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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Cute as a Button - 2004 Scion xA
  By Alicia - October 29 - 8:30 am

  I love, love, love this car. The gas mileage is fantastic!

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  Inland Northwest Toaster - 2005 Scion XB
  By Mikey - October 29 - 2:10 am

  i went looking for "something that gets a lot of MPGs" without much hope of being able to afford anything cool or fun. i was thinking hyundai, kia, or chevy aveo and was blown away when i found out i could have a scion for about the same (comparably equipped) price. i love my toaster! it can be thrown into corners like a sports car, is comfy on long trips, comfortably seats four fullsize american adults, and still gets 35 mpg! american car companies oughtta be taking notes!!

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  Poised for the Future - 2006 Scion xA
  By Sippin Gas - October 27 - 10:43 pm

  Ive been attracted to the Scion xA from the first test drive. Its utilitarian, reliable, fuel efficient and fun to drive. And its so darn cute! But I almost didnt buy it because Toyota does a terrible job of supplying dealers with cars that have both a 5-speed transmission and side head/torso airbags. Finally, I found one with the side balloons and bought it. Im glad that I did. The first tank of gas delivered 35 mpg overall. I knew that Nissan, Honda and Toyota (with the Yaris) will debut similar little hatchbacks next year. The spy photos of those cars revealed they lack the elan and classy look of my xA. Im sure that the xAs cache, and its excellent fuel economy, will ensure it retains a high resale value.

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  Outside the Target - 2006 Scion TC
  By tvguyjake - October 26 - 10:36 pm

  Traded in an 02 Jeep Liberty for my Scion tC...what a difference. The ride quality, tight steering, balanced handling, low-end torque...all with reknowned Toyota build-quality. I spent 4 months looking for a new ride,,,,drove them all; and still cannot believe all the standard features packed from Scion for $17,000.

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  Most Bang for Your Buck - 2005 Scion xA
  By kcturbo - October 26 - 10:50 am

  I have a silver 5-speed Scion xA with 16 inch wheels, fog lights, a security system, and tinted windows. It is the best $15,000 that I have ever spent on a car. The fun to drive factor with this car is an A+. I get an average of 30 miles to the gallon mostly driving city miles. I get lots of thumbs up. People really like the looks of the car. The location of the speedo and radio controls took some getting used to, but are OK. I still would rather have a dial control for the volume. Last month we had our first snow storm and I was worried about this little car, but it did GREAT! It has some rattles but Metallica or Shinedown drown them out just fine. If the back windows are down any they rattle a little, which is irritating. Other than that, I have not had any problems with this car. It is a great buy!

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  Sweeeeet - 2008 Scion XD
  By Joe Mahma - October 24 - 9:23 am

  Its been a few weeks and I LOVE this car. No, its not a Mazda, but for the money, its got style, gas mileage, decent performance, and a sweet interior.

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  Great car - 2008 Scion TC
  By Sandy - October 22 - 6:00 pm

  Was looking for a replacement for my 2003 Celica GT and this was the most appealing and fun choice. Great looking car that handles well and is very comfortable on my long daily commute (115 miles, round trip). Not looking forward to driving it in inclement weather because of the tires, though, but hopefully Toyota/Scion will offer options on future models. But no regrets so far. Very fun car to drive at a very affordable price. A lot of car for not a lot of money and a worthy successor to the decades-old favorite, Celica.

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  Nice ride for the money - 2005 Scion TC
  By Andrew - October 22 - 4:46 pm

  This car has more than I expected. The standard options and power are fantastic! I would have expected somewhat better gas mileage, but the trade off for more power is ok.

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  Ive waited 13 years!! - 2005 Scion XB
  By ouistorm - October 21 - 10:43 pm

  Just purchase a 2005 Scion xB. I hesitated since Im 36 years old and it seemed a little "young" for me. Been driving the same 92 Toyota Truck for 13 years and it was time to buy. For the price I expected a cheaper vehicle in terms of build quality & materials. Its sooo quality, even the manual tranny shifts well, no lugging. Drove from LA to Riv and got like 36 mpg! Also in wind, its really weird, but it does great! Some road noise, but not "fatiguing" on long drives as the Consumer Reports review stated. (Consumer Reports actually recommends this car). With the Low TCO (true cost to own) and edmunds awards and the Consumer Reports thumbs up, it was an obvious choice. Also suuuuuper roomy

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  TC is OK - 2006 Scion TC
  By Joseph T - October 17 - 8:03 pm

  For the price, i have been very happy. I love the fact (trust) that the engine is based on the existing long tested 4cyl. I believe it could use a little more power, but the supercharger is an option. The interior design is better than some cars Ive seen at much higher prices. Overall, been driving this for 2 months and could not be happier. It was a good buying experience and even better ownership experience. Definetly recommending this model