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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  After one year and 18,000 miles... - 2008 Scion XB
  By Rob - July 30 - 6:40 am

  ... my Scion xB is still living up to my expectations with zero problems and gas mileage consistently over 30mpg. With 69.9 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats folded (more than a Jeep Grand Cherokee at 67.4 cu.ft.) The xB can carry a lot of stuff if needed. Bottom line is that the Scion xB is a great value, reliable, efficient. Negatives are few at this price point. Ride can be a bit intrusive on bad roads but still solid. Interior plastic scratches easily... thats about it really. I am always looking for a replacement for the car that I currently drive. Just to see if there is something that would work better for the price. I havent found it yet.

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  so far so good - 2005 Scion TC
  By greg - July 28 - 1:13 pm

  Great car, best investment i have made in a automobile in years. This car costs less than half of what i normally pay for a car & it is twice the fun. So far the build quality is typical toyota which is fine with me. The standard features in this car can not be touched in this price class. I hope the long term experience with this car is just as enjoyable as the short term[350 miles].

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  I Love It - 2006 Scion XB
  By scionxb tricked out - July 27 - 6:43 am

  I love my new Scion xB. Its new, different, fast and tricked out. Try it and youre hooked. Ive added about $7,000 in aftermarket and TRD parts to mine. It beats Hondas hands down.

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  Best Car for the Money! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Brian Jones - July 25 - 11:26 pm

  Ive owned my 2006 Scion xA for over a year. Its been a fun, practical, and economical auto. With the automatic transmission and city driving, Ive averaged about 30-34 mpg while squeezing out a solid 40 mpg highway; with the caveat that you must keep the speed under 65 MPH to do so. The car is roomy, comfortable, and comes with more standard features than any similar vehicle in its class. Ive hauled a 27" television, groceries from Costco, and a Coleman portable generator in my little hatchback. The car is peppy in traffic, handles well, and steers on a dime making it easy to park. I compared it to the Rio, Aveo, and Focus and the xA was the best bang for the buck with Toyota service.

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  05 Scion xB - 2005 Scion XB
  By scionoc - July 25 - 10:00 am

  This car is affordable and fun to drive with accessories found on much more expensive cars. Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control are unheard of in a car for less than $15,000.

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  Happy Scion owner - 2005 Scion XB
  By chiefie - July 25 - 10:00 am

  A lot of people tease about the shape of the Xb but after all the kidding is done all agree that it is the roomiest car they have ever seen. I have been averaging 29 MPG day to day driving and I have gotten as high as 39 MPG on the road but 34 - 35 MPG is the norm. The versatility of the car is great. I have carried 4 passengers comfortably and have been able to carry doors and lots of STUFF in it. The Xb is the greatest small car I have ever owned. The only car I hold in higher regard is my 1967 Mustang.

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  2005 Scion TC - 2005 Scion TC
  By Rugger14 - July 25 - 10:00 am

  This car is perfect, after test driving the Mazda 6, Mazda 3, and the VW GTI, i am glad I "settled" with the tC. Every aspect of this car is heads and shoulders beyond what someone could expect from a base price os 16,500.

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  Sport coupe - 2005 Scion TC
  By little soldier - July 25 - 10:00 am

  People really love the looks of this car. It is a real bargain for that price. Manual transmission version is surprisingly quick. A lot of tire noise.

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  My second xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By witchever45 - July 24 - 12:46 pm

  I just traded my 2004 xB in for the new 2008 xB. I LOVE everything about the new xB. I thought my old one was great, but the new one is so much better. It is faster, roomier, and much quieter. It still has everything I liked about the old one but the improvements to it are amazing. It has made my bad commute to work much easier to deal with. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  my toy - 2006 Scion TC
  By robyn collins - July 20 - 7:16 am

  I really like my new scion tC. Its so much fun to drive compared to so many other cars in its price range. Its the best buy on the market for now. Toyota did a good job with this car.