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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  2008 Scion xD - 2008 Scion XD
  By Lane - September 24 - 6:26 pm

  I went to look for a new car. Open minded and looked at a number of different ones and test drove more than I probably should. I saw a nice custom jeep, looked at a number of new BMWs then I saw it from across the lot: the new Scion xD. Nice looking, great features, 100s of accessories, great gas mileage, great warranty, etc. The list just went on and on. Then I drove and immediately fell in love. My partner kept pushing the BMW, which was really nice and I was about to get it but, I liked the Scion. I would recommend this car as well as the other Scion models to anyone.

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  Fantastic - 2006 Scion TC
  By jay - September 21 - 4:00 pm

  This car is wonderful. It is fast, turns heads, and gets pretty good gas mileage for such a sporty car. I previously drove a Honda Civic and this just blows the doors off in comparison. In its price range, it is really untouchable. I spent a great deal of time comparing cars and was, at first, wary because I did not have much familiarity with the brand. Any trepidation I had was completely unfounded. My experience at the dealership was straightforward and low pressure. I strongly recommend that any person looking for a great looking and affordable car that handles well give the Scion tC some serious consideration.

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  Even better than the first generation! - 2009 Scion XB
  By Oscar - September 21 - 1:53 pm

  Although my fiance is the owner of this vehicle, I drive it a heck of a lot, and I am giving serious consideration to trading my `05 tC for one of these. My family has two first-gen xBs, and while they are what put Scion on the map, and are still cool, the gen2 xB is a dramatic improvement over the first generation, albeit a little less funky-looking. The xB purists may not like it, but I do. In the Stingray Metallic color, this little wagon looks great. the only accessories ordered at delivery were fog lights, overhead console, and rear bumper applique. My fiance traded in a 2001 Taurus for this vehicle, and she doesnt regret it. This is her first non-Ford vehicle.

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  Putting Fun Back into Driving - 2007 Scion TC
  By Steve - September 20 - 12:03 am

  I just got my tC three days ago and really like driving the car. We have a Toyota Sienna as the family car and wanted a small sports car to drive when only one or two of us are going out. I do not think you can beat the tC for value. It has great equipment and is very solid. My sons are over six feet tall and find it very comfortable. There is no sports car with as much leg room in the back seat.

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  Love my Xa - 2005 Scion xA
  By mbkrug - September 17 - 7:16 am

  Have 56K on the car without any problems at all. Have had to replace the brakes and tires but that is it. The cars drives extremely well, gets great mileage and is as much fun today as the day I got it. When I put the seat down it has tons of room, the only draw back is that with the birth of my son, using the infant seat makes the passenger side front side almost unusable due to how far it has to be pushed up. Other than that I have no complaints. It has been a great car that I would recommend to anyone.

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  I love this car - 2005 Scion XB
  By ScionLover - September 17 - 4:03 am

  I bought an xB about a month ago and absolutly LOVE it. I get so much attention from it and everyone wants to know what it is. I have never had more stangers want to get into the front seat of my car that I have with this vehicle. The gas milage is amazing compared to the Chevy blazer that I had prior to this car.

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  Love My Scion - 2006 Scion XB
  By Debbie - September 16 - 8:23 pm

  I love my Scion! It is so much fun to drive! This little toaster is roomy too, it fits both my husband and son in the back seat and they are over 6 feet tall! My model has leather seats and a sunroof. Its fabulous!

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  My tC has heart, my heart :) - 2006 Scion TC
  By Michelle - September 11 - 10:16 am

  I love my scion tC. Ever since I bought I can not go anywhere with out getting questioned about it. It is fun to drive, fast and has a really awsome sporty look. It was the car that i was looking for but thought that i could not afford. Starting at $16,000 it is by far the only car on the road that will give you all of the options that you would want with a hot spoiler, subwoofer, rims and just about any feature to choose from. Clearly priced toward the bank account of a college student or young professional.

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  Its Cool to be Square - 2006 Scion XB
  By xbman - September 10 - 3:36 am

  I have had my xB for a year now with 12,000 miles on it, so this review has substance. So far the car has been flawless as far as reliability and nothing breaking even with a 5 and 16 year olds jumping all over the back. Here are some of the highlights of this car: 1) MPG of course averaging 33 combine daily commuting and weekend driving. 2) commanding view with comfortable seating. Can see traffic ahead. 3) room for 4 teenagers that needs to be driven everywhere. 4) Agile (sporty) handling. For the price there is no complaint if you are looking for a commuter car and trips to the local grocery and malls this is all you need. I wish I could take it on a cross country trip with my family.

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  VW Van Fun, but Cheaper - 2006 Scion XB
  By Klyde57 - September 9 - 11:46 pm

  I have been told that my car is ugly but I love it inside and out. It gets 30 mpg in town and 35 mpg on the road usually, which equates to about 33 to 34 mpg average. This car reminds me of the VW van I drove for years with the view and the roomy feeling inside. It runs quietly and has plenty of get up and go power to pass when I need too.