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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Good people/stuff Hauler - 2010 Scion XB
  By Ollie - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I have owned a 2009 Scion Xb for over 2 years and have driven mine for 44,000 miles. It is a good car but not a great car. I bought it for fun to drive, which it is very fun the way mine is equipped, but not a great commuter vehicle. Fit and finish are ok, not as good as other Toyotas and definitely not up to Honda/Subaru like quality. There are some rough plastics and some of the interior design elements are quirky(like the useless drivers armrest). Mine has the TRD lowering springs and 19" TRD alloy wheels which make it look killer. However, as a commuter vehicle it makes the ride extremely harsh. Honda Fit a better choice for a similar price or stretch the budget and get a VW Golf.

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  Great Car, Lots Of Fun To Drive - 2011 Scion XB
  By dkane1113 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I wanted an SUV or a minivan, but they were way too pricey. This car feels like an SUV when you are inside it. I feel higher up then a regular car which I love. It has a peppy engine, great handling and is fun looking. I also love the standard features that came with it (USB, AUX, power windows & locks, automatic door lock & unlock on key, etc.. The car also feels very sturdy & is not cheaply made. It feels spacious inside and I like the head and leg room too. It is a small car that feels bigger than it is and has plenty of room for my 2 kids, husband, dog and I. I just love it!

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  Scion Xa - Little to Complain About - 2006 Scion xA
  By P. Wood - December 4 - 4:40 am

  I love this car and have only one thing I would improve on it , the power. It takes too long to warm up and change gears. It handles great and is extremely easy to park. Ive had other compacts with the same engine specs. that seemed to be a little more powerful. The interior fits a short person comfortably, and tall people dont feel closed in. The exterior and style are attractive and eye-catching. The accessories are impressive - only one thing is needed there, someway to fit in a console. All-in-all, I will buy another one if they are around when I need my next car.

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  Dont know what this means? - 2005 Scion TC
  By What does this mean? - December 1 - 6:36 pm

  A fun and inexpensive car to drive and own.

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  Kool Scion - 2006 Scion TC
  By CK - November 30 - 6:50 pm

  Its been 8 months since I purchased my new Scion tC. It is an excellent car for the price. My only suggestion would be to increase the length of the car a little bit, so it looks more sleek and nice. The drive is very comfortable and its a very stable car .

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  LOVE my XB - 2004 Scion XB
  By niftynails - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I am in love with this unique little/big car! Driving it is fun and spunky. Went from a gas guzzling Chevy gun boat to this little sipper. Love the attention it gets on the street. The expansive windows are wonderful. Entry and exit is very easy. Driving use to be a drudge but now I am loving it.

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  65 & holding - 2005 Scion xA
  By 2005 scion xa - November 29 - 11:26 pm

  over all peppier then expected, so easy to park and holds all our grocerys in trunk area, we were looking for mileage (30 mpg +), price, ease of handling

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  Foxy Boxy - 2005 Scion XB
  By apryl - November 29 - 8:56 am

  I traded in my Toyota RAV4 for my 2005 Scion xB. I really didnt like it at first because it looked wierd. After driving it for three months, I love it! It has much better handling than the RAV, it gets better gas mileage, and has much, much more room. I can easily fit two car seats in the back. I work at a box company, and I had someone say "just cause you work at a box company, doesnt mean you have to drive one," if they only knew! :) I love it. Mine has an awesome color, my subs sound way better in this than the RAV, and it is fun to stand out.

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  First Car.. - 2004 Scion xA
  By Zach - November 28 - 8:13 pm

  Umm ive driven more than one car but only owned the XA and im very happy with it. I rear ended someone and the grill on the car wasnt stock..? so that cost me about $500 more. The gas pump is weird. When i go to fill up gas the pump kicks off a lot so i have to manual fill my tank most of the time.. annoying but not to inconvenient.

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  Excellent - 2006 Scion TC
  By Barbara Smith - November 28 - 1:40 pm

  I have loved my Scion tC from the day I picked it up at the dealership. It handles so very well for me. The pickup is great when starting up. I am a short woman and I love that the car doesnt seem to overwhelm me with size.