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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Outside the demographic - 2008 Scion XB
  By oldman - December 14 - 8:20 am

  Although I am outside the standard age demographic, they let me buy an Xb anyway. After years of driving a fairly large SUV, I was looking to go smaller and more fuel-efficient. I looked at a handful of other sedans/wagons and the Scion Xb was the only car in which I felt comfortable (I am fairly tall). In the others cars, I was either staring into the sun-visor or hunching over to see out of the front window. The Xb also has enough back seat and cargo room for traveling with my kids, a worry I had in giving up the SUV. On a recent trip, we fit four suitcases and three bags of golf clubs in the back. No more worries on space. I also got 31 MPG on that trip.

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  Solid Car thats Stylish too - 2006 Scion TC
  By billy - December 13 - 12:30 am

  This car is my first new car purchase, after graduating college I was looking for a stylish looking car that would be reliable as well. The scion tC is that car. Pros: Great looking, nice stereo, quick for a 4-cyl., interior design is stylish, back seats a roomy and all seats are comfortable and this car defenitly looks more exensive than it is (will get expensive when you add options like I did) and you can customize it. Cons: loud engine, rims scratch real easy, small trunk (but who really cares about trunk space). Overall I give this car a B and it is the perfect choice for a first car.

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  My Horrible Experience - 2005 Scion TC
  By Billy - December 12 - 11:46 pm

  I bought this car with 167 mi. on it and since I drove it off the lot its been nothing but problems. It has been in the shop 6 weeks total time, has been repainted, and Im still having problems with it. The sunroof wont stop creaking (even though Ive had it "fixed" twice), the CD player broke, the ac/heat button are sticking for some unknown reason, and sometimes the heat doesnt even work. Worst car I have EVER owned.

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  Scionized - 2004 Scion XB
  By playrawkstar - December 12 - 10:00 am

  My Scion XB has provided an awesome driving experience. Its spacious interior and great gas mileage make it an A+ automobile. Its fun on the road - handles well and has a good amount of pep considering its small engine size. Its definitely a city car, but runs just fine on the freeway...

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  Affordable and Fun to Drive - 2008 Scion TC
  By Mike Nemo - December 8 - 10:23 pm

  This car is definitely more fun to drive than a Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer or Eclipse. It handles great on the highway and on back roads. Brakes are excellent. It really turns peoples heads when you pass. It is affordable and with so many factory accessories very easy to customize from the initial purchase.

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  Fantastic, Ultra-Reliable Car - 2010 Scion TC
  By ray137 - December 7 - 3:43 pm

  Mine is a black 2006. This same model carries all the way over to 2010. I now have 115,000 on it and the only things I have done are oil changes, transmission fluid, new brakes, and tires. Still runs like brand new. You will not find any other car out there for under 18 grand that has all the features of this vehicle. The 5-speed shifter is buttery smooth, even at 115,000. There is plenty of low and mid-range torque. I drop it into 3rd and hit the gas to merge onto highway and it blasts forward with no issues. Although the huge glass sunroof makes it top heavy, the car still handles corners very well. Plenty of power. If you want more power, then you will have to pay much more than 18 grand.

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  Love the Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Justin - December 7 - 12:06 pm

  I love driving the car, a 5-speed manual. It has 18 inch rims supercharged, cold air intake, and the TRD exhaust. It even has custom seats that has Supercharged engraved on them. The only complaints I have is that it is so inexpensive to buy at $17,000 used, yet the parts are expensive around $350 for one tire and $515 for front brakes. Other than that, the car is very quick and is a lot fun to drive. The car gets a lot of looks no matter where you go.

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  Love this little car! - 2008 Scion XD
  By plewis - December 6 - 11:30 am

  I just love my Scion xD! It is very comfortable to drive, handles well and the savings on gas is outstanding. I used to drive a Hyundai Santa Fe and while I loved that car as well, the gas costs were starting to get old. The knowledge that it is a Toyota product was also a deciding factor. I went into the dealership with the intent purpose of buying a Toyota and when I compared the "standard" options of the Matrix against those of the xD, it was no contest. Not to mention the price which was a lot less for the xD.

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  Get the Shifter! - 2007 Scion TC
  By Nick - December 6 - 10:53 am

  I have put only 300 miles on the car, but I love it. I drove it for two days with stock shifter and then had a short throw installed. It was the best money I ever spent, it makes a huge difference. I highly recommend this as an upgrade. Also, the strut bar has really stiffened up the front end. The accelerator is touchy and the hydraulic clutch takes a little getting used to. I still havent mastered it yet. For the money, you cannot beat this car. But I truly think it is for someone who wants a inexpensive sporty car, not a touring vehicle. For those of you who are interested, 75mph = 3,500 RPM so dont be surprised on the freeway when there is probably a little more engine noise then you are used to.

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  Fun and Safe! - 2005 Scion TC
  By goofy11 - December 5 - 5:30 pm

  I owned this car for nine months and really enjoyed it while it lasted. We had no problems with the car when we bought it from a friend. The car drives and handles very well for an affordable car. I took it to the track a couple of times and it surprised a professional driver on how well it handles and manages to keep up with a modded Subaru sti, honda s2000, and even a corvette in the corners (although it didnt have the power to keep up on the straights). The car has very good performance for the price. I recommend the manual. The reason why i didnt own this car to long is because it was totaled in a freak accident at 70 miles an hour, however I was able to walkaway completely unharme