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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  1 month after purchase and very happy - 2014 Scion XB
  By dsmithson - June 3 - 7:11 pm

  I had a Honda Element and loved it... But I wanted a new car and after a lot of research I kept coming back to the xB. Considering the price, I feel I got what I paid for and I really enjoy it so far. But its got a lot of pep and and I love the spacey interior. The dealer threw in the spoiler and I am glad they did as it gives it a sharper look. Im a big guy and I feel very comfortable as it has a good amount of headroom. If you are looking to stay in the low $20K range with the premium options.. this is a good pick in my opinion.

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  Small Hatchback with a Peppy Attitude - 2005 Scion TC
  By Joe - June 2 - 1:56 pm

  The Scion tC is so much fun to drive and I get very good gas mileage with it. It gets me from point A to point B with style, speed, and great gas mileage. I love it more than any other car Ive had so far.

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  New 07 Scion tC - 2007 Scion TC
  By RedSandSF - May 30 - 9:06 am

  I got my new tC six days ago and I am in love with it. At first I thought the pure pricing thing was BS. It isnt. I love the look of the car and it feels like Im floating when I drive it. The Pioneer CD player is really cool. I got the Flint Micah color and it looks so cool night and day time. The car has the same motor as the Toyota Camry and has great pick up. For now I love the car and only time can tell what I will think about it in the future

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  2012 xB: A Great Car - 2012 Scion XB
  By cscrutinizer - May 14 - 2:59 am

  After stalking this model for a couple of years, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a used 2012 to replace by dying Saturn Vue. I couldnt be happier. The style is odd and will not appeal to many people, but funny enough, driving a box in todays world actually makes one stand out. Oh the irony. This is a fun car to drive, peppy and agile. The tight suspension and low profile tires makes it feel like a Porsche, minus the horses of course. Im a big guy (6/250lbs ) and I have tons of room. The seats are supportive and everything is within reach of the pilots seat. It has more interior room than my extended cab Silverado. Im averaging 28MPG. I love this car.

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  Love It - 2005 Scion XB
  By Kim - May 11 - 3:30 pm

  spend the extra money for the armrest.

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  Great car, but problems with hatch - 2005 Scion TC
  By ScottB - May 10 - 4:56 pm

  I love this car. True, they could have used better material for the interior instead of the scratch-prone stuff they use, but then it would cost more. My only beef is with the latch to the hatchback. It has always been temperamental and difficult to open until last week when it finally snapped off. Thats just poor design. I hope that theyve fixed this in newer models. But despite that, this has been a great car and Id definitely get another Scion.

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  First Scion - 2006 Scion xA
  By Vernon Danker - May 9 - 3:56 pm

  As my first new car in 15 years, the Scion xA is impressive in many ways for a compact. Its handling is very nice, its ride is comfortable, and its controls are easy to use. One feature that takes getting used to is the pod of gauges. It is distracting at first, and takes your eyes off the road. The stereo is exceptional for a compact, and it is ready for the MP3s. Its noise level is good below 60 mph; above that slightly annoying. The styling attracts attention, in a positive way; it is reminiscent of the Mini Cooper. Its pricing is also a strong selling point. There is no haggling, very little in add on charges, and options can be added later. Cruise control, e.g., is $350 if added later; $425 if financed.

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  good in a rollover - 2006 Scion XB
  By ct84 - May 8 - 12:28 pm

  I had this car for almost 5 years and put 82K miles on it. I never had to bring it to the shop outside of oil changes, breaks, and a new set of tires. The car is very light and the wind can push you pretty hard. I got into an accident and rolled the car four times landing on the roof. I walked away without a scratch. ItÂ’s a good car for the money cheap to maintain but not very comfortable for long drives. The engine is very loud over 40 mph.

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  A Fun Car/SUV - 2009 Scion XB
  By Greg - May 3 - 9:16 am

  Well, I traded in my 4.7L Toyota Tundra for the Scion Xb earlier this week. I went from an average of 14.7 ml/gal to 26 ml/gal. Although the Xb is small on the road, it has a big roomy interior. Very good pick-up and go power, a little bit bumpy ride but is tolerable, a little road noise but again is tolerable. The Xb is fun to take exit ramps fast, handling curves with ease, comparable to go-cart handling, little body roll. My family loves the interior and the extra leg room in the back, and they think its a cool car over all. I did test drive many cars such as Chevy HHR, Subaru impreza & forester, Ford escape, focus, fusion, the Scion Xb won hands down.

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  Its not bad - 2007 Scion TC
  By Chris - May 2 - 2:40 pm

  Bought the car in March 07. Havent put a dime into it yet, I love Toyotas. Probably wont ever own anything but. I like the car over all, but for New England driving it isnt to practical. Has never failed me, but I would definitely like to see improvements in future generation tcs.