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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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! - 2008 Scion XD
  By vdurb - May 4 - 3:16 pm

  After considering other cars such as the Ford Escape, the Toyota Yaris, etc. We purchased this car about a week ago. I love it! It runs smooth and the added alloy wheels make it look great. I love the electronics! It gets great gas mileage.

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  Great Ride... - 2006 Scion XB
  By Bo Whitley - May 3 - 9:40 am

  My son talked me into buying an xB and this is one of the best built cars period that I have ever owned.

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  $16.465 it is worth more. - 2005 Scion TC
  By igorK - May 2 - 10:00 am

  this is my first brand new car and this is the best deal i have ever had. for the price you almost everything. the roof along is a beauty, 17 inch wheels standard. where else can you find that in under $17000.

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  One Great Little Car! - 2006 Scion TC
  By Lisa - April 25 - 11:06 am

  I love this car! Im close to 40 and thought that I wouldnt like this kind of car. However, its fabulous and great to drive! I did have a rattle in the trunk but was easily fixed at the dealership. For the price, its a great car!

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  I Love It! - 2008 Scion XB
  By romster - April 25 - 8:56 am

  If size matters this will do ya. This seemingly small car is so spacious and comfortable. I am a marketer, in my car all day and my husband is six foot five and has plenty of room. The power is suprising and it handles great. The interior is fun and stylish.

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  Cute little car - 2005 Scion XB
  By Ken - April 25 - 4:33 am

  I bought this car a year ago and love it and its definitely a head turner the first few months I had it. I took the car up to Toronto Canada after the first month and there was constant stares and questions about the car.

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  Fun Urban Transportation Module - 2008 Scion XD
  By Clyde - April 21 - 7:06 am

  Love the hip modern styling. This car appears has more interior room than its outside size would allow. It is easy to park and is loads of fun to drive. The car does have a blind spot that takes getting used to. I drove a Honda Fit before purchasing my Scion XD and other than the gas mileage I have no regrets with my purchase. I recommend this car to anyone that needs a dependable well built car with great resale value. I also considered the Smart car. But after its initial reviews would much rather own a Scion XD.

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  Great car except for the ride - 2010 Scion XD
  By Bob - April 19 - 10:50 am

  Ive had this car for two and a half months. I like most everything about it. The quality seems good. It holds a lot of stuff with the back seats folded down. The acceleration is surprisingly good, especially 0-30. The interior is comfortable. Handling is good; body lean is minimal when cornering. The only downside to this car is the ride. You dont feel the smallest bumps, but a somewhat bigger bump, like an expansion joint in pavement, is bone-jarring. Riding around in this car for more than half an hour starts to get irritating. Also be aware that the car requires the more expensive synthetic oil, but Toyota says you still have to change it every 5K miles.

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  Better then a New Beetle - 2005 Scion xA
  By Rene H Dessureau - April 17 - 6:03 am

  Love this little car, more fun to drive then the wifes Avalon Xls, Kids love the car

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  Nice ride but with Fixable flaws - 2009 Scion XB
  By GPituch - April 16 - 4:06 pm

  I am pleased but not “super excited” with my Scion so far. I have just under 5K on it and have a good feel for the ride. I, HONESTLY, could use more leg room and I’m only 59". I find it difficult to get comfortable. The interior of my 05 Corolla has more width between the center console and the driver’s door. Sort of weird considering how big the rest of the interior is. It has nice pick up and handling. I’ve done two checks on the mileage thus far. One all around and one this past weekend for a highway trip of about 200 miles one way, 400 total. Mileage was much less that what I expected. All around was about 22 and Highway was only 24! (actually 23.5) Pretty bad if you ask me.