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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  New Purple Grape - 2005 Scion XB
  By mimi2 - July 22 - 10:00 am

  My baby hummer is too cute. All that aside, I like it so far. Issues with AC are that is doesnt get cold fast enough for my liking and air comes up top vents even when wanted only on feet. =( Sound system is loud and fun. Lots of room inside. Shifts slowly and sometimes clumsily, gas milage is affected. I love the looks I get and the power everything that comes standard. Head Rests... ARGGHHH... They are too far forward in the front seats. I fixed them by taking them out and turning them backwards. Jack and other tools are in 2 different places too. Take jack and place in rear storage compartment. Get lots of comments.

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  so far OK - 2005 Scion XB
  By clowntown - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I like the looks of the car. mileage is not what they said it would be. I had a Rav4 and it had 171,000 miles on it and I had it for 6 years. It was more fun to drive but the mileage wasnt there. The average is 28 not much difference than the Rav4 and the ride is not nearly as fun. I guess the flip side is I drive slower now and I speeding is not a problem. It doesnt had the turning ability as the Rav4, it doesnt sit as high as the Rav4 did. The wind can be a problem.

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  A car I can count on - 2010 Scion XD
  By sheryl - July 22 - 2:40 am

  After a rough economic year, I got rid of my BMW roadster because of a fear of repairs. The Scion xd is just what I needed. We do not want to head out on road trips with our large SUV. The cargo space in the xd is huge after driving a roadster, and despite reviews regarding power - the xd engine is snappy enough. The GM models I drove sounded like screaming chipmunks on the freeway. I have economy, dependability, and piece of mind that it is a Toyota product. Oh...and my dog gets to go everywhere with me now, too.

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  Scion xD = Toyota Corolla hatchback - 2008 Scion XD
  By Ken - July 19 - 10:33 am

  I bought this car along with my trade in of a 93 Honda Civic. I researched similar cars of this type and budget including the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris and Honda Civic. It was a final contest between the xD and the Civic but I found out that Scion is Toyota and the xD uses the same 2ZR-FE engine as in her more expensive cousin, Toyota Corolla. The fact that my last Civic died on me at a red light in a crime infested neighborhood during after hours tells me much about Hondas true reliability.

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  Love my new Scion xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Pete - July 11 - 6:23 pm

  When I first viewed this car (Scion XB) it seemed to be designed for the 20 something crowd. It was aimed at the same demographic as the Honda Element. However,it seemed to me that there were many more 30, 40, 50, and 60 somethings driving the Elements that I saw. So I decided to test drive an Element and fell in love with it. It was a short romance, because then I decided to test drive a Scion xB. That was it. This car was $5,000 cheaper than a comparably equipped Element, got 10 miles per gallon better mileage, and was more fun to drive. Im not in Toyotas planned demographic for an xB either. Im a 71 year old retired college professor.

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  wow - 2009 Scion TC
  By lilj89 - July 5 - 10:53 am

  Very impressed with the tc I love the sound system and how quick it accelerates when you downshift I love the sunroof and the reclining back seats (even though Im never in the back LOL) on thing I was a little disappointed on was the fuel economy for a 4 cylinder the fuel economy was not what I expected but all in all it is a great car. Plan to start modding it soon and there is so many things you can buy its amazing scion did real good on the tc

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  Not bad - 2005 Scion TC
  By anthony - June 21 - 10:00 pm

  Its a nice car, but it has a few designer flaws. But the car handles well, its a smooth ride with no problems.

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  Scion xA 2004 - 2004 Scion xA
  By Myk - June 17 - 7:03 am

  My 2004 Scion xA (5-spd stick) now has 85,000 miles. Last month I drove it cross-country from CA to NY (via I-80 all the way). I have not had any problem with the car although I once had a flat tire. Great gas mileage and the car is inexpensive compared to any hybrid.

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  let down - 2005 Scion TC
  By luv1sight - June 10 - 10:00 am

  When i heard and saw the coupe tC i flipped, this was my car! I bought one and was let down. While the pick up ,design, interior, safety were everything i hoped for the car was just not enjoyable. The biggest problem was visibility! I cant see past the enormous dash,at least foot and a half! and the hood dips so fast it will make your head spin. When you turn around the visibility gets worse. The heater is blocking the rear window making the visibility as good as one of the old cadilac eldorados. While around me was spacious, i feel like im going to bang my head, and i am only 510. If they work out these major problems this will be the best car,

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2009 Scion TC
  By csigrrl47 - June 7 - 9:14 am

  I bought this 2009 TC in 2008, brand new, I have had my first set of break put on last year 2014, Im on my second battery only, the first set of tires that came on it were awful, they didnt align the car right so I chewed up them in less than 30,000 miles, but bridgestone on lasted 60,000 miles plus, have my third set of tires on them they are continentals great tire, the only problem I have is in the last two years my engine light comes on and its because the gas gap is bad I have replaced it twice, for some reason it lets air in or something because I pulls a code from my mechanic easy fix, but annoying. Gets me about 33-34 mpg if I dont run it hard. Rattling starting. Very trusted car.