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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great Car - 2006 Scion xA
  By dxt178 - February 12 - 6:50 pm

  Going on two years with my xA and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Sporty for what it is, great traction in snow and saves money at the pump. Rear seat could use a tad more leg room and fuel tank placement limits space for storage. I do regularly haul two 11 kayaks on a roof rack, and have transported my share of 8 2x4s with the rear hatch fully closed. Everyone who has ever ridden with me has fallen in love with it, even if their initial reaction was negative. In my opinion the xA is better than a hybrid. Cheaper, less complex, no batteries, and with combined driving it easily gets 40 MPG in an automatic. Great car.

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  fun mommy car - 2009 Scion XB
  By renee27 - January 16 - 12:53 am

  My father suggested I try sion xb out instead of a suv with my children in mind, I love this car. The dealership was friendly and informative, I have to be honest I thought the car was ugly but when I drove it I fell in love, smooth fun driving, love the hatch back for beach and groceries, and fold down seats, my two bucket car seats fit perfect in the back for my 3 and 5 year old the only complaint I have is my children have a hard time looking out the window problem at Christmas with all the light, ,, I average about 32 mpg on fuel and even drove in the snow without problems, my driveway is steep and have no problem getting up. I would recommend this car to all fun mommies with 1-2 kids, safe

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  Post-modern Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By mattblowers - January 15 - 2:50 am

  This is a great car. It is a car that is either loved or hated by consumers. There is no middle ground. It is fun, fun, fun. It is a nimble, little, urban loving car. It has a very tight turning radius. It darts in and out of traffic effortlessly. If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, with great fuel mileage and reliability, this is the car for you.

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  Head Turner! - 2005 Scion TC
  By EJ - January 7 - 4:33 am

  Ive had the tC for 2 weeks now and I love it! It drives great, despite me learning to drive manual on it! My co-workers and friends were impressed with all the standard features. Im still breaking it in and I have about 500 miles on it so far.

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  Scions R Kool Cars - 2007 Scion TC
  By valval - January 1 - 10:06 pm

  The 2007 Toyota Scion T C Is a great car.It has a sleek design and looks great on the inside& out. It is a comfortable and fun car to drive.I have had no problems with my car since my husband bought it for me in 2006.Toyota could of had put a better paint job on it.I have noticed small nicks of chipped paint here and there on my car.Other than that I am really satisfied and would recommend someone to buy a Scion....They are really fun vehicles to drive.They Catch peoples eyes and are looking and complimenting you on your car.

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  Good Buy - 2007 Scion TC
  By Rick - December 9 - 7:33 am

  I purchased my first "brand new" vehicle after many years of battling the constant problems of the unreliability of my other used vehicles. I am ultimately happy with my purchase have no regrets. I love how tight the car drives and how versatile it is since all seat can fold completely flat. It also has ample leg room in the back for passengers and the reclining rear seats are also a plus! Gas mileage is decent considering its a 2.4L, and one touch windows and a stylish sunroof also are an added plus. It has all the bells and whistles you can ask for within this price point and it is pretty sporty looking sitting on 17" wheels and can go pretty good with 161HP. All not bad for under $17k.

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  Scion AKA My little Lexus - 2004 Scion xA
  By J P Lewis - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Best bang for your buck. If the standard stereo isnt good enough for you your crazy. More than ample front seat room with the rear great for small children. No haggling here MSRP is the best they can do and it is obvious why.

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  Owners Report - 2004 Scion XB
  By ferndale - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I love the fact that I get great gas milage. My teenage sons really like the way the car makes heads turn. The ride is a little rough because the car sits close to the ground. You will feel EVERY bump in the road. It takes a little getting used to when driving at night. There is NO dash panel that US drivers are accustomed. The 6-CD changer is a MUST. You will hear some wind noise when driving even with all windows up and doors locked. I think Toyota could have had a tighter build with the door panels.

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  Scion tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By TCRS1 - November 17 - 10:30 pm

  Quick , sporty , Reliable (Toyota Reputation), Clean looking , Well mannored in city and highway speeds , Fit of body panels and lines very good , Easy vehicle to customize to your personal liking , Controls very friendly to use , everything in reach , good fuel economy (expierenced 26mpg on average) . Well built motor , Transmission(auto) shifts smoothly and crisply , Door slam is is sturdy not tinny like most sub compacts , Paint very deep in color and gloss , Seats adjust easily just as steering does .

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  Cost effective excellent performer - 2005 Scion xA
  By Chris Thomas - November 10 - 9:13 pm

  From a commuting standpoint, I find the 2005 Scion xA to be an excellent performer. The basic vehicle comes with many desirable features (AC, CD/MP3 player, etc), and the no-haggle buying is nice. The automatic transmission is very sluggish until the engine warms up, particularly around 30 mph where it tends to stick in a low gear while struggling at high RPMs. This is definitely not a car to haul people around in - adults in the back seat will feel some discomfort; however, there is a lot of room for carrying other things.