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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Our new Scion tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By Dave and Nancy - June 20 - 2:00 am

  This little car is awesome! It came with everything that we wanted in a car standard and there was no questions about do we want this option or that option. It looks great, is fun to drive and has plenty of backseat room for extra passengers. We got one of the very first tCs in July 2004 and it really turned heads everywhere. People would approach us in parking lots and ask us what kind of car it is. When we went to pick up the plates for the car, the salesman who got them for us pulled out the plates from the file cabinet and said "Youve got one of those rare birds". We have recommended it to several friends and now they are waiting for their new tCs to come in. Great car!!!!

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  Double the Pleasure - 2005 Scion XB
  By Just for fun - June 16 - 4:20 pm

  Just for fun I opened the back door of the limited edition yellow XB at the Denver car show and got in. Then just for fun I went to test drive one at my local Toyota dealership. You can only imagine the look on the sales guys face when I told him I wanted to trade in my fully loaded less then one year old Infinity FX35! I was so impressed with the XBs looks, handling, gas mileage and its "dress up" possibilities that I bought two of them that day. Yup, thats right two. We are a two XB family. I bought the black one for myself and the white for my son. When they are parked side by side in the drive, we are the most popular house on the block. Why should Gen. Y have all the fun by themselves?

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  Big change but worth it - 2011 Scion XB
  By EW - June 15 - 6:33 am

  After recently deciding that I needed something that was a little more flexible for a family with 2 kids than my previous 2 Tundras, I started looking at smaller utility vehicles. I also wanted to keep the cost reasonable without having to just "get by" with a tiny engine and tiny interior space, or with a vehicle that had questionable build quality. With all of this in mind, I have to say that I love the 2011 xB and it is exactly what I was looking for. It is very fun to drive, has plenty of power around town or on the highway and I can fit my wife and 2 kids (with car seats) in it and still have plenty of covered storage area in the back. Safety features are great as well.

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  1200 miles so far... - 2008 Scion XD
  By CBDBRP - June 14 - 4:40 am

  Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. With the xD, I am consistently getting 33 miles per gallon in a mix of city/highway driving. Good stuff! When I set out to purchase a new car, I wanted a four door hatch-back that would provide the ultimate in reliability and excellent gas mileage. I find the xD delivers these things and more. If one is considering a Honda Fit or a Nissan Versa, I would suggest that person take a serious look at the Scion xD. I considered the Honda and Nissan for months before stumbling across the xD by accident. I was blown away and made the decision to buy the Scion almost immediately. I have not regretted the purchase in the least!

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  Why 2008 - 2006 Scion XB
  By Harry - June 13 - 6:36 am

  Why would anyone want a 2008 Xb. I could have bought a new 2008 but I looked for 6 months for a clean, low mileage 2006 because of the better gas mileage, greater headroom and legroom. I own a 2005 Grand Caravan a 1999 Tacoma and the 2006 Scion. The BOX is my favorite and I drive it most of the time. Most things you buy 6 months later you wish you still had your money in your pocket. Not with the Scion, We love it. I think with gas projected to be 4.50 a gallon by midsummer that Toyota screwed up with the new 2008 Scion.

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  Best bang for your buck - 2004 Scion XB
  By abercrombie_guy_38 - June 12 - 10:00 am

  Being 17 years old, I wanted a car that was eye catching, had a good level of performance, had good gas mileage, and was easy to modify. I found exactly what I wanted with the Scion xB. There is nothing else on the road that offers so many standard features combined with style and quality. Acceleration is adequate and the engine is peppy. The interior is quiet and the ride is supple. Handling is pretty good for the size and dimensions of the vehicle and quality is Toyota-like. The xB rocks!

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  cute lovely box - 2005 Scion XB
  By Leon from MN - June 12 - 10:00 am

  I love my xB except its small engine. It should have a Corolla engine instead of the one from Echo. The front passenger door is difficult to close, which I will bring up to the dealer.

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  The smartest auto ever concieved - 2005 Scion XB
  By Truely - June 12 - 10:00 am

  To buy an automobile today like this for what you are paying, is amazing. This vehicle is increditable for the price. I do not know how Toyota can make it happen. I love this car. It handles beautifully and is very light on the bill fold. Simply astonished at the engineering accomplishments. These toyota folks are smart.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Scion xA
  By Rocco1 - June 12 - 3:10 am

  You get tons in this car for the price. It is agile, quick, and responds well. It has strong brakes, too.

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  My Second XB - 2008 Scion XB
  By 2nrmom - June 11 - 8:01 pm

  My first XB was an 04 auto white. With the guidence of my son I did some modifying of it. It was pretty cool! Improved horsepower with a short ram intake, header and exhaust. Rota bronze wheels, lowered and a CF hood completed the look. I loved it but after a time I needed something bigger. Fast forward to present day.. I needed to downsize. While I was very partial to the 04 boxy style and room I knew I would love to have a bigger engine. Also didnt like the huge flat windshield of the 04 that had to be replaced every year. I bought an 08, dark blue, auto, used with 47k. So far I have had no problems with it. So nice to zip around again! Will make improvements to customize.