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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Very good buy for the price... - 2009 Scion XB
  By ZoomZoom - July 19 - 11:23 pm

  I have put about 1,500 miles on my XB and feel that I have driven it enough to write a review. I have had absolutely no problems with it, so far so good. I went to the dealership after reading reviews about the XD and felt it was a little too small. I didnt particularly like the look of the XB until I drove it. I was in love! And still am. I get alot more positive comments on it than I had expected. Its fun to drive and can get up and go if you need it to. Bottom line: If you are looking for a fun, reliable car under $20K; the XB is the right car for you!

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  I LOVE This BOX! - 2006 Scion XB
  By FoxNBox - July 19 - 6:20 pm

  I wanted a car with more space for hauling and something that would get good gas mileage too. My Scion xB has exceeded all my dreams. My car is getting 35 mpg in the city! It is fun to drive; it handles great, and its visibility is amazing. Its litte on the outside (a dream to park!) and huge on the inside. I dont know how they do it but glad they did. I had a sunroof installed and love it, with the satelite XM radio, or my iPod playing through the speakers, sunroof open...it just doesnt get any better! Also, this car is SO easy to get in and out of. Senior passengers LOVE it! If you want a fun, zippy, roomy, inexpensive car for running around, I highly recommend it! I love this car. :-)

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  Fun little Car :) - 2006 Scion TC
  By Lyn - July 18 - 10:43 pm

  I think this is a fun sporty little car for the price. Im pleased with it! :)

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  scion tc 2005 - 2005 Scion TC
  By tonyamorrow - July 18 - 8:40 pm

  I love my little car it is good on gas and it is sharp. People always stopping me wanting to know what kind of car is it. It has been very reliable

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  For Its Class, Its the Best - 2007 Scion TC
  By sepx86 - July 17 - 5:36 pm

  Well, I waited for three month before I wrote this review. I wanted to buy either a Civic, Corolla S, Mazda3, or a Scion tC. The Civic and Corolla give you good gas mileage but the they are no fun. Both Mazda3 and Scion tC are very fun to drive. I drove both of them with manual transmissions. The Scion tC is better for couple of reason. First its a Toyota, which equals reliability. The Mazda is a European car, and at the end parts are more expensive. Second, the Scion just looks so much better. Just tint the windows. Overall I would highly recommend the Scion tC.

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  Not for long rides - 2005 Scion xA
  By Balzo - July 17 - 6:56 am

  Got the car brand new in 04 and used it mostly around town with the occasional 200 mile weekend trip. Great value for the money in terms of low purchase price and low operating cost. Power is what one might expect from a 108-hp motor but the 5-spd manual trans made the driving experience a bit more interesting. A 6th gear would be perfect for speeds over 70mph. Ride quality is bouncy on the interstate because of the short wheelbase and firm suspension but its a blast around corners and when zipping around city traffic. 5 yrs and 50K miles later, I can say it was an overall positive experience. Would I buy a Scion again? Not likely. Just traded it in for a sporty euro sedan last week.

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  Best Car I Ever Bought - 2006 Scion xA
  By Larry - July 17 - 1:26 am

  I’ve owned this car a little over 3 years now and I’m approaching 30K miles. It is the best car I’ve ever owned. No trips to the dealer except for scheduled maintenance. I live in Ventura and it’s perfect for parking in tight spots and doing the 7-mile commute to work down the 101. Stereo is great! I average 33 MPG; Lowest MPG was 30 and highest (round trip: vacation to Bakersfield) was 39.47. I’m 6 ft. and I can “sit behind myself”. MPGs would be even better if there was a 6th “overdrive” gear. Friends are impressed and sad; too bad they stopped making these. The xD is not really a replacement. If I had to replace this car today I’d give the Honda Fit a serious once-over.

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  Love it but C-pillar has blindspot - 2008 Scion XB
  By Love it but blindspt - July 16 - 2:30 am

  Love it but C-pillar is 2-feet wide so theres a blindspot which caused me to hit a pole when I backed up. Luckily, the bumper was real steel, not plastic so damage was minimal and I only needed a new bumper cover and light.

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  New Surprises Every Day - 2006 Scion XB
  By Frank - July 15 - 2:40 pm

  This car is a bargain for the price. It has many standard features and the one I purchased (thankfully) had factory cruise and arm rest (definite necessities). I bought this solely as a commuter car that is also spacious enough to get kids in and out of the car seats. There is ample room for both driver and passengers. I can average 32 mpg without a lead foot and do a lot of gliding to stops and about 28 mpg if at full throttle all the time. This doubles the gas mileage compared to my previous truck. The handling is superb and unfortunately you would expect it matched with a much peppier engine. But a larger engine would kill the gas mimleage, so thats an expected trade off.

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  I Love Love Love my Scion xa - 2005 Scion xA
  By Scion XA - July 14 - 4:20 am

  From the moment I got behind the wheel of my Scion I have had nothing less then a blast. I was amazed at how easy it was to drive and the get up and go in it was amazing. I can park it anywhere and not worry about weither it will be a tight fit or not. Its got personality not just another set of wheels on the road.