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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  2+ Months and Loving It - 2005 Scion TC
  By buckeyecase - September 20 - 3:56 am

  What can I say, besides the fact that I love the tC. It has very good acceleration from the 2.4L engine. Its handling is also top- notch. It is such a fun car to drive, and it turns heads. Nobody thinks I paid less than $17,000 for it. Considering the fact that its a Toyota, and shares its 4-cyl. engine with the Camry, and is built in Japan, its reliability should be great. The list of standard features is amazing. I challenge anybody to find a better overall package for under $17,000.

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  The Ultimate Transformer - 2005 Scion XB
  By Choder - September 18 - 2:40 pm

  I am a 35 year old and I cant say enough about my new Scion Xb. Great styling, great features, great value, and unlike most cars you purchase and then just drive, after you purchase your Xb you will feel compelled to pimp it anyway you want with all the after market accessories available directly from Scion. Save a couple hundred dollars and get the European style taillights, save another couple hundred more and get the fog lamps. There are so many options to choose from and the listed price of each includes installation at the nearest Scion dealership. So, instead of watching MTVs Pimp My Ride, now you have an affordable and fun way of pimping your own. Best of all, my kids love it!

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  Scion has made a me a customer for life! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Brian - September 17 - 2:16 pm

  Dropping down from an SUV to a small vehicle to make my commute more economical was my motivation. Scion xB has continued to amaze me as I use it for everything from Home Depot to camping. Plenty of interior space and it drives like a little sports car. What more can you ask for from a vehicle priced well below 20K that lets you do everything an SUV or truck can do. The new xB sacrificed MPG for more pep, and its a great trade-off. Ive had my xB for almost a year and its running like a champ. Getting about 25 mpg in mixed driving. If you need a little commuter car with big style and plenty of room (Im 60") then this is your car.

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  Most bang for the buck! - 2010 Scion XB
  By john - September 17 - 7:40 am

  1. Great car! Better than the 94 Acura Legend GS it replaced. 2. About 29mpg for my daily commute (25 miles through local roads each way). 3. 100% made in Japan. 4. Best value!

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  Most Fun one Can Have While Driving - 2005 Scion xA
  By Jessica - September 16 - 6:23 am

  Was looking for an inexpensive, reliable car that would last me 10-15 years. The moment I saw the Scion I knew I wanted one. Almost a year to the day later I bought one. Situations had changed wasnt in the market for a car but all of a sudden found myself needing one quick. The Scion pure - pricing concept really helped out here.

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  Scion xA - 2004 Scion xA
  By KillerBunny84 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  We bought one after our Neon was totalled. Despite being smaller on the outside (and cheaper), it has more features (MP3 capability), is fun to drive, is quiet, is RELIABLE (the Neon is NOT), and can still hold 5 people without too much complaint. I think that it is the best buy in the small car market. And 38 mpg on the freeway (with the 5-speed) isnt bad either.

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  this lil box is pimped out! - 2004 Scion XB
  By dat scion - September 16 - 2:00 am

  the first time i seen this car on the street i wanted one, now that i have one im very happy with the "XB" version. if you want alot of attention, i suggest you get this vehicle! i get stopped all the time by people, i even got pulled over by a police officer just to tell me how unique and stylish my scion is... but if you want my opinion pay a little bit more money and get it fully equipt, you wint be sorry.

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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Marbot - September 14 - 6:26 am

  The Scion xA is reliable, but has some disappointments. For instance, the pick-up is not that good, even for a small car, and the fuel efficiency isnt anywhere near what it is supposed to be. It only gets about 31 mpg highway and 28 mpg city (supposed to get 37 highway and 32 city) and this is without using the heat or air conditioning. Other than that it is cute, fun, and easy to drive. Its great for parallel parking and has great standard features for a low price.

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  Does the job - 2005 Scion xA
  By bblhed - September 14 - 3:03 am

  I bought this car to be a commuter car, driving 60 miles round trip is never fun! The mileage is great, and the car handles a bit better than expected for an econo-car. They probably could have put a little more paint on the car than they did but overall, it has held up well with the abuse of commuting. All options are "a la cart" so if you decide later that you want to add something, the dealer or you can do it, no problem. I got mine with some dealer goodies, then added some personal touches myself. I was even able to add a tow plate so I can tow the car with an RV and it only took 2 hours.

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  nunus box - 2005 Scion XB
  By nunu - September 13 - 4:23 pm

  I love my black cherry XB. I call her the Box. Overall, the Box is fun to drive and I love the all the leg space.