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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Love It! - 2006 Scion TC
  By conrad - January 21 - 12:30 am

  When the gas prices started rocketing, I thought it best to get rid of my beloved Jeep Wrangler. What I ended up with was the hotest car on the market for the price, the Scion tC. Instead of the 15 mpg / hwy that I was getting I now get 30!!

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  Roomy with a View - 2005 Scion XB
  By V Cambalik - January 19 - 8:40 am

  I look for fuel economy and roominess when I buy a car. My Scion delivered both. It has been 18 years since I have purchased a new car and I looked extensively at all options before I bought my Scion XB. I am an ecologically-minded, 50-something teacher at a Catholic school so the 30+ mpg that my Scion gets allows me to sleep easily at night. I also do catering, so the fold-down rear seats allow me to transport lots of food! I was worried about upstate NYs snowfall being a challenge, but my Scion fitted with Toyo snow tires charged through on even the worst days! The sound system is GREAT! Please make future models with greater adjustability of the drivers seat and non-chip-able paint.

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  One great car for the money - 2008 Scion TC
  By GENE WAFFLE - January 16 - 3:06 pm

  Awesome vehicle for the money spent. I opted for the automatic for driving around DC and northern VA, shifting is a pain, car has excellent pickup for a four cylinder, good gas mileage ( I average around 30 city/34 on hwy loaded with features, power windows/locks, power sun roof, great stereo sound for stock system, great looking alloy wheels quite decent in snow so far with stock tires (Yokohama S32a) I really love the car, put on spoiler and really looks sharp which seems like no one else in NY does. And this car is not just for young people, I am 42 and I love it

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  Excellent Ride - 2008 Scion XB
  By Chris - January 15 - 9:43 pm

  This car has been perfect for my family and golden retriever. After 1200 miles everything is very smooth and still fun to drive. I am getting 26 mpg with big 18x7.5 inch rims so I am happy. Went with the teal and I still think its the best color choice available. The dash area is plain but I love all the compartments. They are much more usable with added rubber pads. The drive is a bit noisy on bigger rims/wheels, but I plan on adding my own sound deadening to the floor.

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  hELOF A FUN CAR - 2004 Scion xA
  By BEARINJAX - January 15 - 2:00 am

  THE GAS MILEAGE IS GREAT, GET AWESOME LOOKS FROM PEOPLE, ALL AND ALL A GREAT CAR

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  New Scion xB - 2004 Scion XB
  By max&katy - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The ride in this vehicle is exceptionally smooth. It has good pick- up speed and handles well around corners: really grips the road. They are accurate about the mileage, too. My first tank averaged 30 mpg, and that was with a week of city and highway driving. The interior is VERY roomy. Even when the front seats are all the way back, there is still plenty of leg room for the back seat passengers.

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  A good choice. - 2008 Scion XD
  By Kerwin - January 15 - 1:16 am

  I went from a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a V6 Cadillac CTS and now to a Scion xD, and let me tell you this car is really nice and good. My car insurance went way down, is a really safe car and comfortable. Is really good in MPG. I dont miss my Cadillac anymore, I love this car.

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  Good Little Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By JC3 - January 14 - 9:53 am

  Very well thought out car. We really like it. Fuel economy is a little less than I would like (real world) 24 city. We like it enough that we are going to buy a 2nd one!

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  PICK UP ONE SOON!!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By JEMES - January 10 - 10:00 am

  ME AND MY WIFE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN APRIL OF 04. AT FIRST WE WERE SKEPTIC ABOUT PURCHASING THIS "SHOE BOX" AS PEOPLE REFERE TO IT. IN ALL ODDS THIS PURCHASE WAS ONE OF THE BEST MOVES WE MADE, THE CAR IS AMAZING! SPACIOUS, GOOD ON GAS,VERY STYLISH WE NOW CUSTOMIZED IT TO FIT OUR STYLE OFCOURSE. I REALY DO RECOMEND ONE.

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  So far so good! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Shu Box - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving the heck out of it and for a little car with a ton of room inside, it has taken all I can give it, stuff in it, and still get me to work and back cheaply...