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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My Scion experience - 2007 Scion TC
  By ScionIsLife - November 19 - 11:33 am

  The handling is exceptional in corners, and the feel of the road you get in the wheel is exciting. The inner design of the vehicle when you look out immerses you in its whole driving experience. Though Im usually distracted with all the buttons and plentiful doo-dads, sometimes I do realize that I am driving, and possibly should stop playing around with it. The car is so much fun to drive, what I described to you is a day-to-day occurance. I dont think I could have picked a more tailored-fit car to my needs and get more than I expected for a very fair price.

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  Love My xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By jheiden - November 1 - 5:06 am

  I just bought my Scion xB because I wanted better gas mileage than my 14 mpg SUV. I love the interior space and couldnt bear to buy a compact car. The exterior and interior design is great, and the xB is suprisingly quick from a stop. Second and third gear are a bit sluggish, but at cruising speed it will keep up with anything on the freeway. Its ride is very smooth and quiet. The A/C works great on mine, and I am in 115 degree heat in Palm Springs in the summer. The interior could use a few small tweaks, but is overall satisfactory. The low price makes the xB a fantastic value, and mine is getting around 32 mpg on 2/3 freeway and 1/3 city driving. I hope more accessories come out soon!

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  So Ugly Its Cute - 2006 Scion XB
  By Layout1 - October 30 - 4:06 am

  The Scion xB was meant to be for the younger generation, but it appears that a good number of older folks are finding it to be quite the car. The gas mileage does not lie. We get 31-32 mpg in town and 33-34 hwy. This car has plenty of zip to merge onto freeways. It has lots of glass and and it easy to see out of. All of the glass except for the windshield can be cleaned by standing outside. Sometimes the rear window is a bear to get to. The back seats lay down to allow more cargo space. We like to think of it as a poor mans SUV. One thing Ive found odd is that most used xBs seem to cost more than the new ones. Maybe that is because they have more extras when bought new.

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  My xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mary - October 24 - 5:13 pm

  Overall, I have had no buyers remorse after purchasing this car. Its truly an engineering marvel considering how small it looks from the outside in comparison to how big it is on the inside. The exterior had to grow on me for awhile before purchasing it, but after seeing the inside I was sold. Buyers beware: if you are expecting some high performance, high-end vehicle, you should not purchase this car. The small 4-cylinder engine does have trouble in passing and uphill situations. The interior is basic, yet very functional. So far I have not yet achieved the estimated gas mileage (about 28 mpg in mixed city and highway driving).

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  I know xB in a very object way - 2008 Scion XB
  By brytface - October 23 - 10:46 pm

  We have driven xB for over 2 years. Our experience with this vehicle has been deteriorating mainly because of continuing mechanical problems and poor interior material quality. First, some plastic under passenger seat fell off within 6 months normal usage. Big surprise! And the engine stopped in the middle of the way. (wife almost made an accident) Toyota fixed it under warranty. However, problems continues.. When waits for the signal with brakes on, the car shakes and make noises. I knew Toyota Quality slips away but I thought Built-in Japan Scion would be fine. My mistake! when a company fails to do what they are supposed to do (making value products)consumers suffer.

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  07 Scion tC - 2007 Scion TC
  By ts1989 - October 22 - 1:51 am

  I bought my tC used with 120,000 in March of 2013...figured it would be beneficial to write a review about a used one. No issues with the car for the first 10,000 miles, then my engine failed at 131,000. I understand it was used but with a Toyota engine...kinda surprised me. This was a car I always wanted, and I loved having it. Acceleration was pretty awesome (roommate had a Volks Jetta turbo and I smoked him) and the handling was good, even with it "having been around the block". The sunroof was amazing, although like others I too did have issues with the rattling. My suggestion: if youre looking for a used one, get it mechanically checked before buying!

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  Not Bad - 2005 Scion TC
  By Paul - October 18 - 3:10 am

  I bought mine used after reading mostly good things for a not-too-expensive sporty coupe. I think that the car should get better fuel mileage for a relatively small engine. Also, the interior materials are fairly easily marred from a simple wedding ring or touching it with your key. On the good side, it has plenty of torque and is a great car to learn to drive a manual or if you dont have good knees but still want a manual as a lot of shifting is not required for function.

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  Whats with the Ignition - 2005 Scion XB
  By MEB404 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  We have really been enjoying this car. Gets lots of attention. Is roomy. But after a month of owning it the key got stuck in the ignition. Had to take it to the dealer and get a new ignition (or whatever) put in. Now after about a month or so, again key is stuck. Wonder if others have had this problem. Did we get a lemon?

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  Wanted an xB for Years - 2010 Scion XB
  By Diane - October 15 - 8:06 am

  Just got my xB a month ago and I already have 2K miles on it. It does good on the freeway and in stop and go traffic on my 24 mile daily commute in LA. Love the style (my boxy car!). I do have a little rattle in my passenger side front door. Hopefully they will be able to resolve that. Has great power although I wish the gas tank was a few gallons larger so I could go all week without gassing up. I went from a Saturn L200 which I absolutely loved, but this is more comfortable and roomier in the back seat. This is my first car with an IPod hook up, so that has been really fun. The stereo is great for a standard option. Wish the interior was not black.

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  Great Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By LL - October 14 - 5:56 am

  Bought this car new and not one trip back to the dealership since. Very Reliable, comfortable, and fun to drive. Consistently getting 28-30 mpg. No problem with the windshield like some posts had mentioned. No problem with anything whatsoever. A/C works good even in the hot days.