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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  From 2006 Rav4 to 2008 Scion XB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Ed O - February 6 - 10:56 am

  This thing is a steal. I liked my Rav, but I like this A LOT more. The styling is fantastic and it feels huge inside. Kind of a Maxi Cooper -) Even though the Rav was $6K more, this feels like a trade up! Sound system is excellent and contrary to many opinions, I love the digital speedo. Rides like a big car and has enough headroom for someone 6 foot 3 inches!

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  Items to be aware of... - 2006 Scion TC
  By Anjanette - February 5 - 3:26 am

  We bought our tC new. We do love it but there are some build quality issues that need to be dealt with. The back panel, at the trunk release, broke off. The C-pillar air bag covers have popped off. The vent fan squeals and sometimes has stopped (thats fun in the blazing summer). Our breaks needed to be replaced at 33k miles and we dont drive hard or jam our foot into them. The tires are low profile and develop breaks in the sidewall radials easily if a hole or other bump is hit just right. The tires are also expensive and dont gain traction well on wet pavement and easily break loose. With continued use the seats dont stay in place when slid forward when accessing the back seat.

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  2006 scion tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By BSR.Motorsports - February 2 - 11:00 am

  best bang for the buck bar none! The standard options for this car are above ecceptional for a mear 17k, this car is equiped with features more like a 23k sedan. interior room is fantasic with enough room to fit 4 6 guys no problem. The dash is nicely appointed with satin silver finishes and a cool flip up door that covers the pioneer stereo. Performance is fantastic! keep in mind it is not a v8, but the 4 banger has enough guts to put a smile on your face. The handling is awesome with a little under steer when pushed but much less than most FWDs. steering and brakes are very positive with a secure feeling for the street. TRD sway bars and springs would be a good option for racing.

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  Wonderful Little Commuter Car - 2004 Scion xA
  By a330300 - February 2 - 10:00 am

  My second day of driving the car, and I can conclude that (+) 1) Its amazingly quiet 2) Has a great audio system 3) Has comfortable, distinctive seating 4) Great white- faced display with amber lighting on the other components. 5) Unique design (-) 1)Horsepower - 108 is fine, but more is always better and appreciated. 2)Space - Im 59 and have the seat pretty far back, I would only put a child behind me for long distances, an adult could fit ok but only for a while.. Trunk space is small, but has some space under for small items. There are no pockets behind the front seats, and map pockets are small. 3) Cruise control!

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  Awsome - 2004 Scion xA
  By Rabidsushi - February 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car! Great fuel efficiency, big inside, great features. Definate car of the future!

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  Enjoy! - 2004 Scion XB
  By Tim Castro - January 31 - 1:30 am

  The car is very nimble and has suprisingly good pick-up for a V-4 and smaller liter size. The car has a great look and is eye pleasing. In fact the only problem other than outside noise when driving is everyone looking at you. That may not be a bad thing for some people. If you decide to put on 18 inch or 19 inch rims make sure you put on super tires. This can really cause a rough ride on bumpy roads or cause your rims to bend if tires are cheap. I recommend Pirellis and smooth roads.

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  Scion tC 2008 vs 2009 - 2009 Scion TC
  By Chris - January 29 - 2:23 am

  They pretty much look the same but I did notice some slight differences. For one, the seats are darker. When you put the A/C to the coldest position, it says “A/C Max.” If you have a manual transmission, the shifting is a lot easier in the 2009 than the 2008. I think the gears also rev higher in the 2009. Other than that, they are pretty much the same.

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  best car in its class! - 2005 Scion TC
  By gcloveshertc! - January 28 - 11:56 am

  I bought my TC 3 weeks ago I am extremely satisfied with my purchase! It looks great (heads will turn:) and it is very responsive and fun to drive. Every other day, I discover a new feature I didnt know about! It only shows me how much R&D Toyota must have put into the creation of this car. Save your time test-driving cause the Acura RSX, Hyundai Tiburon and Honda Civic dont hold a candle to the value and performance of the Scion TC!

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  In a Nutshell - 2004 Scion XB
  By Cubism - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This unique looking vehicle is living up to, and surpassing the promotional advertising and sales pitches that I heard before I purchased it two weeks ago.The "Toyota" quality workmanship, and the interior design are both excellent values.The handling far exceeds my expectations, and boy! do I feel good stopped at a light next to a gas-guzzler SUV. YES, I care about the environment.This little fuel efficient cube fits my family of four to a T.

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  Xb!!! - 2004 Scion XB
  By BigV - January 27 - 10:00 am

  had it for almost two months and already put on over 3000 miles. love the attention it gets.