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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Unique Car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Jose - March 3 - 8:16 am

  I traded in a 2008 Toyota Corolla for a 2008 xB. The only thing I miss is the fuel economy (35 vs. 28 on xB, highway). But the Scion has a lot more room and comes with more standard features, like curtain airbags for rear passengers, which I required for my 3 and 6 y/o boys, VSC and ABS. The stereo sounds great/unique, and I still havent seen another 2008 xB on the road yet! When I get to a place I like to stand out from the rest, not possible with the Corolla which is ubiquitous. In the outside the Scion xB is 10 inches shorter than the Corolla, and inside its bigger, oh so nice. I love this car. The purchase process was very painless too.

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  !!! - 2004 Scion XB
  By xB owner #304885 - February 27 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my xB in February, and have had nothing less than my greatest car experience with it. I traded in my 2002 Acura RSX and drove 400 miles to get it, but it was well worth it. I love my xB and would recommend it to anyone.. The 108 HP was a little scary for me after driving around my 140 HP Acura.. But the xB is peppy for only 108 HP, dont let anyone tell you that its slow.. I bought the manual transmission...

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  Still in Love - 2006 Scion TC
  By Wendi - February 25 - 9:03 pm

  Even after 15 months of ownership, this car never fails to please. How many cars are this versatile, inexpensive, fun to drive, and gorgeous to look at? The tC is both quick and fuel efficient (I get 28 mpg city). It handles beautifully (even in snow) and is comfortable - my kids love the reclining back seats! With the seats down, the tC functions like a truck, Ive hauled an 8 ft. Christmas tree, surfboards, bicycles, you name it! Theres plenty of leg room, and the double glass roof visually expands the interior. This car delivers performance, practicality, and style equal to the snob-appeal brands at almost half the price. Ive driven everything from a Mercedes to an RX-7 and this car tops them all.

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  Great Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By Halewafa - February 25 - 5:53 pm

  I just got this car a couple of days ago and all I can say is WOW. This car is amazing, it comes with so many things that you wouldnt expect from a $17,000 car. I would recommend this car to anyone!

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  wow - 2005 Scion TC
  By 40 - February 22 - 10:00 am

  One of the best cars Ive seen in years. Im so excited to own my own.

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  Excellent Sporty Ride - 2005 Scion TC
  By MrE - February 21 - 7:50 am

  This car is so much fun to drive around. It turns on a dime and handles great. Bucket seats in front and back are comfortable, even for road trips. I have always got better than 30 mpg, with the AC on, (over 40 with the wind at my back). AC doesnt feel as cold or powerful as some other vehicles, and has a hard time cooling off in hotter weather but it works fine when Im by myself. My car does have a lot of road noise though, dont think thats a default on all makes though. Ive put 40K miles on in 2 years and my biggest replacement was new tires when I got it.

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  Bar None Simply the Best Buy - 2008 Scion XD
  By PT~2~Xd - February 21 - 3:03 am

  Gas Gas Gas! What can I say that would make a person downgrade/upgrade from a souped up 89 Toyota Supra (Vroom! problem child gas sucka)~ tricked out/ supped up 04 PT Cruiser Turbo (Ehh.. but still gas sucka!) ~ to a 08 almost tricked out but not there yet Scion XD. Moving from the Bay area to Virginia I honestly did not think I would ever trade in my PT but after experiencing the WORST commuter traffic in the USA, and VA to DC eats the cake over Marin County to Alameda County, I had to ditch the PT..=(. I test drove the Fit, Yaris, and Corolla before the XD. But the XD won in the end for gas as well as over all styling.

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  08 xB New Style, Price, Decreased MPG - 2008 Scion XB
  By JK - February 20 - 2:53 pm

  The 08 xB looks less like a box, has more features, more power, is fun to drive, and gets fewer MPG than the prior xB models. I really enjoy the new auto trans with the trick shifting lever it is kinda like a stick without a clutch. The ride is much quieter and so much smoother - even with all the improvements I will always love the looks of the first generation xB over the new one.

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  Wow - 2006 Scion XB
  By Christoph2 - February 20 - 12:23 pm

  I bought the xB for its cheap price tag and great gas mileage. It has a very spacious interior and great gas mileage. I use less than a tank of gas for driving under 300 miles a week. The sound system is awesome. The 1.5L engine has quite enough power for this light weight (2,500 lbs.) vehicle. It has more get up and go than the 2003 Saturn 2.2L I had with better gas mileage to boot. What more could you ask for? It has good reliability with its Toyota drivetrain, spacious interior, and "unique" exterior. The xB is a nice highway cruiser too, and its fun to drive. Dont believe the naysayers. I dont need the cruise control. Ive never really used it in the other cars Ive had cruise control in.

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  How does 46 mpg sound? - 2008 Scion XD
  By Tim - February 18 - 2:33 pm

  If youre looking to save gas - look no further. Ive had this car since last October. Overall mileage is in the mid 30s. Three recent trips at 55 mph on highway netted 46 mpg. (thats true mpg - not computer) One was with 4 people in the car. Going to & from work (mix of highway and city) has been about 37 mpg. I test drove everything in this type (Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio 5, etc...), felt this was easily the best of hte bunch. Cant understand Consumer Reports love affair with the Honda Fit - rode like a 70s Ford Pinto. We recently took a trip to Branson with our family of 4 and did well - a little tight for luggage but it worked. Really love this car!