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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Love the Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By carl - February 13 - 5:50 pm

  I bought "the box" about two months ago and I only had to wait about two weeks for my xB. From what I have been reading that is realy fast. I never thought that I would own an import car. I was a Chevy man but I saw that the xB and for the price and what I was spending in gas for my Camaro I am now spending little over half the amout that I was. As an added bonus, my insurance dropped as well. I am about 61 and there is enouff leg room for me with the front seat all the way back.

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  Scion Tc review - 2005 Scion TC
  By james delgado - February 11 - 5:10 pm

  Since i got the scion tc as a gift from my parents ive had nothing but Excellent thing to say a bout it. the outer body is an execellent disine. the over all confort in the scion tc is confortable. My daughter really loves it and she has enough room in the back. the performance is more than what i expected when i first test drove the tc. the pick up and go was fantastic...

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  Rode hard... - 2005 Scion XB
  By Earl M. - February 11 - 12:03 am

  Currently, my xB is totally caked in dirt from this past weekend. The windshield has dings and a crack almost as wide as the glass itself, collected over 5 years. A couple of dash lights are fading. I put wider tires on the OEM spoke rims and am having trouble getting the front two balanced correctly. All that said, when its cleaned and shining, the Camo Green Box is beautiful and I really have no complaints at all. I have no problem without center armrest. My prev car, a Saab 9.3 didnt have one as they want you driving with both hands on the wheel as a safety feature. BTW, this bought-new xB replaced a run of two Saabs that I loved.

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  Lovin My 2005 tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By slchick2006 - February 9 - 9:33 pm

  Since I drive 172 miles each day to and from work, I needed something economical, this car was that and more. I love the even more since owning it. Its very reliable and since buying it I have not had any problems with this car. I am consistent with oil changes and tire rotation. This car rocks.

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  Grandmas car - 2005 Scion xA
  By nancy riley - February 8 - 6:10 pm

  Fun to drive, just the right size for a single grandma and her dog. Back folds down for hauling plants. Now if I can just stop backing into my golf cart.

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  xD 2.0: tons of features, fun - 2009 Scion XD
  By ArmywifeMo - February 7 - 10:26 am

  New owner but will try to post later with more info on performance, reliability, fuel economy. Long-legged passengers had ample room in the back seat, super fun to drive, much more spacious than it looks from the outside, still learning all the special features in the 2.0. Compared the Honda Fit base model (manual), the xD auto, & the xD manual; best handling & value by far with my car. A very style/brand conscious friend raved how my xD had more features than his recently purchased Lexus (but at the end of the day, he still has a "Lexus"...whatever I still have $6k to spend on other things!). Cross country road trip and baby on the way; the xD is read for the challenge!

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  Good Car in the $16,000 - $22,000 Market - 2006 Scion TC
  By Muthu - February 7 - 8:53 am

  The Pros: 1. A great engine, 2.4L with 160hp. It has amazing pickup and good speed. 2. Tons of standard options and a great roof. 3. A great price on a vehicle that doesnt depreciate quickly. 4. Good enough fuel economy for a fast car. Cons: 1. The cars wheels spin during initial start, a better differential is needed. This same issue creates an uncomfortable driving experience in turns and in the rain. 2. There is some noise in the hatchback 3. I wish the steering audio controls were better 4. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall. I wish the seats head rest was better. 5. I really wanted to get a yellow or red color but the best sporty one that I have seen is the white.

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  150,000 and still going... - 2006 Scion XB
  By greeneguy63 - February 6 - 12:12 pm

  I still love my 2006 Scion xB. It is about to turn 9 years old in a couple of months. I drive it a lot and it still gets about 30 mpg city and 34 highway. I am going to get it painted and hopefully keep it another 9 years. It is very roomy and I use it for my small business. I cant find another one with this much cargo space and I definitely dont want a car payment ever again.

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  Scion XB--Unique Style/Fun/Comfort - 2005 Scion XB
  By Karen D. Steele - February 5 - 11:30 pm

  MY new XB is truly a joy. The room inside is cavernous compared to my former Explorer. The ride is smooth and quite,and truly has remarkable zip for a 4 cyl. The standard Pioneer stereo system puts you front row center of the concert. I would and have recommended the Scion XB to several people. When they tried it it sold itself (no hassles from salesmen--sticker price stands) they traded in and bought that day. Most options come standard, but there is a remarkable list of accessories that can truly customize this car to become uniquely your own. I love my leather upholstery, cruise control, extra tinting, and the list goes affordably on. Try it youll love it!

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  Almost Perfect - 2006 Scion XB
  By gluzdov - February 5 - 8:03 am

  My conclusion from owning the stick shift model for 5 months: this car is perfect for the city, but bad for the highways. Its been like owning an SUV without sacrificing fuel and city parkability. its one of the shortest cars on the market and lets us fit into all kinds of super-small parking spots here in Philly. However, the manual gear design disregards the reality of speeds of the US highways. 5th gear: 80MPH/4000RPM, 90MPH/5000RPM - not a gas saver and the engine gets pretty loud. Dont believe the EPA estimates. Also, the default suspension option is pretty rough (wishing we upgraded).