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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By Dave - November 28 - 5:23 am

  I do not own the tC yet but plan to own the 2006 Scion tC in my opinion I believe it is the best brand new car out their for under 20,000 dollars. I also recommend other into buying this car.

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  Scion 2008 XD - 2008 Scion XD
  By mickimouse - November 27 - 10:53 pm

  I have enjoyed driving this car. I had a noise in the front left tire when doing U turns which caused some feathering on the tire. The dealership looked at and said there was no problem and rotated the tires. I havent had the problem since.

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  2009 Scion TC - 2009 Scion TC
  By Carly - November 26 - 9:26 pm

  I bought my Scion TC after driving almost every car on the market that was under $25,000 and being a previous Mazda salesperson and Mazda3 owner. I fell in love with the vehicle inside and out. I have had 2 problems with the car not starting and Toyota cannot figure out the problem. When I took the car in for service they always give me a loaner car and always call me with updates on its status. Its been a few months since the problem and I love the car otherwise.

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  Love my XB! - 2006 Scion XB
  By LDB - November 24 - 9:50 pm

  We used to make fun of these cars, now we love em! Its fun to drive and is REALLY spacious on the inside. Its gas mileage is great. Plus its made by Toyota, you cant go wrong there. It has a great price for a new car. It is better suited for shorter distance driving. It is marketed toward the 20-something crowd, but it is actually bought by families and older adults. Dont let the marketing influence your decision, just test drive one.

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  30k and still going - 2007 Scion TC
  By Manny - November 24 - 2:36 pm

  Been driving this car for over 3 years now and still love it. The only problems that I had with the car are the HVAC lights would go out when the headlights were turned on and tires wear out pretty quickly. (To fix the HVAC light, you had to resolder the T302 transistor legs on the HVAC circuit board.)

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2006 Scion TC
  By bc8512 - November 23 - 5:53 am

  The tC is a great car! Ive owned it for one year and I love it. It is fun to drive and peppy. My freinds and co-workers all want to drive it. It has only one minor problem which is a squeek under the dash below the steering column at times. I bought this car to commute to work and enjoy the ride, even in traffic. It has a great stance and looks somewhat like a BMW. What you get for the money in this car cannot be beat by any manufacurer. It will last because its a Toyota. A co- worker has tried to by a used one but cant find one except for $2,000 more than what I paid new. That should speak volumes about the resale value. I highly recommend this car.

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  Brand New Scion - 2006 Scion xA
  By Rogna - November 22 - 4:53 am

  We have been a Toyota family since 198?. I just got my first Scion yesterday. So far, everthing has been excellent. The seats are the most comfortable Ive ever had in a car. It drove very smoothly and has a lot of room inside and a lot of pick up for such a small car. I will return to re-rate it when I have had it longer. My last Toyota was 11 years old and I put 33,750 miles on it. This Scion is my first automatic. Ive had stick shifts all my life. I kept looking for the clutch, LOL. I am 4 8" tall and I can reach the pedals on this new Scion. I had to add blocks to my past cars. Yet this Scion is a nice fit for my 6 1" husband.

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  Nice Car For Money - 2008 Scion TC
  By YungandFun - November 20 - 2:23 pm

  I have had my tC for 5 months and Im still in love with it. Every time i go out to my car i smile because of how GREAT it looks. I am a college student and it always turns heads especially with the sunroof open.

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  Love my Toaster - 2006 Scion XB
  By jeffieboy - November 19 - 11:23 pm

  From day one, I enjoyed owning this car. I got the Special Edition RS 3.0 in Envy Green and it turns heads. With the front and rear sway bars and cold air intake package installed, its performance seems to have increased and it handles very nicely. Everyone that rides in the rear seat remarks on how roomy it is. With the rear seats down it swallowed a 5,500 watt generator in the box with room to spare. At 9,500 miles, nothing has broken yet, and I do not expect any failures. So far 31.8 mpg I am getting on average and 34 on a 1,600 mile trip at highway speeds with the a/c on.

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  "MY SCION " WHATS NOT TO LOVE! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Lana T. - November 19 - 12:56 am

  I have driven alot of cars in my life time (Im 60 yrs old)and I have never been so excited as I am about my new Scion. Strangers are always asking me about my car when Im at a gas station or food shopping. I even nicked named my vehicle "Silver bullet" because it has lots of kick power for a 4 cylinder automibile. I also like the Large front windshield and the rear windows that go down all the way. This car is very affordable, comfortable and puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Whats not to love!