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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best Car in Its Class! - 2005 Scion TC
  By Gabriel Santos - November 29 - 8:50 pm

  I love my new scion tC. Be sure to honk and wave at fellow owners. The only negative thing I can think of to say about this car is that when you drive into a steep parking lot, you often hear a "popping" sound around the sunroof area (no doubt a result of a shifting frame). However, since the entire top is made of glass and not steel, it is not surprising.

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  Scion xa - 2004 Scion xA
  By Melissa - November 28 - 9:03 am

  I love my car! Its nice to have a compact car that sits higher and not on the floor. It handles nicely, has good gas mileage, and is cute too! The one and only thing I dont like is that somehow the way the gas tank is designed, causes the gas pump to kick off when fueling up. So, you have to manually fuel up at times.

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  Wow - 2004 Scion XB
  By mike - November 27 - 11:03 pm

  This is a great car. Very practical great standard options. Only wish it had a little more horsepower.

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  An honest review - 2005 Scion TC
  By pepe - November 26 - 5:40 am

  I will say that just about every review I have read here is quite accurate about the new TC. Great value nontheless.

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  Best Deal Ever! I love my Scion! - 2009 Scion XB
  By CB - November 22 - 3:10 pm

  Coming from a 1999 Toyota Camry I can truly say that this is the perfect car for me. As a college student the flexibility, performance and gas mileage of the car were all needed. The car handles wonderfully, looks great and is extremely reliable. My previous Camry had zero problems for the entire 160,000 miles. Toyota quality is unsurpassed and is quite evident in this vehicle. My only gripe is that the ride is a little bumpy. You do feel most every bump in the road.

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  best low-medium budget car out there! - 2005 Scion TC
  By barbies_idol - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I absoultely love this car! Its practical, functional, economical, and looks good, too. It has high reviews across the board because it is built to Toyota quality and standards, yet retains the Scion brand price tag. The interior is designed with the driver in mind - nothing, is out of reach. There are multiple little cubby spaces for the storage of personal effects.

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  Fantastic Car, Great Value - 2004 Scion xA
  By Kirk - November 22 - 8:26 am

  After driving the same car for 14 years, we needed something new. The sporty xA (as opposed to the hideous, boxy xB) was just what we were looking for. Power steering, brakes, windows, and door locks, anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger airbags, awesome fuel economy (we average about 30mpg), CD player/six-speaker stereo system and comfortably seats five - all standard! These features alone blew us away. Our son is 64" and sits comfortably in the back seat. Weve comfortably fit 5 adults at once. The only upgrades we purchased were fog lights and the six-disc CD changer, and it still cost us under $14,000. The Toyota engineering was also a major selling point. Highly recommended.

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  Most bang for your buck - 2006 Scion TC
  By paul3mac - November 21 - 4:53 pm

  At around 19,500 after taxes/tags, you cant beat the comfort and performance of the 06 Scion Tc. I absolutely love every minute of driving it

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  Great Car for the Price! - 2005 Scion TC
  By stl.tc.king - November 20 - 1:50 pm

  After looking for quite a while at several different cars, I decided to buy a Scion tC. The major factors which led to my decision include the Camrys 2.4L engine (proven to be reliable), the styling, both interior as well as exterior, and the long list of standard features that are included within the base price (keyless entry, 17" alloy wheels, dual sunroofs, reclining rear seats, etc..) After my purchase, Scion has done a great job keeping buyers remorse to a minimum because of their superior marketing. I feel as if I "belong" to somewhat of a community of enthusiasts with similar interests.

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  So Far Great - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By oceaneer77 - November 15 - 9:24 pm

  I had for a very long time an old porsche 928 s4. It was a amazing car, and I thrashed the crap out of it. It died a terrible death... The new Scion replaced it. The Sion is not nearly as fast, nor as flashy. But it is WAAAAY more fun. At every red light the little 4 gives it a mighty big BRAAAPPPP and off we go. The shift points are just pure joy. This is not a car that will set a new land speed record, or corner at speeds that make your brains turn to mush. BUT----It is a very fun car that is amazingly responsive. It puts a smile on your face driving in city traffic as its sure is a little street fighter. Its great on the highway and its MPG is amazing. The car has a real soul.