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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Johns Review - 2009 Scion XB
  By John - July 5 - 6:53 am

  Ive only had it for 2 days now and I love it. I traded in a 2006 Xb that I was very happy with as well, and I have to say its definitely an improvement. I am very pleased with the exterior, and interior. It rides very smooth, and the electronic power steering is very responsive. Its a great vehicle.

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  Fun Little Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Jared Davis - July 4 - 5:56 pm

  I had a 2005 xB - it was a very fun car to drive. My only complaint was with the small engine. It accelerated fine - but revs at 4,000 - 5,000 RPM when doing 75 - 80 mph on the freeway. My wife and two children were in this car when they were hit from behind at about 50 mph on the freeway. The xB spun them sevral times without tipping and no major injuries. It surprisingly held up very well considering. I would buy another one, but I am going to wait till a larger engine is offered - the 2.2 would be nice.

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  wonderful car - 2005 Scion XB
  By Lisa - July 4 - 6:46 am

  This car is a wonderful car and I love mine .It gets so many look from all ages.It drives good and I feel Im driving a gocart in the India 500 .Its tight and drive great its fast and I love that .Several people in my family are considering purchasing a XB .The only thing I would like better is a map light in the front .We use this as our family car.We got rid of the Mini Van and got a XB. Thanks

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  Fun Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By Agentorange - July 2 - 5:03 am

  Unique in styling, fun to drive, always get noticed, growing group of enthusiasts and supporters. A lot of room inside. Great for handicap access. performance is ok for MPG, but could use a bit more for spirited driving.

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  Scion Tc - 2005 Scion TC
  By Ben - July 2 - 12:40 am

  The Scion Tc is great.

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  Issue with clutch - 2009 Scion TC
  By Nathan - July 1 - 9:06 am

  I bought my tC back in december 2008. At 2200 miles my clutch and flywheel go out. The dealership says they wont warranty the repairs and want to charge me $1,440 to fix it. Im getting a lawyer today.

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  Best Deal for the Price - 2006 Scion xA
  By johnleon - June 30 - 11:30 am

  I did a lot of research on all the new sub-compact cars on the market and found the Scion xA to be the best for the price. I especially like the fixed pricing where you dont have to deal with sales price haggling. I got the extended warranty that covers me for 7 years or 100,000 miles for an extra $1,100. This car really zips around town. I find no problems with the limited horsepower. It would be nice to have a larger fifth gear for the freeway maybe to push it over 40 mpg. The middle console was no problem getting used to. I think there is plenty of cargo room with the seats down. I was also able to get a lot of stuff (tools, jumper cables, blanket, towels) in the spare tire well. This car an A+.

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  Fun in a Box - 2004 Scion XB
  By scionkid - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Great car, lots of standard features, good gas mileage 35+. Lots of room for such a small looking car. Would recommend this car to anyone.

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  2006 Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By james mercer - June 29 - 3:33 pm

  The 2006 Scion xA is a nice economical car. So far it has been very reliable.

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  Toyota Should Rethink - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mattie - June 27 - 7:33 am

  When I first bought the car it was a smooth, quiet ride. Now, that I have put 13,000 miles on it, it shakes, rattles, and rolls. There is so much interior noise and the interior is made with cheap looking plastic. It gets good gas mileage but, is terrible on the highway and has no acceleration and the throttle hesitates. I love the fact that the whole car has a lot of space especially in the back seat. I do a lot of highway driving and its a comfortable ride. If youre looking for a car with high performance, this is not your car. Get the tC instead. If youre looking for a car to drive around town to get you from point A to point B then this is the car for you!