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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Proud Scion Owner - 2006 Scion XB
  By proud buyer - December 12 - 2:10 pm

  The 2006 Scion xB is perfect for both first time buyers and experienced consumers. It has all the you can want in a car for a more than reasonable price of $15,100. It comes standard with power evarything and a amazing Pioneer radio. It also comes with a port to plug your MP3 player right in so you can listen to all your music downloads. Its fuel economy puts it above most cars out there with 30-35 miles per gallon. Besides those features the Scion has massive amounts of space inside.

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  dynamite car.... - 2005 Scion xA
  By Tim - December 11 - 12:53 am

  My Scion xA is the most fun car that I have owned. it is well made, easy on gas, has a great design, and is practical.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2005 Scion xA
  By Scion Shark - December 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car for a month and I am very happy. It has been reliable and good on fuel. Averaging 40mpg on mostly highway driving. Its cute gets lots of looks and still unique in my area.

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  I love my Scion! - 2005 Scion xA
  By CareOLynn - December 5 - 5:53 pm

  I have had my Scion xA for 1 year now and have loved every minute of it! In minnesota, it even started when it was -30 degrees! Granted, it sounded a little funny but let it run a few minutes, then she was off!

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  Value Package - 2007 Scion TC
  By Eric Yabumoto - December 4 - 9:06 pm

  I am 22 years old and straight out of college looking for a reliable way of getting around town. It came down to the Mazda3, Civic Si, or the Scion tC. The overriding factor came down to the overall package that the car gave me. The Mazda3 was asking for over $23,000 (OTD) with all the features I wanted and I couldnt stretch my bank account that far even though I know it was a solid car. The Civic Si has superior handling, performance, and interior design over the Scion tC but like the Mazda, was asking for a tad more than I wanted to pay ($22,000 OTD). I compromised with the tC paying just under $20,000 because of the value package being my overriding factor in purchasing the car.

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  my blue taxi - 2005 Scion XB
  By bonnie - December 4 - 4:53 pm

  i have had my scion for a year now and still love it have had dual sunroofs added and it looks great, mileage is awesome do alot of driving each day and transporting so has plenty of room for everyone. great car for price

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  09 Scion TC - 2009 Scion TC
  By Victor - December 4 - 9:46 am

  Love the car purchased the week it came out. Love the color got metallic Gray with flakes. Love the sound the little sub in the back gives good base. Size is roomy for a small car

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  Loved everything except the noise - 2005 Scion XB
  By nyc to california - December 2 - 5:56 am

  Got the car used, researched a long time for it. great values, have all safety features except side curtains. Easy to mod. Added sound deadening material to the hatch and doors, but the noise is just too much for me.

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  Shes Gotta Have It... - 2005 Scion XB
  By Debbie - December 1 - 7:20 pm

  The first time that I laid my eyes on the Scion xB, I KNEW that I had to get one. With its unorthodox shape, for me, it was a sight to behold. Others may hate the "boxy" styling, but its roomy, gets great gas mileage, and IS fun to drive. I know its target audience is the younger crowd, but Ive noticed a lot of mature folks driving xBs (including me). That says a lot!

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  Pebbles in a can - 2005 Scion XB
  By marvin andrson - December 1 - 7:30 am

  Between the discomfort of the pint-sized seats of the Scion xB and the feel of every grain of sand on the road, this vehicle is totally a pain to drive on long trips. By the time my family and I reach a destination of more than 100 mles, after being shaken like pebbles in a can, with tail bones and legs aching from the seating and the jarring of every slight bump in the road, no amount of good gas mileage can compensate for our discomfort and regret for buying this vehicle.