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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best little toaster on the road - 2005 Scion XB
  By TAB - July 12 - 2:43 pm

  I have had my Scion xB now for almost a year and have loved it from the start. I drove it cross country and at some points was actually getting 42 mpg. This is a great little car with a ton of room and heart!

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  have driven only in town - 2005 Scion XB
  By Robert Eubank - July 9 - 5:06 pm

  Reacts very nice in traffic, coners well. Needs arm rest on right side. Needs space to put cd tapes. Glove box is small. Over all very nice ride.

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  Fun little car... - 2006 Scion TC
  By Nicole - July 9 - 11:10 am

  Ive had this car for just over three weeks, I bought it at a Toyota dealer with 7,500 on it. I traded in a 02 Pontiac Grand Am GT in on this car, and do not regret it at all. This car picks up as fast if not faster than my old car(which had 175 HP), gets better gas mileage, and handles better. Ive gotten a lot of compliments on the car already-and have taken it on a road trip (the seats were very comfortable for a longer drive). I wanted a car that I would be able to keep for at least 3 years without getting sick of it-I think that I made a great choice.

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  Still Loving It - 2005 Scion XB
  By Babs - July 8 - 9:43 pm

  I bought my 05 xB in 05, and I have liked the square style, and the speedometer on the dashboard. I bought it because of that and the gas mileage. I get 300 miles to a tank, and there is lots of room inside. I wasnt happy when they changed the style of the xB. I put loads of miles on my car each year, and it has been very dependable. I hit someone who pulled out in front of me on a side street, and was surprised how little damage there was to my front bumper. The only thing I would change is the tire size.

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  I Liked It Until the Winter - 2004 Scion xA
  By jonboy - July 8 - 7:53 am

  I purchased this car because my Eclipse decided to break permanently. I wanted a car that was different and got good gas mileage. It fit the bill. Its surprisingly agile and has a great stereo. I truly loved the car until I drove home from work during a small snow storm. I almost ended up sliding over a cliff. This car is terrible in the snow and rain. It is the only car Ive ever felt uncomfortable driving in bad weather. Also, the trim in the interior is always making an annoying vibration sound. Im going to trade it in after I get a good down payment for a Subaru WRX.

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  Great - 2009 Scion XB
  By Cody Sigmon - July 8 - 5:51 am

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  Super TC - 2012 Scion TC
  By scaleman2 - July 5 - 9:59 pm

  This is one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. I have owned BMW Infiniti and a host of others and the TC holds up to the more expensive brands. I have had this car over a month and it is excellent. Gas mileage so far is 27 mpg which is excellent. It is superb in handling, acceleration and overall performance. My friends cannot believe the quality of this car for a small price, it looks more expensive than it is. People dont believe me when I tell them the price. Scion has a winner with this car.

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  Cool Moving Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By Box on Wheels - June 30 - 7:30 am

  This is the best car you can buy for money and more. It had good build quality and is super good on gas. It is the best on resale value.

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  Like its name, my grasshopper leaps over the competition - 2005 Scion xA
  By grasshoppermom - June 29 - 9:59 pm

  He (yes, hes a he) scoots in and out of traffic, passing SUVs like they are standing still, leaps around clumps of snarled traffic by his quick ability to dart in and out of lanes. I named him grasshopper because the neat lines of the hatch remind me of a grasshoppers straight angled back legs. mileage could be a tad better. 25 in town, 33 highway. Packs full and I have helped folks move in this little car. The depth of hatch door opening makes it easy to toss everything into it, including the kitchen sink if need be. I work in real estate and remodelling such, and can fit an eight foot 2x4 and a 12x8 piece of carpet stuck out the window. A great lil big car. 122,000 mi and counting...

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  Best in its class but... - 2010 Scion XD
  By brandonwardell - June 29 - 2:08 am

  I bought my 2010 xD in August and have already put 9000 miles on it. I get 40 mpg hwy, its comfortable, and so far has handled well in its first Chicago winter. That being said, there are some serious rattles that are driving me crazy. Theres a cold-weather rattle in the radio, a rough-road rattle in the dash, and a seatbelt rattle at high speeds. Also certain NPR voices cause the speakers to buzz. Its a frustrating car to spend 5 hours in per day, and the dealer cant seem to fix it. Cant beat the value, though, and having driven every car in its class I cant recommend anything better. I only wish someone would make a quality 5 door with a pricetage and mileage like the xD