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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 my box! - 2005 Scion XB
  By denjb - October 5 - 10:00 am

  Its FUN to drive, looks cute, commands attention. The gas mileage attracted me to it, then the unique look sealed the deal. I love it as-is. The only addition I plan to make to it is get some alloy wheels for it. Its the most original vehicle on the market. Scion did right where Honda went wrong with the Element. Its so incredibly roomy inside and I can carry four adults with PLENTY of room. Its cavernous for such a small car! Ive got NO complaints about it at all, so far its lived up to and beyond all of my expectations.

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  tC Handles, Looks Great - 2005 Scion TC
  By tCOwner - October 5 - 10:00 am

  The tC offers extremely responsive steering and the handling capabilities of a sports car with the interior space - front seat and back - of a sedan. The 4 cylinder engine provides surprising acceleration while maintaining terrific gas mileage - nearly 30 mpg highway and 28 in the city. A long list of options makes the tC easy to personalize, although the car is fun to drive and just as fun to look at without any extras.

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  My Little Rollerskate - 2006 Scion xA
  By marji - October 1 - 4:16 am

  I really like my Scion xAs good gas mileage, Its leg room equals or is better than the Toyota Siennas. I am tall, it is becoming my favorite.

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  The BEST car for the $$$! - 2005 Scion xA
  By B.Jones - September 28 - 10:03 pm

  I had been in desperate need of a new car, and was looking for something economical. I was considering the Mazda3, Corolla, Golf, etc. and stumbled a review on the new Scion by Toyota. All the reviews (including this site) had nothing but favorable things to say, and when I compared the options that came standard with Scion vs. the "others", I thought this sounds great! I ordered one without ever driving one and figured it is what it is, I just need something basic to get me around. I couldnt have been more surprised and pleased with a vehicle such as the xA. It handles very well and Im currently averaging 40 mpg on the highway and I couldnt be happier!

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  its weird but neat :) - 2004 Scion XB
  By Rex Scates - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I am just gettign it but am laready impressed. more to follow in a few months. but so far so good.

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  Sweetness - 2006 Scion TC
  By Eric - September 25 - 1:10 am

  How much better could a 17000 car get? It is the best value around.

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  2008 Scion xB(2nd gen) - 2008 Scion XB
  By Tj2008 - September 24 - 7:23 pm

  I got this car after trading in my 2007 Honda civic and I love the xb it is way more fun to drive! And there is a lot more passenger space and its great that it came with the first two recommended services free! I never fell like I dont have a lot of power the engine has great get up and go, and this car is easy to park and everyone is suprised by how much room it has on the inside. Though not as much as the first generation xb (really boxy one) you still get a lot of people staring there is nothing quite like it one the road and that makes it so great! The automatic trans. Even though a four speed it gets decent mpgs. My best mpg I got was on a trip to the beach hwy and it was 33.3 mpg!

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  One Awesome Car!! - 2008 Scion TC
  By 50tito50 - September 21 - 6:13 pm

  I just wanted to say that I just love my 2008 Toyota Scion tC! Its just what I needed! With the capability to upgrade whenever money is in the bank and with tons of parts to choose from I know that I would never be completely satisfied until I deck mine out 120%!!! Thank you Toyota for putting out such a nice vehicle that people like me can be proud of!

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  impressed owner - 2005 Scion XB
  By rusell palmer - September 21 - 6:13 am

  getting in/out a pleasure..plenty of zip

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  Very nice affordable car - 2006 Scion TC
  By ohsosmooth1 - September 19 - 2:53 pm

  My girlfriend and I financed a tC last year, and it rides very cool. Im not much of a manual driver, so for me its a great car. Im also just under 66" and it has a lot more room behind the wheel than I thought it would. It gets great mileage, has a decent sound system (which we upgraded), and already has an exterior look that only requires ground effects for that street racing look. However, I wouldnt recommend factory upgrades for the car. Other racing dealers are way cheaper that Scion. Start off adding an Injen Cold Air Intake, and any catback exhaust for fun. Enjoy the ride