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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  I only paid $15k for all this?!? - 2005 Scion XB
  By skyboybryan - April 15 - 8:53 pm

  I drive 2.5 hours per day to and from work, so I needed a car with good gas mileage to replace my 4WD Toyota truck. I didnt think that Id like this car so much, but I really do. Mine is green and it looks like nothing else on the road. I am getting a solid 35mpg and its so much fun to drive. I highly recommend this car to anyone who is tired of looking at all those other clones on the road. I am 61" and this car has more than enough room for me and everything I need to take. Even with my seat all the way back, there is still enough room for someone even taller than me in the back seat. I love this car. Dont forget to get the cruise control and the armrest. Love it love it love it.

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  Fun to drive. - 2008 Scion XB
  By Grrg! - April 15 - 4:16 am

  I took my new xB up around some nice curves from the Rose Garden to the Arboretum in Portland, OR. This baby really rocks around the curves, and that 0-30 really helps. The xB is extremely stable, staying mostly flat with very little twisting - Id like to see what the rear sway and front strut bars would do! Add a supercharger from TRD and were talking head-to-head with a 328i that costs $12,000 more. Add a TRD CAI and sport muffler, and were talking bout beating that German engineering. Replace the OEM speakers, though. These things sound bad as in flat.

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  Great Little Hauler - 2005 Scion XB
  By Karl - April 11 - 8:03 pm

  Im a potter. The Scion xB hauls a 1/2 ton of pottery with ease. Theres plenty of room for my two growing teenage sons in the back. We get from 30 to 36 mpg, usually about 34 average. I love the way it handles on the curves and its got plenty of zip for me. Its really fun to drive. The seats are very comfortable and on a recent trip from Oregon to San Diego my bad back held up great. On the down side, the interior lighting is terrible. When you lift the back hatch at night you can hardly see whats there and as far as reading a map in the front seats? Forget it. The tiltwheel doesnt swing enough and the location of the lever is annoying. It could stand to be a few inches wider.

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  Still needs some work - 2006 Scion XB
  By karmabad - April 8 - 7:06 pm

  I have to be honest, you cannot beat the price, and its made by Toyota! You will not believe the amount of space this thing has, not to mention an amazing panoramic style windshield.

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  great car - 2005 Scion TC
  By michaelj - April 4 - 12:16 am

  Outstanding car. Have had no problems with 8000 miles so far. The fit and finish is of Lexus caliber.

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  Great Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By p2k17 - April 1 - 10:00 pm

  I got the car in late August and so far I have put on about 3,000 miles. I love everything about it from the ride quality to build quality. The panoramic roof is great for a standard feature. It looks like a BMW and drives smoothly. Its the best car and the best deal compared to the Mazda3 and Honda Civic. I have no complaints.

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  awesome car - 2004 Scion xA
  By kimbr - April 1 - 10:00 am

  this car is fun to drive easy to fit in almost any parking spot and is great on gas. Its a must have car.

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  I LOVE my new Scion Xb !!!!! - 2004 Scion XB
  By dianeunicorn - April 1 - 10:00 am

  I just got my new Xb. It is everything and more than i expected. I even got 34 mph with my first take of gas. It is so comfortable and fun to drive! Lots of room, handles great for such a high vehicle. You cant beat this car for the price!!

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  Little car, big package - 2005 Scion XB
  By abercrombie_guy_38 - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Without a doubt, the xB is one of the weirdest looking cars on the road. But thats not where the good stuff ends. Its packed with tons of features that would normally be options or wouldnt even exist on other cars in this price range. It has great fuel economy, a nice ride, and a huge amount of interior space. Dont let the 108 horsepower engine fool you, theres plenty of power to go around and the motor feels a lot more powerful than what it really is. Handling is great for this price range and so is safety. If youre looking for a great car that will attract a lot of attention for not that much money, look at the xB.

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  throw away car - 2006 Scion XB
  By dan - April 1 - 12:16 am

  Ok Im not going to say whats bad because I will be here for hours. Im just gonna say whats good reliability and mpg and thats it.