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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Fun and Reliable - 2005 Scion TC
  By AJ - May 3 - 2:30 pm

  I bought this car in November 2004 to replace my stolen Acura Integra. The car is absolute bliss considering the price;plenty of amenities. The car is fun to drive, plenty of power, great look inside and out. I received multiple compliments on the road. The interior is roomy and comfortable. This car lugs around 4 big guys no problem. The gas mileage is not too bad. This car is RELIABLE. I put 102,000 miles on it in about 3 1/2 years. This car has seen the coldest winters(I live in CO) and some of the hottest summers. I have taken this car to Las Vegas twice and to LA as well. Did not have any major issues when I had it. The engine is bullet proof (No longer own: accident total loss)

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  Manhattan Perfect - 2005 Scion XB
  By wastead - April 29 - 2:40 pm

  Everyone whos ever driven in Manhattan knows parking is tough to get. If you see a parking spot on Tuesday, you have someone stand there and guard it until you go buy a car to put there. With this car, its always Tuesday and I have the car! As a musician, with rehearsals all over the city, Im always looking for a spot rather than pay $25 ($50 in Midtown) for 2 hours twice a day. With this car I find parking everywhere and can still haul cellos, harps, even a portative organ! NY always costs 25 cents more for gas than the national average. At 32 mpg I put in my 8-9 gal and am gone while the big SUVs are still pumping 14, 15, 16, 17, 19...

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  Coolest Mom Ever - 2006 Scion XB
  By Marg - April 26 - 7:06 am

  Yes, Ive now been elevated to coolest Mom status ever by by 10 and 14 year old sons. I test drove the car on their recommendation, and basically fell in love with it after the first drive! Why love..because Ive been a van driver for 12 years and am now thrilled to be in such a groovy little car. My husband loved the price, the great gas mileage and the fact that his 62 frame fit comfortably in the car. We had previously test drove even some SUVs which did not compare as far as interior comfort and size. The styling is smart and I love the appearance. The large interior feel of the car doesnt seem to match what appears to be a tiny car from the outside.

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  I love my Xa! - 2005 Scion xA
  By DragonMama - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Xa for three months now and I love it. I bought it as a commuter car and am very happy with its overall performance. I have the 5 speed, which Ive found to have adequate acceleration to merge with traffic (which was a concern of mine before buying). It is high enough off of the ground that I dont feel overpowered by other vehicles, and when the back seats are folded down it has a remarkable amount of space for such a small car. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for a fun, inexpensive, economical car.

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  Toyota/Lexus for Saturn price - 2005 Scion TC
  By phyre76 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle, its not a "you get what you pay for" it a "You get what you dont deserve, for a really low price" there are NO cars, currently, in the tCs class that even comes close, for over all bang your your buck. Its more like back for you cent. Definitely built like a Toyota/Lexus, but nice and affordable.

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  Love the Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By lantzdarla - April 23 - 10:16 pm

  The Scion xB is the first vehicle Ive had that draws so much attention. It is very fun to drive and I couldnt ask for better gas milage. The power isnt all that great, but I didnt want a race car. It would be better if there was a front dome light and a better armrest. I give it an A+!

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  ONE SWEET LITTLE RIDE!!! - 2005 Scion xA
  By weezaworld - April 23 - 2:06 am

  My wife and I bought this on our honeymoon, and it has turned into our second best wed gift(second to a quilt)! We love our car.....needless to say, it has been EVERYWHERE with us!!! (or rather we with it) Held hostage by the miraculous powers of the all new, all amazing 2005 scion XA!!! On a more serious note, this has been a great little car for us. Over 100000 miles, and nothing but plugs and oil change. We have often gotten around 40 mpg and have made MANY 1500 mile trips in it, and find it very comfy. The ONLY things I could complain about, is road noise at high speeds, no input jack on stereo, one annoying blind spot, and.....I guess thats it! Great car! We HIGHLY recommend!

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  Sleek, sexy, sporty and affordable ! - 2009 Scion TC
  By Jim - April 20 - 6:43 pm

  Had my 09 tC for two months - adore it! Superb performance and handling. Response is crisp and solid. Rides low to the ground. No problems with build quality or function. Great cruise control. No acceleration delay, very quick off the line and smooth pickup. The premium 160 watt stereo is incredibly loud - too much bass at times but terrific iPod control. Love the panoramic moonroof. My only complaints are that the gauges are hard to read in daylight, esp the speedometer. Dont like the orange gauge lights - wish they could change to blue like the stereo can. Im 6 tall and the back seat is very cramped but I never sit there anyway! Doors are a little long. Great value for the price.

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  Nice for the Price - 2008 Scion XD
  By ke_parks - April 20 - 1:20 pm

  I like the car so far, I have only had it a couple of days. I traded in my 05 civic for it, I think it has better pickup than the civic, Has a lot a neat features inside, like Ipod jack and mp3 player jack, The mpg is Ok, not as good as the civic but I think it is fun to drive. I like how it sets up higher kind of like a small suv with a lot better mpg

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  I love it too - 2009 Scion XD
  By formerHondaowner - April 18 - 6:30 am

  Ive had this car for a year now, bought no extras except the pioneer radio. I had wanted to stick with Honda, but their options were limited. This ended up being the whole package for me ... looks nice, fun to drive, and great for growing into when we start our family. I was extremely surprised by its pep and how roomy it was inside. Best of all, it gets WAY better MPG than sticker shows ... I get between 33 and 37 mpg Hwy depending on how I drive (and 75mph is my minimum). Ive had 3 Hondas previously and wanted to another, but this car beat out anything Honda had to offer in my book!