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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Your Money Goes Far - 2008 Scion XB
  By Marci - March 16 - 4:20 am

  This is a fun car! Just bought my 2008 HB I really like it. Although thought I would get better gas mileage. Great look and it provides the much needed space that smaller cars typically dont. Love it!!

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  smooth ride - 2005 Scion TC
  By alex32 - March 12 - 1:10 am

  overall the vehicle is great. mileage is average. this car needs about another 60 horsepower and road noise needs to be reduced. it has a beautiful, smooth body style. an little more than average interior. it should have more after market style. it is difficult to get any after market accessories. for example air intake; turbo; exterior lights.

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  Great car if more mpg - 2009 Scion XB
  By SAU - February 18 - 3:16 am

  Everything is great but for somehow i get only 18 MPG on combined. On Local street, i get about 11.xx MPG which is lower than my GX470 which gets around 16 MPG. Maybe something is wrong with mine. I had another 08 xB Manual RS5.0 and that one gets 22 MPG local. Other than that, this is GREAT CAR. 1) Roomier than my GX470 2) Better leg room on back seat than my GX470 3) Performance is pretty good. 4) ABS and vehicle stability control are STANDARD!!! 5) Nice DVD / Navigation System. Nothing can go wrong with $17.000 MSRP. I paid $25,000 OTD with loaded TRDs and extended warranty. GREAT CAR.

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  Speaker Upgrade Door & Cold Air - 2006 Scion xA
  By David - February 3 - 6:06 am

  The Scion xA is a cute little car, some of the add ons where done at the dealer, so we had to wait to add this and that. We got the cold air intake, you wont get the extra boost, but the engine runs smoother. I did not like the door stereo upgrade, for what they charge I expected better. I told them I wanted my money back, and they just laughed.

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  My Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By bayn8v - January 31 - 9:33 pm

  Great car, er micro van! Solid build,very reliable, good on gas if you air the tires up to around 35 psi. Just needs 5 spd auto and cruise

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  Age is no factor - 2005 Scion XB
  By Pseudolus - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Although the marketing brochure leads one to believe that an xB owner should be bopping to an MP3 player and have several body piercings, my 56 year-old mind really enjoys this car. It corners effortlessly and the 5-speed I chose puts a lot of fun back in driving. Inside it is spacious and roomy, and since I drive on the inside, thats what counts to me. I watch frequently as people surround the car when parked, misprounouncing the name as SKY-ON and smiling. And all this at the low price makes me smile too. Hint - consider every option as you build your xB. The sport pedals and satellite radio add a lot to my pleasure in owning one.

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  The Box is Well Worth the Price - 2005 Scion XB
  By scott ekstrom - January 25 - 6:56 am

  With the price tag at $18,006 with all the bells the xB is well worth the price. It is fun to drive and gets great gas milage. After 1.5 years of ownership it still turns heads. The fit and finish are well done. A cross country trip was done in comfort with about 36 mpg over all with almost 40 on the highway at 60 to 65 mph. This vehicle has true Toyota quality.

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  Great car - 2008 Scion XB
  By dene - January 20 - 7:36 am

  I purchased the 2008 Scion xB last week and have driven it all over - it handles well, has a great turning radius, little car/road noise and responds well and quickly.

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  Great Local Commuter Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By Wobblerite - January 15 - 2:20 am

  I bought this vehicle to commute 100 miles each way to work. I chose it because it has good headroom for a 62" person. I got the automatic transmission because it seemed too cramped in the foot well for 3 pedals with my size feet. I usually get 33 or 34 mpg while going around 70 mph commuting which is not too far below the EPA estimate of 38 mpg. I was happy with that level of performance. City driving appears to be much lower mileage than advertised. The seats were only complaint I had for long distance driving as there wasnt any lumbar support available.

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  So Its not what I thought It would be - 2006 Scion XB
  By Stephenub - January 7 - 3:16 pm

  I bought it from the dealership used, and it was upgraded with Limo Tint, and nice 18 inch rims and tires. Well, I dont know if the problems I have had with the car are the manufacturers fault, or maybe the fact that I have 18 wheels on a car that normally has 14.But, the ride is NOT smooth at all. Its insanely bumpy at times, especially living in Southern California, and having pot holes everywhere. There have been many MANY times Ive muted my sound because I thought for sure I ran someone/something over because its so loud. Also, the MPG is a lot lower then I thought it would be, I get about 220-250 miles per tank.