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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  Great Car! - 2008 Scion XD
  By HappyScionOwner - March 21 - 7:16 pm

  Overall this is an excellent car. Its tiny on the outside (although it looks muscular) but its really surprising how much room there is inside. Plenty of leg and head room in the front and back seats. This allows for a spirited drive and easy parking with plenty of comfort and utility. Nice compromise. Gas mileage is decent although I get better economy in my larger Corolla. The engine is nice and smooth with plenty of power, although it seems a little rough when first accelerating with the automatic. I expect amazing reliability, just like all Toyotas. Although its nice to have the aux and iPod inputs on the stereo, the sound quality is poor. Not enough mids.

• 

  Never Again - 2005 Scion xA
  By Dont Buy One - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This is the biggest mistake I have ever made. I have had to take this car back to the dealership (Folsom, California) several times. The electrical system is sub-par. The dealership has been a joke.

• 

  Scion Xb is the best commuter car ever - 2005 Scion XB
  By scionlover - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is most excellent in all catagories that matter to me: visibility, leg room, mileage, ability to easily creep along in heavy traffic, squeezing into tight parking, handling, sports car feel, cargo space, fun to drive.

• 

  New Car - 2005 Scion XB
  By meet - March 21 - 10:00 am

  so far my experience has been great. Fuel consumption is good. A little unsteady in strong wind on bridges! The car gets lots of "looks" Rear door is easy to use.

• 

  the best - 2005 Scion XB
  By goyaman - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The XB is a very comfortable and reliable car. Doesnt have much power but is used more by me as a cruising car. I love the fact that anywhere you go you will always get noticed.

• 

  Finally they get it - 2005 Scion TC
  By CortPrince - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This car comes with many features that I would never have dreamed would be made available at such an affordable price. Many of those features are made available as either dealership options or after-market enhancements. I am thankful for this companys gracious and bold move in this direction.

• 

  Best Car! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Sara - March 19 - 6:10 pm

  We bought my 17 year old sister this car for her birthday and it was the best investment. Other then it taking forever to locate a Scion tC. This car is well worth it. Its amazing that all of the features come standard, since I had to pay more $ to upgrade my Acura RSX with the same features. It is so much fun to drive and such a head turner. Ive had a lot of cars and I would trade my RSX in in a heartbeat for this car! Bonus: The first 3 oil changes are free! You cant go wrong with the price and the overall quality of the car. The cars are just very hard to locate, because of their popularity.

• 

  Never let me down - 2006 Scion TC
  By Heather Pelley - March 15 - 3:33 pm

  Reliable car, great price point, never had any big issues. It does consume quite a bit of oil in between oil changes so I add a few quarts here and there but no other real problems. I took several long road trips in this car and always felt safe. The only complaint I have is that there is a HUGE blind spot on the passenger side so you really have to turn your head and look, you cannot rely on the side view mirror.

• 

  Updated Review - 2006 Scion xA
  By Rogna - March 12 - 5:30 pm

  The longer I own my little Scion xA the more I love it. Wherever I go people ask me, "What is it?" It is a great ice breaker. This car is the most fun to drive. I love it. I get about 30 - 32 MPG and that is just driving around town in traffic. One man, a borough worker, pulled his backhoe up to our driveway as he was passing by, stopped, and asked what kind of car it was. My 6 1" husband, who had bought a Toyota Tacoma a week before, said he would buy the xA if he did not need a truck. He loves it. This car reminds me of the USA TV channels advertisement: "Characters Wanted." Its for the person who is an individualist. We truly *love* it!

• 

  Great Calue and the Best SUV Alternative - 2009 Scion XB
  By BoomerBabe - March 11 - 7:06 pm

  With less than 5,000 miles racked up, I like my xB more each time I drive it. I did extensive research before I bought, even considering a CRV or Rav4. But I always came back to the xB for its fuel efficiency, interior space, cargo room and price. It handles well and with 158 hp it is much more responsive than some others in its class, like the Honda Fit.