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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  You ALMOST got it this time Toyota. - 2004 Scion xA
  By driverofscion - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I was passing by the local Toyota dealer by my house and to my surprise I saw a Scion in front. This is a surprise because I live in Illinois and Scions are not being sold here yet. I test drove it and it is very unique (now at least); I was being stared at by the drivers of the tuned Hondas. This car definitely has style. I like the center-mounted speedometer; it has plenty of space in the back for three of my friends (no tall people welcome). I think this would be great as a first car for someone who wants style but is willing to sacrifice speed.

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  Still getting the stare. - 2004 Scion XB
  By Brian Bubonic - February 22 - 10:00 am

  A few months into owning the car and I still have to answer the usual questions about it (ie: Who makes this? Is it a hybrid? Why did you buy such an ugly car?...) Its a fun ride and offers lots of space for passengers. I was in a minor accident a few weeks after buying the car and was surprised at how quickly parts were available for such a new model.

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  2 xB family - 2005 Scion XB
  By Kayaker - February 20 - 7:36 pm

  I purchased my 05 xB in 2006 and love it. Can carry anything, even a kayak! (Bungeed the back shut about 6") I have since added a roof rack to hold both my husbands and my kayaks and still get 36-38 miles per gallon with an empty roof rack. Last year my husbands Camry was totaled and he was lucky enough to find a used "05 xB. His had 30,000 miles on it and is still like new. We live in NH and had record breaking snow last year. We did have snow tires, but could go anywhere. Never had a car this good in the snow! Both boxes are standard transmissions, very easy and fun to drive. Cant imagine driving anything else. We plan on keeping these boxes forever.

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  Great coupe - 2011 Scion TC
  By Lou - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Just had it one day. It is a very roomy coupe, comfortable with supportive seats. I may look into upgrading or replacing the center armrest with a padded version. The dealer installed fog lights and it dresses it up. I also had blue tooth installed and have the Alpine head unit which is upgradeable with nav. and has a good size touch screen display. Dealer installed options seem fairly priced. The manual shifts well, the hydraulic clutch will take me a few drives for me to get used to. The uptake is numb. Steering is on center but can easily veer into oncoming traffic if you are not focused on your driving. All in all, a nice sporty coupe for a retired guy.

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  B-E-A-Utiful Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By Philip - February 19 - 10:33 pm

  Ive had my tC for a little over a year, now, and Im still in love with it. I first saw the tC in a commercial and Ive loved it from the very beginning. It has an amazing exterior look and awesome customization features for the exterior and interior. I customized my tC with exactly what I wanted in a car (flint mica color, spoiler, fog lights, all- weather floor mats, interior LED lights, cargo net), not to mention the already standard features (sun/moonroof, great sound system, etc). It drives/handles perfectly and I could not ask for more in a car. I would recommend this car for anyone! Its fun to drive and I give it two thumbs way up!

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  NUNUS BOX - 2005 Scion XB
  By NUNUGAIL - February 19 - 5:46 pm

  My Box is great on gas and fun to drive. My children and their friends thinks it is the coolest car ever.

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  2008 xB, Its not your dads square box! - 2008 Scion XB
  By ginamann - February 19 - 12:16 pm

  I have just a hair under 800 miles on this and it drives great! A few minor things would make it great! (see below)

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  No Regrets - 2008 Scion TC
  By Adam - February 19 - 5:40 am

  This is my first NEW car purchase. I am really impressed. From the audio system, to the comfort, to the steering, it all feels very "sports car." This car is actually replacing the Toyota replacement, the Celica GT-S. Now, its not as fast as my Celica, but with the 5MT it is very smooth. The light short-shift clutch is very easy (a great car for beginners), and with the 18" Scion Upgraded wheels I put on, the steering is very aggressive. The upgraded Pioneer Audio with iPod is very bass-friendly and sounds really good to my surprise. The interior space was MUCH better than I expected and the reclining second row is very convenient, since hatchbacks are usually cramped. 7 Airbags

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  Made right purchase - 2005 Scion xA
  By Mark - February 17 - 9:40 am

  Purchased the XA for my wife since she was looking for a small reliable car with good rear visibility.We took the optional side and curtain air bags for added saftey. We are both seniors. I have a Camry but I find that I am driving this, fun to drive, car more frequently than I imagined. Immediately after purchase, I exchanged the original equipped Eagle LS tires for a set of Michelin Harmonies. This gave it a slightly softer and steady ride. A good car that I would recommend to anyone looking for low cost and what appears to be a quality built car.

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  I love my toaster - 2006 Scion XB
  By wyatt - February 14 - 10:36 am

  I am actually a salesman as well, and after shopping around the market looking at anything from SUVs to the Scion xB I decided to invest in a Scion. I do a lot of driving in the winter and the idea that the car comes with traction assist, brake force distribution, and VSC while still being at 15 and change was really appealing. I snowboard a lot and I needed room as well as good gas mileage, not to mention with the money I saved buying this car I bought 18" wheels to go with it made by Enkei. I know that most people look at this car and think that its ugly, and honestly, so did I when my friend bought one, but after owning it for a while I love it. I also paid sticker like anyone else would.