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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By hippiekat - September 9 - 3:33 pm

  I have owned my 2005 Scion XA for a month now and I still really love it. Its so cute and little. I constanly forget how small it is from the inside because its so roomy. But then I park and see how little it is. I am totally satisfied with my purchase. Its a really cool car for a good price.

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  Very Happy With Our Scion XD Purchase - 2010 Scion XD
  By Aimee - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Before deciding on the Scion XD I checked out the competition, as I was looking for the most stylish, fuel efficient, sporty looking small car I could get at a great base price, with all the features I wanted. Honda fit, the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, none compared..they all felt like I was driving a Chevette. The Scion XD feels and looks like a micro SUV. Base package comes with cruise control, power everything, keyless entry system, a very nice pioneer radio, and more. This is probably my favorite new car purchase in 20 years. Theres so much to rave about with the XD. I get 34-37mpg in the city, havent gotten to check out highway yet. I LOVE LOVE THIS CAR!

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  engine stopped going to vegas - 2010 Scion XB
  By milodog - September 9 - 3:56 am

  I was fairly happy with car until this week. Seats arent comfy, but I can live with it. Driving to Vegas, car all of a sudden comes out of gear, check engine and oil lights come on and I coast to the side of road. I turn it off for a minute, and it starts right up. took to dealer and cleared codes. still in process of what really went wrong. Thought potential buyers might be interested. Have Toyota problems gone to scion ?

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  T6 scion - 2005 Scion TC
  By 2005 scion tc - September 8 - 12:50 pm

  The T6 is awesome!! Fun to drive and great mileage. Relaxing and just fun to chill in. We also added a Satellite radio system to it which has made it even more fun to play with. They continue to give free oil changes to me and have just been very generous which gives you a sense of trust which right away makes everyone in the car buying market feel more positive. Its a great car but there is not enough advertising for it, lets get busy advertising becase they will be the hottest car going once there is more advertising. I would recommend this car to everyone out there looking for a new car, its a little awesome car and wonderful on gas mileage.

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  Love that Box ! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mike - September 6 - 12:56 am

  I was looking for something different and economical, and I hit the nail right on the head with the xB. It has a crazy amount of interior room. I love the center instrument cluster and storage that is available everywhere. It gets great gas mileage, has plenty of "pep" and handles well for a small vehicle. All of the standard features it has were a surprise. The price is an even bigger surprise.

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  Thinking Outside the Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By belawrence - September 4 - 7:06 pm

  This is the best small car Ive ever owned. It handles like a sports car, and Ive owned many. With the rear seats folded down the cargo area is huge for a car this size. The front and rear seat confort is also great even for a guy my size - Im not short and skinny. The engine has a fair amount of pull for only being 1.5 litres and I havent had a problem passing on the freeway using the solid feeling manual transmission. I also like how it looks like nothing else on the road today. I also own an 01 Mustang GT and an 05 Nissan Armada - great vehicles but they both consume copious amounts of gas.

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  Scion xA 1.o series limited edition - 2005 Scion xA
  By RedHot Scion - September 4 - 4:00 am

  Fun and functional car. Highly recommended for new teen drivers. Receive many positive comments for observers when at different location I stop at.Im having a blast driving it!

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  Very Cool Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By NorthernBerksPA - September 2 - 6:33 pm

  This car is great! I love all the room inside. It is much easier to get get in and out of than other cars. Its got enough power to get ya going, but it could be better. It has a solid ride and it handles well. It gets very good gas mileage. Once you get used to it, that speedometer is really at a good place. You dont have to look too far away from the road, to see how fast youre going. Nice idea!

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  Box Rocket - 2008 Scion XB
  By Mark - September 2 - 12:40 pm

  I am more than impressed after 2 months of quality time with my new 2008 xB. I highly recommend the rear sway bar, as you can take a corner with a $60,000 sports car (believe me, Ive done it). The ride is smooth and quiet, and the new Camry 4 cylinder engine gives the 2008 xB a good boost of power when needed. Add in sports stick on the automatic transmission, iPod/MP3 standard Pioneer deck, and a 50s gangster wagon exterior, and the 2008 xB is in a class of its own.

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  Pierres xB - 2004 Scion XB
  By Pierre - September 1 - 4:16 am

  This car is fun to drive and turns heads in town. Although it is marketed to the young crowd it is a great car for people over 50 because it is very easy to get in and out. The legs room in the back is outstanding even for tall people. My father-in-law is 8 tall and he still has room before in knees. When the back seats are down the cargo volume is huge for a car this size.