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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Decent car, but wouldnt buy it again - 2008 Scion XD
  By DJ - October 24 - 11:06 am

  I was looking for something inexpensive, reliable, and stylish; Id pretty much had my heart set on the scion tc, but I had hesitations about getting a 2 door, so I got the xd instead. This car is ok, but I have a few somewhat major gripes. There are HUGE blind spots on either side near the rear windows [& a tiny back window], so when I want to change lanes, I feel like Im taking a risk even with turning my head to look and using my mirrors. The brake system is weird, and even though its supposed to respond to a light tap, I have to press pretty hard to get the car to stop, and its a very bumpy ride (even going over parking lot speed bumps feels like off-roading in rough terrain).

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  The Car of the Year - 2005 Scion TC
  By ALEX - October 22 - 9:00 pm

  I cant believe how well this car handles. Im breaking it in, not pushing it at all, and it amazes me in Its breaking abilities, handling, and acceleration. The fuel mileage isnt bad at all. If i was to say something bad about it, I perfer to haggle rather than dealing with a fixed price, but its worth it.

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  Best Value - 2005 Scion TC
  By Blue Scion tC - October 20 - 2:10 am

  Started looking for a good gas mileage car (I drive 23k a year) but decided on the Scion. Looked at Elanta (didnt like dash) Corolla S (small hard plastic armrest and dash seem old fashioned) and Mazda 3 (too high price). While at Toyota dealership test drove the tC and couldnt resist getting it. It just ran great and had such a solid/quality feel to it. What I really liked was there were no options I had to buy. It already had 4wheel disc brakes, ABS, sunroof, cruise control and alloy wheels. Got 27mpg with first tank and 29 with second one. Overall, you just cant beat the value and quality and to me it was worth the extra $7 a week for gas.

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  Highly Recommend - 2006 Scion XB
  By SAS - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I highly recommend this car! I was in an accident with the first one I owned and everyone walked away with out a scratch! It was total loss so I bought another one.

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  Fun To Drive - 2004 Scion XB
  By funfamily - October 17 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I were actually out looking for minivans when the Scion caught his eye. Initially, I thought "No way!" but as soon as I sat in it and test drove it, the decision was made. This is a great second car for us. The kids love to drive in it and now never want to get into Daddys Avalon. There is tons of room, even with 2 car seats in the back and the visibility is awesome. The car feels so big when you are driving it, that I sometimes forget what I am driving until I see the stares from the people around me. Everywhere we go people comment on what a neat car we have. We love it!

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Tom C - October 16 - 5:56 pm

  In a word, this car is awesome. I was shocked to find such a diamond for the price of a gumdrop. This thing is sporty, comfortable, AND economical. I absolutely love my car, and I compared it against the Mazda 3, the Ford Focus, and the Toyota Matrix, as well as the bigger Pontiac G6. Hands down, for the price, did I get the best performance vehicle.

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  My review of the XB - 2005 Scion XB
  By Pamela Aldsred - October 12 - 3:46 pm

  Its a great little car if you want good gas mil;eage. Does not have alot of power but has everything else for the amount of money you pay. Very roomy inside, you can easliy fit 4 adults comfortably in the XB. I love driving it everyday and my job requires lots of travel.

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  All Around Excellent Car - 2005 Scion TC
  By marat - October 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has been developed with people between the ages of 18-25 in mind. This car, however, would make an excellent match for any owner. The car provides great standard safety features (ABS, Knee airbags, side airbags), along with a very acceptable engine (2.4l 160hp, 163 lb-ft torque).The car also comes standard with many features that can be pricey in other cars (panorama moonroof, alloy 17in wheels, Pioneer sound system. From my experience, the gas mileage is very acceptable, and beats out several competitors. You feel comfortable and safe within the car, and wind noise is almost non- apparent.This car has the quality of Toyota with uniqueness of Scion

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  I love my xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Amy - October 8 - 7:36 pm

  I just bought my xB last week and I am so in love with it! The new body and new features are great! I love that their is no haggling when I went to buy it.

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  It grows on you - 2008 Scion XB
  By David - October 7 - 7:26 am

  This is a great vehicle. I have put about 400 miles on it so far and have been really pleased with my purchase. The ride is a little bumpy, but going from a giant F-150 might explain the sensitivity. I love the center mounted gauges and the trip computer is so convenient. It gets kind of annoying having to switch between the clock and the other information on the trip computer, but for 17k I can push the button a couple times. The upgraded stereo is a must. It looks a whole lot better and allows for future sound expansion if desired. All in all, Id highly recommend this car for all people of all ages. Im 26 and my Dad, much older, wants one now. MUCH better than the Honda Fit, etc