

  I love this new car-o-mine. The pick up, the go, the looks I get. I got the black cherry.. so sweet! A friend has the Toyota Cruiser, and is totally jealous if the interior space! Makes me feel like a cool-kid with a conservative budget! :)

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  Excellent mileage and lots of leg room - 2005 Scion XB
  By Translator - September 5 - 10:00 am

  small outside, HUGE INSIDE! Wanted best gas mileage with enough leg room. Insight 51mpg but only 2 seats, Prius 44 too small & long wait, VWs 41 & 32 but bad reps, Echo 38 too small, Civic hybrid 36 uncomfortable, Mazda3 33 & didnt try it (but I hear good things), xB 32 and LOTS of leg & head room, front & back! A great car for town & smooth roads. With 5spd & cold-air intake, acceleration is good. Euro version is the Yaris Verso. Pedestrians do double takes, people in parking lots feel compelled to walk around it, other cars tend to hang in blind spot for a long time—lots of fun to watch! Front seats comfortable except on road trips (built for narrow shoulders). Great style! fun to drive!

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  Very NIce - 2005 Scion TC
  By PaulE1021 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  A very nice interior and exterior. It is a great drive. Smooth clutch. Very powerful and very cheap. The looks great and comes with a load of features.

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  A true joy to drive - 2008 Scion XB
  By Mackeral - September 4 - 11:23 am

  I bought my Scion lasy Saturday and I have to say that I am very Impressed with this vehicle. For the price, it is really a great buy and it is fun to drive. Now I make up excuses to go out and drive. With all the accessories for it, it really makes it become your very own extension of yourself. I highly recommend anyone to give it a try and test drive one and you will get one for yourself.

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  Xa maniac. - 2005 Scion xA
  By Xa - September 2 - 6:46 pm

  I love this car!!!

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  Extremely Pleased - 2006 Scion XB
  By eholm - September 1 - 9:06 pm

  I have owned Toyotas before and this one does not dissappoint. The ride quality is good and my gas mileage has ranged from 34 to 41 mpg (road trip). So far I have found no problems with build quality and the engine has a sort of "sewing machine motor" quality of liking to spin freely but being entirely smooth with no rough or flat spots.

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  Best car choice for its class! - 2008 Scion XD
  By MichelleS - August 31 - 5:46 am

  I bought this little gem after having driven a 99 Windstar for almost 10 years. It took a little getting used to the change in size, but overall, this has been a great choice in vehicle! I mostly drive in town, but occasionally get on the highway. I find I get decent mileage in town and excellent mileage on the open road. The car defies the laws of physics. It is very comfortable for even large people and can hold a LOT more cargo than it looks. I love how I can whip in and out of parking spots easily, or slip into the next lane of traffic without cutting off the guy behind me. Overall, its been a great car to drive and the money I save on gasoline is a dream!