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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  I love this car! - 2006 Scion TC
  By xtC - November 5 - 7:20 am

  I bought this car in March 06 and have had nothing but pure fun with it ever since. There are so many add-ons to enhance performance and appearance. The rear seats recline, steering wheel audio controls, sunroof, low tire pressure warning indicator, MP3 player jack, power everything. The performance is great too, 160HP anyone? 17 inch stock rims look great! Did I mention that all of this comes standard? I dont think you will find this much value / performance in any other car on the market today in its price range...

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  tC, as in Totally Clever, Totally Cool! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Jade - November 5 - 1:40 am

  This vehicle is ridiculously underpriced! It handles sooo smooth, is *quick*, has a great factory installed stereo, huge panoramic sunroof, and is very roomy for a 2 door. What more could someone want from their car? Oh .. not to mention there is no other vehicile on the market that looks as good as this one!

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  Good Deal for an Inexpensive Car - 2006 Scion xA
  By Gerald McD. - November 4 - 7:26 am

  This car is solid for an economy car. It handles extremely well, and the gas mileage is good. I drive mostly interstate miles, and I am getting between 34-35 MPG with the 5-speed manual transmission. The front seating is comfortable, the back seat is adequate, but not for longer trips. The extras that come as standard equipment (stereo, ABS, AC, etc.) really make this an outstanding deal. The only negative - it is a bit loud at interstate speeds, the engine is pushing 3,500 RPM at 70 mph.

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  A lot of car for your money - 2004 Scion XB
  By Ricardo - November 4 - 2:00 am

  A great European looking car. A car that looks like it would not have much room in it but the opposite is true. You have lots of head room as well as leg room, both in the front and rear seats. It drives and handles well. Acceleration is great when passing cars and no power is lost when A/C is running. Fuel economical. that drives and handles

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  Cool - 2004 Scion XB
  By Kelopini - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I recentley took a trip to a small town east of Bakersfield Calif from Sacramento Calif. Once free of traffic I smoked at 85 plus for 5 hours. Averaged around 30mpg at that speed, not to shabby.The trip back may have exceeded 90 for long stretches but I wont admit to anything. My little Xb was quite, solid, and as comfortable as the sport suspension could be. I love this little car and everybody stares at it. Like it or not you have to admire Toyotas daring with the Xb.

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  Best car and most fun to drive - 2004 Scion XB
  By rickoorama - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This little car is so fun to drive. It holds all my tools and equipment for my job, plus hauls my huge 66" friends around with complete comfort and room.

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  New XB Scion Outstanding! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Scion 2008 XB - November 2 - 11:36 pm

  I purchased my 2008 Scion XB in Mid July after reviewing and test-driving many other cars. With the completely new design for 2008, its not as boxy as the earlier versions. The "chop- top" look is misleading since the room in the XB is huge. Ive also noticed the incredible fuel mileage. From the Cressida we had at 12-15 miles/gal to the 20-28 miles were getting with the XB, its saving a lot on gas. Albeit fun to drive, its comforting knowing the car is encased in a safe cage and airbags and curtain airbags make the XB an incredible value. Thank you Scion!

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  Love it! - 2006 Scion TC
  By Julie - November 2 - 11:00 am

  This little car handles so well and has plenty of pick up when you need it. It does have 2 blindspots but if you adjust your mirrors well you should be fine. It is a fun car to drive and great stereo sound. A lot of car for your money.

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  Classy, Fuel-Efficient, & Reliable - 2006 Scion xA
  By Glad I Did It - November 1 - 12:06 pm

  Its been 14 months since I bought my Scion xA and they have been rewarding months, indeed. The car still turns heads while being extremely utilitarian and reliable. I get a solid 35 mpg overall (50% freeway and 50% secondary roads) and 41 mpg on long trips on the PA Turnpike. It has lots of torque for a small engine, good comfort and a commanding view from the chair-like drivers seat.

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  Love my Baby! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Joanna - November 1 - 11:00 am

  Bought my Xb sight unseen and was not disappointed. Ive driven it to California (from Missouri) and back, upstate New York and back and Florida and back with no problems. Gets great gas mileage. I switched to synthetic oil and I average 30 mpg. Love the ease of entry and exit and the roomy backseat.