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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Older Folks Like It Too! - 2006 Scion XB
  By SonnyBoy - August 26 - 1:36 am

  My wife and I are in our 50s and we absolutely love this car. We were looking for something economical to buy, economical to operate, and fun to drive! We sure found it in the Scion Xb. Ive always liked small cars. The first car I ever bought was a 63 Volkswagon Beetle. Ive owned eveything from small pick-ups to a Porsche 914 and a Honda CR-V, but the xB is the most fun to drive. Even though it is marketed to younger people, I think a lot middle-aged and older people would really enjoy this car.

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  Nice car for $17,000 - 2006 Scion TC
  By austin - August 25 - 2:40 pm

  The Scion tC is a great car. Its agile, quick, and sporty. The rear seats have plenty of room and they recline and fold forward for more space. The standard Pioneer stereo is nice, it needs more watts though. The glass top is cool, not many cars have that. This car needs a 6-speed transmission not a 5-speed, unless you drive 55 you will not see that 30 mpg on the highway. 70 mph runs you @ 3,500 rpm. This car has lots of torque down low, and a forgiving clutch.

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  Comments - 2005 Scion XB
  By Scion xB - August 24 - 4:16 pm

  If you dont watch your speed, it can really go faster than what it feels. I have taken it on a couple of long trips and is very comfortable, whether in the front or back seat. I love my car. It should have cruise control. My husband and I have recomended it very highly to other people. We have even let them test drive ours or sit in it, to show them how much room it has.

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  Wow - 2005 Scion TC
  By John - August 23 - 11:40 pm

  I had totaled my eclipse and was in the hunt for a new car. I seen the TC on the commercials and thought it was a nice looking car. The commercials dont do this car justice. I went and took a look at it and had to have it. It is beautifully designed. Nice sleek curves and well drawn out lines. There is no need for aftermarket body kits or better wheels. Performance suprised me for the price. Its not a break neck performer but can be tuned to be that way easily. I suggest the cold air intake and the borla exhaust from the factory. All in all, this is an excellent car for the price.

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  Fantastic little gem - 2005 Scion XB
  By Love this baby - August 22 - 9:43 pm

  I cannot believe I found a used XB. We had looked for the last several years at the local car shows and fell in love with the XB. We were ready to buy a new one this year. We did not like the new design because it has really cut the gas mileage with the improvements. These cars never show up used here. No one wants to part with them. We got a great deal on a 2005 with only 40,000 plus on it. It is silver with a cute red thunder bolt along the sides & air scoop on the back. We love the room the handling and the gas mileage. We had cruise added it really enhances the over the road mileage. We are nearing 60 and enjoy the nice firm seats. Great for us and so much fun to drive.

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  Great Price, Great Value! - 2008 Scion TC
  By Tony Nguyen - August 21 - 7:00 pm

  First car to own; one of many cars driven. Value for its price is above outstanding. Looks great, and IS great as the parts are all made with Toyota quality. I drive about 75 miles per day in Houston weather, and do not have much to complain about. The standard tires are a bit below average, (slide during not too aggressive turns). The radio door squeaks (nothing a bit of oil cant fix though). Has projector headlights which is a GREAT plus! The only major problem is the coin/change compartment. DO NOT put pennies or dimes in there! They will fall through the hinge hole and cause the compartment to NOT open up fully anymore! Be caution of this. Otherwise, Great Value Car!

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  Love All of It, but the Drivers Seat - 2006 Scion XB
  By Don Baldwin - August 20 - 10:50 am

  I am 68 and the xB is one of the few inexpensive dependable cars I could consider. So far so good. I get about 33 mpg in all driving. My problem is that the drivers seat is very uncomfortable. I would benefit from having a power seat that allows more adjustment. I would not recommend this car anyone over 64". The available arm rest is cheap and does no good for me. Otherwise the xB is a pleasure to drive and surprisingly quiet when driven in town.

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  jfuentes - 2004 Scion XB
  By john fuentes - August 20 - 4:20 am

  its a great car I love it and hope that the new t2b is great too.

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  Love it! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Shawna - August 19 - 8:50 am

  This car is perfect for our family. It seems if you have kids, you must either have the gas guzzler SUV or the sooo suburban minivan. But the xB you get the ability to put your kids in the car without excessive reaching or knocking the kids heads on the doors, great gas mileage, and just enough room to carry their stroller and groceries in one trip. Not a great traveling car, but since I only use it in the city to cart my kids around, its perfect!!

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  Scions conquer America - 2004 Scion xA
  By jerryfan - August 18 - 2:00 pm

  As a long-time Toyota owner, I jumped at the Scion, an off-shoot of Toyota. I first had seen the Scions xB back in 2003, a bit boxy, but cool. Great price and fuel efficiency. When it came time to buy, I opted for the aX, the bX seemed a bit pimped-out for a 47-year-old. The cX was a bit pricey for my wallet. Im happy with the xA. Put 3000 miles on it in the first 21 days...The only luxury I demanded with it was dealer addition of cruise control. Five-speed is sweet. A great little car for the 21st century. The price tag was good, just over $14,000 with the cruise, the rides good, it turns heads and is great so far in my book.