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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Generally OK, some issues need attention - 2005 Scion xA
  By Ed man - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Wiper motor burned out in less than 1 day. Seat belt clip broke day 5. Multiple LOUD rattle developed. Not good mileage. Radio exptememly difficult to figure out and to operate when you do. Radio rates a 1 out of ten. I may replace it.

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  WHAT A GREAT CAR - 2005 Scion XB
  By BIG MIKE - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I GOT MY XB IN JULY AND I LOVE IT..7 SPOKE 17" WHEELS AND YOKAHAMA TIRES MADE IT LOOK COOL, BUT THE TRD 2" LOWERING SPRINGS DID THE TRICK..MY CAR IS BLUE PEARL AND I PUT THE GRAY FLAME DECALS ON IT..THE CARBON FIBER DASH PILLARS GAS DOOR AND REAR SPOILER LOOK AWSOME.THE 6 DISC CD FROM PIONEER WORKS GREAT AND I ALSO GOT THE NEON BLUE LIGHTING PACKAGE AND SPORT PEDALS..HAD THE FRONT WINDOWS TINTED TO MATCH THE BACK..I GET MORE LOOKS AND THUMBS UP IN THIS CAR THAN ON MY 50K DOLLAR CHOPPER..THANKS TOYOTA FOR SUCH AN AWSOME CAR...BY THE WAY IM 46 YEARS OLD NOT A KID..THIS CAR MAKES ME ACT LIKE A KID THOUGH..

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  2 Thumbs up! =) - 2005 Scion TC
  By Michi - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I cant expect anything more. Its awesome. Good on fuel, spacious, and economically priced.

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  FUn FUN FUN - 2005 Scion TC
  By Eshorty2 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Great car to get your bang for your buck!

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  Nifty Thrifty Handy Dandy - 2006 Scion xA
  By cats_meow - February 6 - 11:12 am

  PRos: -Excellent on gas (better than my bfs 03 civic hybrid) -Standard Mp3 AUdio Aux -Sits high which gives the illusion of more space & provides the driver w/false bravatto in traffic -Rear-seats fold down for strange situations that require adequate storage Cons: -Blind Spots -WIde handling on turns -Slippy-slides in rain -Poor AC power (On the highest setting, its not comparable to a low setting on my 03 Saturn Ion) -Low placement of cup holders, similar to a truck (I dropped a tea on the floor of the car, a wk after I owned it trying to get it into the cup-holder) Conclusion: It can provide flat-bed space, low maintanance costs & poor AC power but your pockets will smile!

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  Great car - 2008 Scion TC
  By wizard2788 - February 3 - 11:53 pm

  Its a pretty good car for an affordable price. Very good looking and decent mileage as well as performance. Comes with lots of great standard features and no need to spend more time/money trying to add features.

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  Great replacement for 14 mpg Jeep - 2009 Scion XD
  By Lancoman - February 2 - 1:13 am

  Purchased this vehicle during "Cash for Clunkers" (Thank you to all tax payers). Inside space is excellent; I am 61" and my head does not hit the roof > amazing. Got the Release 2 model in Wasabi Green > nice. Radio w/GPS, accent lights are main adds. I get about 36 mpg at 70 mph most times. Looked at Honda Fit; decided not be yet another Honda sheep.

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  cool car - 2005 Scion XB
  By busdriver8 - January 31 - 6:54 am

  i purchased my 05 about a month ago. camaflage green cool color. i also own a civic hybrid but there was no trunk space for my wifes wheel chair so i went looking for a good used car for around $8000. there was the xB@ my local toyota. 37850 on the clock no dents dings just 1 small scratch. paid a little more but not only do i ave 36mpg plentu of room for the kids wheelchair but my leg and head room is superior. nice for a budget car. the only thing i miss is cruise control but hey cant have everything. and mommas happy with it. and if mommas happy we are all happy.

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  Scion xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Theresa Brown - January 29 - 3:50 pm

  This is the greatest car I have ever had. It is good-looking and stands out from all the rest. I get a lot of looks and questions from bystanders. It is a great family car, with a whole lot of room. It drives and handles absolutely fantastic. I love this car.

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  Love my yellow tc! - 2012 Scion TC
  By urbandk8 - January 26 - 7:55 pm

  We love our TC! It is fun to drive, easy on the eyes, and has all the safety features that we were looking for. I love that the backseat is large and that the passenger and driver seats move all the way to the dashboard for easy entrance and to and from the back seat. My husband loves to drive this car and also loves the fact that he is 69 (all legs) and fits comfortably!