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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Most bang for your buck - 2006 Scion TC
  By paul3mac - November 21 - 4:53 pm

  At around 19,500 after taxes/tags, you cant beat the comfort and performance of the 06 Scion Tc. I absolutely love every minute of driving it

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  Great Car for the Price! - 2005 Scion TC
  By stl.tc.king - November 20 - 1:50 pm

  After looking for quite a while at several different cars, I decided to buy a Scion tC. The major factors which led to my decision include the Camrys 2.4L engine (proven to be reliable), the styling, both interior as well as exterior, and the long list of standard features that are included within the base price (keyless entry, 17" alloy wheels, dual sunroofs, reclining rear seats, etc..) After my purchase, Scion has done a great job keeping buyers remorse to a minimum because of their superior marketing. I feel as if I "belong" to somewhat of a community of enthusiasts with similar interests.

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  So Far Great - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By oceaneer77 - November 15 - 9:24 pm

  I had for a very long time an old porsche 928 s4. It was a amazing car, and I thrashed the crap out of it. It died a terrible death... The new Scion replaced it. The Sion is not nearly as fast, nor as flashy. But it is WAAAAY more fun. At every red light the little 4 gives it a mighty big BRAAAPPPP and off we go. The shift points are just pure joy. This is not a car that will set a new land speed record, or corner at speeds that make your brains turn to mush. BUT----It is a very fun car that is amazingly responsive. It puts a smile on your face driving in city traffic as its sure is a little street fighter. Its great on the highway and its MPG is amazing. The car has a real soul.

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  THE BLUE BULLET - 2014 Scion TC
  By coliveri - November 15 - 7:47 pm

  What a car. Sharp, head turning exterior, got it in streak blue. I catch myself from time to time gawking. Interior is well done. Unique styling. Love the sporty steering wheel and dash layout. Sound system is great! Three speakers on each door?! Heck yeah! Seats are sporty, really support you in tight turns. Plus friends have plenty of room in the back. Trunk has a lot of space with its large door and folding seats. Now for the most important part: Performance! Engine is punchy and responsive. Handling is spot on, I feel in control and confident when taking fast turns. Everything feels like it was well thought out. Not just another cookie cutter car.

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  Scion is for the College Student - 2005 Scion xA
  By ScionLove - November 15 - 2:36 pm

  I love my new Scion. It was an easy purchase. Toyota financed my purchase without a cosigner and no down payment. How great is that! I havent had a single problem with the car, as of yet. The car doesnt pick up speed quickly, but who cares. As a commuter student, I need a reliable car and Scion provided it.

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  The Greatest - 2009 Scion XB
  By bobk - November 13 - 2:50 pm

  The XB is the greatest. Great for large people both in the front and rear seats. 27-29 mpg on a regular basis. Easily cruises at 80+ mph on the open highway. Fun to drive. Also have a Porsche Boxster and would have to say I enjoy the XB more-makes my wife happy. The only negatives that I have are, like everyone else, is the armrest and mostly the lack of electrical outlets for cell phones, gps etc. This is really a stylish great car with great performance at a more than fair price.

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  This Is It - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mike Smith - November 13 - 7:16 am

  Theres no denying it. This thing is cool. There is so much you can do to it. I put on Momo rims, a new steering wheel, a different shifter, improved seats, everything Momo, and it looks SWEET. This makes an awesome dub car. Plus, I put a few goodies under the hood, so now it has about 224 hp. Im not trading this baby for anything

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  2008 XD auto - 2008 Scion XD
  By simonccny - November 8 - 6:23 pm

  got this car for $12000, 13k miles , i would say its a good deal. the car is fun to drive, totally would fit scions market. i am a 26 years old guy, and have no eager to buy those camery.

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  Great car - 2006 Scion TC
  By lk4d4 - November 5 - 9:38 am

  Bought my 06 tC in may 2006 with 53 miles on it, now up to 210,000+ miles. No major issues what so ever. I still have the original car battery, which is impressive. I did have to add some distilled water into it after 6 years, no big feat there. I have a short RAM intake, Borla axle back exhaust, which after adding bumped my MPG to about 31-33 hwy. Most of my driving is hwy, my daily commute is 60 mi each way. and I drive frequently from San Diego to Sacramento, roughly 550 mi each way. The tC is comfortable enough to drive the whole way with no problems. Im 510". Very easy to maintain. Easy access to the oil filter, I always check the placement of that on cars before buying.

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  Excellent car, fun to drive - 2008 Scion XB
  By Jack - November 5 - 6:56 am

  Nice exterior design. Much better than the previous models. Fun to drive. I drive 70% highway, and the MPG is about 27. I think it is good enough.