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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Very cool car but in the end UNIMPRESSIVE - 2009 Scion XB
  By Big Daddy WC - January 25 - 5:00 am

  The Good: Huge interior. I am 63" and have plenty of headroom. Legroom for the driver is average. Front Seat passenger legroom is good. You can lay the back seats down and haul a bunch. Peppy engine and sound system is good. Handles really well. Toyota Camry engine so it is a reliable engine. The Bad: - The seats. Horrible. Arm rest for the driver is way to low and slender. Worthless. The passenger arm rest is... wait, there is NO armrest. Really?? Only 1 power adapter in the entire vehicle. The center console is tiny, too low and pretty much useless. The trim is cheap. The weather stripping on the drivers side window lost its felt (or whatever it is) and the window bound up on the stripping when lowering it. Car Max extended warranty would not cover. Had to take a razor and cut it out, else spend $500 for a new door panel. The ride is horrible. You feel every bump. If you are just using this for a trip here and there around town or for short commutes then it is ok. I am using for a daily commute and it is abysmal. There really is no intermittent wiper. The intermittent setting cant be adjusted so it is just a lower low setting. There is a horrible blind spot on the passenger side when backing out of parking spaces. The fenders, hood, etc will dent if a leaf falls on it. I barely leaned up against it and accidentally dented it. Overall: If you want a car for short commutes or a safe car for teen drivers then this is it. Otherwise buy a Camry or Corolla.

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  instant attitude. - 2006 Scion TC
  By ikbot - January 24 - 8:13 pm

  I have owned this car for two years now and I am ready to write a review. The low sloping roof reminds me of the custom 1950s mercs. The monster sunroofs add to the attitude. As far as performance goes, I have no complaints. The manual transmission model comes with a 4:20 final gear ratio. (thems drag racing gears). The 5 speed can take a little bit to get used to with the electronic throttle control, but once you get it figured out you will own the road. To sum it up, this is the best car I have ever owned. If this car were $5,000 more, I would pay it and still be just as content. As far as fuel economy goes.I have averaged 40 mpg on long trips at 65 mph. Much better than advertised.

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  scion2012 - 2012 Scion TC
  By scion12 - January 23 - 11:02 pm

  Traded 2003 RSX Acura. Have had it since Sep. 2012, have driven it 9000 miles. Best bang for the buck considering the 180hp smooth reving engine. incredible value: panoramic sunroof, 300 watts blue tooth pioneer, 18in alloys, flat bottom thick steering, six speed auto...Very comfortable, roomy inside, leg room is incredible in the back, cargo room huge, comfortable ride for a coupe, handling is prdictable and sharp. huge brake calibers. This car is begging to be driven cross country. looks expensive, you donnt see many on the roads. Yes the interior is plasticy as others have mentioned, but its only $20k.

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  Proud Owner - 2005 Scion XB
  By gatopapi - January 23 - 8:30 pm

  I bought my XB in late 2005 and got some time to drive it before the roads got wet. Every time I get out on the road I get looked at from every corner. If they like my car or hate it with everything they got they still look and thats all I need. I love it from the ride to gas miles. At first I had to let some air out of the tires to easy up the ride on bumps but other than that I have not one complaint.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2008 Scion XB
  By Buzz - January 23 - 12:33 am

  After driving 8000 miles in a variety of scenarios, city and freeway, I have never experienced less than 28.0 mpg. High of 31.0. Fun to drive, quiet, good acceleration, great sound system. Very roomy considering outside dimensions. A/C performs well, even in AZ. Complaint, 1st gear-5speed, is geared too low. Single price, adjusted for delivery, is a welcome feature.

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  mini suv modified - 2004 Scion xA
  By agapekid - January 17 - 10:00 am

  i was looking for a crv or a rav4. but after taking a look at the scion i realized that it was close enuff to both except for the fact that it was higher. mileage beats any of the mini suvs out there. space-wise its close enuff. the trunk space could be a bit bigger, but the 60/40 split for the back seats help a lot. its roomier than it looks. 108 hp engine with 105 torque, so i wouldnt try to lug anything around. but i dont recommend you do that with a rav4 or a crv anyway. handles good. suspension is decent for a japanese car. dont expect it to be a dodge. overall, i think its a great purchase. itll keep me goin for a LONG while.

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  I love my Toyota...and Scion. - 2004 Scion XB
  By MotegiScion - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I am considered generation Y and a loyal Toyota customer. In my 24 years, I have owned three Toyota Celicas. I was looking for a new car, for my daily commute into Washington, DC. I needed a 4-door (to handle my morning and evening commuters), but it also needed to be small enough to maneuver through DCs crowded roads. The high gas mileage, reliable performance, attractive styling, and low cost were everything that I hoped for in my next car... and it stayed in the Toyota family. I am MORE than satisfied with the purchase of my first NEW car.

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  Great entry level car - 2008 Scion XD
  By john - January 16 - 11:20 pm

  It was between the Scion xD and the Honda Fit. I test drove the fit and then the xD and there was no decision to be made - the xD easily. The cars are comparable, except the engine. You can really feel the xDs power compared to the Fit, and it makes the Fit feel cheap. The only 2 issues with the xD: 1) The cabin ride is not very quiet. If you like a silent ride, this is NOT the car for you. 2) No arm rest. I have a stick, so this isnt so much of an issue. But if I had an auto, this would drive me insane.

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  Love my "mini UPS truck" - 2010 Scion XB
  By tony181 - January 11 - 2:49 pm

  My 2010 XB has been almost exactly the vehicle that meets my needs. My wifes car is a 2009 Camry SE. Have owned for 2.5 years (19,000 miles). Comfortable, roomy vehicle for around the town driving (I am 62"). Had a problem with comfortable driving position-adding lumbar solved that problem. Fun to drive & handles great-I added sway bar. Lots of power. Cargo capacity tremendous for size vehicle. Wish interior was a bit nicer-no padding on door armrests among other such items.

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  awesome joy ride - 2009 Scion XB
  By hotmama - January 10 - 1:36 pm

  I owned this car for almost 9 months now, and so far I do really enjoy the comfort of my car, sometimes id Rather seat in the back if my sister can drive for me nor my friends because the seats are so comfy specially the back seat. And its gas saver and the a/c is really really cold and I have plenty of room in the back, I need it for my sons stroller. And I really recommend this car you will never regret it.