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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  The Little Workhorse - 2006 Scion XB
  By David Harlass - January 26 - 9:36 am

  I needed a car for small deliveries and sales calls. I did not want this car, but it made sense financially. I keep very detailed mileage records and it never matters if you are highway or city it is always between 29.5 and 33 miles per gallon. The A/C matters little to my overall mileage, even with the A/C running. I have 80000 miles on it and only one small issue with a switch. It is exactly as it is promoted for an inexpensive vehicle and I recommend this car mightily.

• 

  I love my little xD! - 2008 Scion XD
  By genius163 - January 26 - 6:46 am

  I traded in my 2006 Volvo XC90 for the 2008 Scion xD for the gas savings. I get nearly double the gas mileage now. I still use a rear-facing car seat for my baby and it actually fits better in the back seat of the Scion than it did in the Volvo. I think it has as much to do with the shape of the dashboard as it does with the roominess of the back seat, but whatever the reason, the front passenger is always glad not have knees jammed up against the dashboard. Because the xD is tall with a high seating position, downsizing from an SUV was not nearly the adjustment I thought it would be.

• 

  Scion....What A CAR!!! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Chris - January 25 - 2:23 pm

  I never thought I would get this car,at first I thought it was ugly, the more I looked...the more I liked. Great car. Great deal. Great reliability. What more could I ask for in my first car that I have to pay for w/o parents help.

• 

  Great value. - 2015 Scion XB
  By DJC - January 25 - 12:13 am

  Its too bad the xB is being discontinued. Its a good value that with a few improvements would be phenomenal. We are a family of 3 and this is a good alternative to a crossover. The pluses include fantastic use of space, comfortable seats, and punchy acceleration. You can pack this car easily for vacation or road trips. The sound system is great. A few improvements that I would suggest include, mediocre fuel economy and an outdated transmission. Theyre likely related. With another gear or two mileage would improve as would passing on the highway. Acceleration around town is great though. Lastly Edmunds complaints about the center mounted gauges is just silly. Not destracting at all. To sum up this is a great car for a small family who needs some versatility, but not a big SUV.

• 

  Our sons first car! - 2006 Scion TC
  By SoFlaG8R - January 24 - 8:13 pm

  We bought the tC for our 16 yr old son. He loves it! We bought it with ground affects/18 inch Perrilli tires/upgraded sound-subwoofer-iPod dock/interior lights/Billet grille/spoiler on back and more. It is so much fun to drive and it looks great. Sure he wishes it had a big engine, but for a 16 year old new driver this is as much power as we wanted him to have. My son is also tall and this is one of the few cars that had plenty of head/leg room for him.

• 

  We love our xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Ted F - January 23 - 8:00 pm

  Have approximately 2000 miles so far. Primarily used on the highway at 65-75 mph. Vehicle tacs between 3300-3700 rpm at those speeds but still rides quiet and smooth. A 6th gear would be great. Vehicle handles sweet. Very much please with all aspects so far. Highway/city mpg combined average nets us 36-39, just what I wanted. I know on a long road trip (mostly highway) I will exceed 40 mpg. Stereo and standard pw and doorlocks are great. For the price Scion had more options than the 4dr Yaris. Very pleased again with our decision. Had to minimize the gas and oil companies impact on my wallet. It is just transportation to and from work. Time for all to change!

• 

  Scion xa - 2004 Scion xA
  By tif - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car because my 99 Civic LX was totaled in an accident. In the mean time I had to drive various other rental cars, including the Mazda Protege and Toyota Prius. However, I found that when I was behind the wheel of the xa, it was the most comfort driving I felt after my accident. The car has equivalent amount of power as the Civic and the interior seating is comfortable. Theres not much acceleration speed but thats not my primary consideration for the quality of a vehicle anyway. It is better deal than a Civic LX because it is cheaper and comes with ABS brakes. I can also definitely say that it feels way nicer than a Protege.

• 

  Elvis shoe box - 2004 Scion XB
  By Elvis P. - January 21 - 2:00 am

  A fun little car to driver, this is my third toyota. If this one is as good as the last it will be an exllant little car. I added cold air induction, and modified exhaust system. I have 125 HP now and belive me it scoots. Tons of room inside Love it Elvis

• 

  Fun-in-the-Box - 2004 Scion XB
  By Cass-in-the-box - January 21 - 2:00 am

  If you arent ready for stares and strangers questions, this isnt the car for you. If you are looking for a fun alternative to both the SUV and the traditional "commuter car", give the Scion XB a chance. The Scion take the best from both of the above types of cars; its small and gas-milage conscious, yet its still comfortable and has lots of cargo space so you arent confined to a solitary trunk to haul your junk. It has loads of headroom and personal space, so you dont feel as if youre in your passangers hip pocket. Add a lot of great standards (air, cd, power everything) and its a great deal. I really love my XB.

• 

  Love It! - 2006 Scion TC
  By conrad - January 21 - 12:30 am

  When the gas prices started rocketing, I thought it best to get rid of my beloved Jeep Wrangler. What I ended up with was the hotest car on the market for the price, the Scion tC. Instead of the 15 mpg / hwy that I was getting I now get 30!!