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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  couldbebetter - 2005 Scion XB
  By xbassateak - May 15 - 10:00 am

  this vehicle is adorable,but, it seems like it was thrown together. maybe thats why it was so cheap. the look is great. it is comfortable,yet, that could be upgraded a bit. gas mileage is decent. it is extremely fun to drive. like a little baha mobile.

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  Fun Little car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Perry C - May 9 - 9:16 pm

  Performance: Coming from a 5.0 mustang gives me a bit more perspective than some of the kids moving up from their Civic to this car. It isnt particularly fast, but it is quick, and handles well, is comfortable and the stereo system rocks Gearing/Tranny: I think they did a great job with matching the gearing to the engine. Even in 5th gear, you can pass on the highway, which makes highway driving much more tolerable. First is really short, but thats not a bad thing. Interior: This car is really comfortable and seems much bigger on the inside than it looks like it should from the outside. The seats are firm and supportive, and the driving controls are well placed.

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  The Ups and Downs - 2005 Scion XB
  By mxpro338 - May 5 - 4:23 pm

  I have owned this car for a year and have put over 30,000 miles on it. What I like: it is reliable and roomy! The xB is a very practical "around town" car, it gets good fuel mileage, is unique, has suprisingly strong engine for its displacement, has phenominal handling (even in the snow!), and is affordable. What I dont like: it lacks passing power at high RPM, the original radio, lots of wind noise, and it had no armrest when new. In the end, if you are looking at this car you have to weigh out what is important to you. It is not great fuel mileage (30-32 mpg avg.) and it is not powerful (100 - 110hp), but it is fun to own and will attract lots of attention around your town.

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  Great value! - 2006 Scion XB
  By pharklefam - May 2 - 8:03 pm

  Ive had my Scion XB for about a year and a half and think its great. It gets excellent gas mileage and visibility is very good. My Scion has a rattle almost from day one on the drivers side dashboard. Dealer has tried two or three times to fix it but cant seem to find it. Also the interior lighting is too dim. Cant find anything at night. Very, very uncomfortable on long trips -- 3 hours plus. I do enjoy driving it locally -- easy to park, brakes work well, low maintenance, etc. But at 27,000 miles, my tires are just about worn out. I have rotated the tires every 3 to 4,000 miles. I guess this must be average. Anyway, Id buy it again if I had the chance.

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  Great ride but..... - 2006 Scion xA
  By Roxanne - May 2 - 5:13 am

  My Scion xA rides/handles great. Seat very comfortable for my 57". O/S its so CUTE too! However, high engine noise on highway makes me want to shift to 5th gear but Im IN 5th!! Not smooth shifting either. Center speedometer?? Think again. Scion inside material (only choice) black makes the cars (roomy for a little car) interior feel suffocatingly small. Interior textures hard to clean too! My 02 Ford Focuss grey interior feels SO much bigger, cleaner and is easier to clean !! 06 xAs cup holder wont hold a coffee cup. No handle cutout so sits at an angle, sloshing. Sorry!

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  The tap dancing xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Disappointed - April 30 - 8:03 pm

  I got mine after I read the favorable consumer ratings. I made a wrong decision.The driver seat is so uncomfortable and wablly, I feel like I am sitting on a half inflated ballon. A small bump on the road would send this car jumping all over because of the very soft suspension. The ride is punishing. If nothing else, the car should be recalled for lack of suspension. Toyotas focus should be balanced and away from selling accessories at the expense of comfort and safety. I do not want to buy the firmer lowering kit for better suspension. What an arrogance on toyotas part to have only one color of fabric for the seats!I have had this car for almost 3 months now and it is already rattling.

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  Big interior and Great Price - 2015 Scion XB
  By Scott Davis - April 29 - 11:29 pm

  Just purchased 2015 Scion xB and I am averaging 29.3 MPG for the first 3500 miles on the road. The vehicle is a manual transmission model. Not sure why others are reporting poor MPG. I live in the midwest with very few hills and I have a manual transmission so perhaps that might be the reason. Plenty of stop and go traffic and some highway driving and still achieve 29 MPG. I actually like the center gauges. At night I do not have the annoying gauge lights below me while viewing the road. It is quite easy on the eyes. Also the digital speedometer is a big plus over dial gauge. We place an iPad on the passenger side dash and lays there flat nicely. I am a 64" person and this vehicle is unbelievably roomy (headroom and leg room are stellar) even in the back seat. I initially was not keen on the boxy look of the vehicle but after tinting the windows and installing fog lights myself the exterior is very appealing. I have several comments on the look and the BIG interior. Reliability with Toyota Camry engine should be well above average. I do not observe the road noise as others have stated. I looked at a Kia Soul. You will be very disappointed in the interior size. Very small. Initial features of the car are not great. Get the vehicle for $17K with no options and then add aftermarket or the Toyota options yourself. They are available at lower prices from online Toyota dealers.

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  Fun and refined with few compromises - 2007 Scion TC
  By Val - April 19 - 11:23 pm

  Hard to beat for under 20K. Really, name something as loaded, refined and reliable (as Toyota) for the same price. So far, loving it: put a nav system into the double din - the cover is awesome, less tempting for thieves! Solid as a vault, decent handling, moderate power from 4cyl, averaging around 27 mpg on combination of spirited city driving and 90 mph+ highway cruising.

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  Much improved for 2014 - 2014 Scion TC
  By mazdap - April 18 - 9:32 pm

  I bought a 2014 Scion tC manual transmission in blue. It has about 3200 miles on it now. It handles well in rain and snow (just had our 3rd snow storm here in Pennsylvania), It has sporty handling in the twisties due to suspension upgrades for 2014. Looks like no other car, the new wheels are beautiful and hide brake dust. The transmission is very smooth and precise. It is Camry reliable, lighter and quicker than a Camry though. It has plenty of torque which you can feel during takeoff. The HD stereo is AMAZING! 0-60 time per Car and Driver is 6.9 seconds for the 6sp manual transmission. All this for less than 20k. Plus free service/oil changes! So far I am very pleased.

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  Still SeXXXy! after 2.5 years! - 2006 Scion TC
  By UltiMica06 - April 13 - 11:26 am

  UltiMica is about 2.5 yrs old now. Still a Strong girl! Modded the car w/ A LOT of stuff to make it MORE fun to drive & Sexier Exterior Looks. Great value & fun to drive car! I <3 my tC!