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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  xBs Biggest Problem - 2006 Scion XB
  By Surmar - March 31 - 12:06 pm

  I absolutely love my Scion xB. The only problem I have had with it is the windshield keeps cracking. I took it to the dealer before he even looked at it he automatically said the "stone chip" which I really didnt think twice about until I searched the internet. It seems a lot of people have this same exact problem their windshield. It cracks for no apparent reason, starting at above the rear view mirror. I went back to the dealer to complain about it. All he said was, "well what do you expect the windshield is straight up and down." If they pitch you that line, dont buy into it. I had a Jeep Wrangler for 10 years with 200,000 miles on it. The windshield is almost vertical and it never cracked.

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  for the value - 2005 Scion XB
  By fmtmp - March 31 - 10:00 am

  The most obvious characteristic of this car is the design. I have watched people gawking at it all over the place. When I tell them what I paid (14500, they are shocked assuming it was a 20K car. I still havent seen another one in my color (burgundy red) so the sense of uniqueness is lasting. Overall it is a great value, particularly in terms of the use of space and the less apparent features like stability control and traction control. Build quality is another asset. The car is not perfect, however, as Ill outline below but for the price and standard features, can one complain?

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  excelent - 2005 Scion XB
  By skitz - March 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is awsome i love it so much

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  Love It! - 2005 Scion TC
  By smacklin - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive my new tC! Its fun, sporty and gets lots of inquisitive looks. I have 1,100 miles on it and have gotten around 29 MPG already.

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  12333a - 2005 Scion TC
  By Trey Hugga - March 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is as stable as a castle, and even without the supercharger can take Civics!! Luxurious, fun, pleasing to the eye, and a great value that keeps you happy at the pump.

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  My ToyCar (TC) - 2005 Scion TC
  By mabooty - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Have a great impression from other driver, smooth to drive, a lot of admirers of this car. The look of this car I would say "half BMW, half TSX, half G35 coupe".

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  I would buy another.... - 2006 Scion XB
  By oldskool55 - March 31 - 3:30 am

  I looked at Honda, Hyundai and Toyota cars and suvs and the xb won hands down. My local dealers didnt have any in stock so I found mine at seeger Toyota in St. Louis, mo. I flew in and my salesman even picked me up at the airport and was truly a great guy that had my xb washed and full of fuel. I am in my 50s and own and drive street rods and race cars I still have a blast driving my little"xbox" I also get a chuckle out of the other old guys that dont get it.

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  Smart Design - 2006 Scion XB
  By Ed - March 30 - 2:13 pm

  This is my first new car. I did not like it until I drove it, but then I knew right away that it was the car that I had to have. Unless you plan on drag racing, the engine gets the job done. The interior design is brilliant. The head room is amazing and the leg room in the front and rear is more than most SUVs. The rear seats fold flat to make room for cargo. The sound system is fantastic with the iPod aux hook up. The automatic was sluggish so I went with the manual. I get between 33-37 mpg depending on how much highway driving is done on each tank, much better than EPA estimates. For the price and standard features, this car is a steal.

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  piece of junk - 2010 Scion XD
  By crazy bee - March 30 - 1:43 am

  It vibrates really bad no matter how bad the road is. I experience crazy spooky braking issues. I really like the fuel economy i get with this car. It really doesnt have much balls to get up and go(40mph-70mph). interior is pretty comfortable however a few more gauges would be nice. Cargo space is very limited but i think it is ok for normal everyday activities. The vehicle is low to the ground which make it very easy to get in or out.

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  Reliable Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By DMWilks - March 28 - 2:20 am

  I bought my Scion back in June of 07. I have had NO problems with it. I disagree that the car handles bad in the rain. I live in florida where it rains a lot and I feel pretty safe when I drive it. It is a peppy little car when needed. There is a lot of room for rear passengers and I love the sleek looking silver accents . Great car for the money.