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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Looks are Deceiving... - 2006 Scion XB
  By MattMoore - September 13 - 5:20 am

  Many of you probably think of the xB what I used to think before I got to really know one. Many of the same thoughts of claustrophobia and public humiliation crossed my mind when I first saw it. Then one of my friends bought one, truly a day to remember. This thing had so much headroom, legroom, and cargo room in such a small package it was astounding (and a bit dumbfounding initially). I have always like Toyotas for their reputation of build quality and reliability, this box is no exception. It is surpisingly quick (mostly due to its low curb weight) in the 5-speed variant and a joy to drive (mine isnt stock though). It has lots of handy features and plenty of aftermarket support.

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  I love my scion xBox - 2004 Scion XB
  By J.D. Slacker - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I got an extra $400.00 for being a recent college grad. I was driving a full size GMC P/U 8 cylinder and it was big & gommy to drive. Thscion xB is so much fun to drive & the mileage is awesome. I did my first test drive in the xb with a automatic but it was a little sluggish so I ordered a manual tranny. the standard tranny is much more peppy. The shifting is still a little stiff but I am sure it will be better after I put some miles on it.This car is affordable & loaded with cool standard features.

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  My tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By actstwo - September 11 - 4:53 am

  This is truly a fun car to drive. Compared to other cars in its class, you truly get more bang for the buck with the Scion tC.

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  Great car! - 2007 Scion TC
  By Jarman - September 10 - 9:56 am

  I have not had any problems so far with my tC. I am currently averaging 27.5 MPG which is great since I drive a mix between highway and city. The car rides very smooth, and gets going really quick. The look is classy yet sporty. Lots of room in the back for people and storage. Headroom for rear passengers is the only problem I could say.

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  Best Value For Money Bargain - Best Buy - 2007 Scion TC
  By Akshay - September 9 - 11:23 pm

  This is the best car out there for the money. I shopped many cars when buying this one and took a good three months before deciding after test drives and reading reviews. This car beats the Corolla, Civic, and Sentra hands down for the money. You can get many more standard features in it than in a Honda Civic EX. With this car you save at least $5,000-$7,000 with the same features. I drive it 100% in the city and it gets just 19-22 mpg as advertised. You can get up to 33-35 mpg at 70 mph on the freeways. Overall I am a very satisfied Toyota customer. Dont go by the negative reviews out there, some people dont understand cars at all. Period.

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  Love it! - 2006 Scion TC
  By ames06tC - September 9 - 11:16 pm

  I just bought my 2006 Black Cherry Pearl Scion tC about a week and a half ago. I am getting super great gas mileage on my 66 mile round trip each day to work. I love the interior and exterior. The sunroofs are awesome!

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  Fun car but fuel eco. not what expected - 2008 Scion XD
  By jpowell - September 9 - 5:20 am

  This was my wifes first new car. We bought it because of the look, the navigation system, but mostly because of the "expected" great fuel economy. I dont have much to say about the design besides that there should be an arm rest and it is crazy that the nav system doesnt allow you to use some of the options when the car is moving. The only real disappointment is the gas mileage. I read many reviews that stated 30+ and much more on trips. We have never seen anything better than 26-27/gallon city or highway or some combination. I know its not way off, but I was planning to see better than what we are getting.

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  Good mileage with an xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Rene - September 9 - 3:03 am

  Our experience with the xB has been pretty good to date. We average about 35 mpg with mostly highway driving. The ride on the interstate is a bit bumpy and noisy. Our Camry rides better on the interstate and is better for longer road trips. This vehicle is fine for everyday driving or for commuting to work. It fits well for tall drivers - my husband is over 6 and it fits him very comfortably. I wouldnt purchase this unless it has cruise control installed.

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  Meets or exceeds all expectations - 2005 Scion XB
  By rutabaga - September 6 - 10:29 pm

  I wanted a commuter car and got the xB. It had 20k on it when I bought it. Ive put 60k on it. Had a salvage title. It does everything I wanted it to and more. Im not too diligent about maintenance but its still rock-solid reliable. Spacious cabin room and very easy for the 3 kids to get in and out of. Not perfect, but just fine driving the occasional 200 mile trip to visit family. Consistently gets 30mpg *in town.* Here are some shortcomings to be aware of, although I dont hold them against the car AT ALL: weak on power; small cargo space in back; stock sound not very good; jeez, I really cant think of anything else. GREAT car. FYI, Im 65", 210lbs and fit just fine in it.

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  I named her Stella! - 2009 Scion XB
  By PDXScionLOVER - September 6 - 8:50 am

  I love this new car-o-mine. The pick up, the go, the looks I get. I got the black cherry.. so sweet! A friend has the Toyota Cruiser, and is totally jealous if the interior space! Makes me feel like a cool-kid with a conservative budget! :)