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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  THE BLUE BULLET - 2014 Scion TC
  By coliveri - November 15 - 7:47 pm

  What a car. Sharp, head turning exterior, got it in streak blue. I catch myself from time to time gawking. Interior is well done. Unique styling. Love the sporty steering wheel and dash layout. Sound system is great! Three speakers on each door?! Heck yeah! Seats are sporty, really support you in tight turns. Plus friends have plenty of room in the back. Trunk has a lot of space with its large door and folding seats. Now for the most important part: Performance! Engine is punchy and responsive. Handling is spot on, I feel in control and confident when taking fast turns. Everything feels like it was well thought out. Not just another cookie cutter car.

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  Scion is for the College Student - 2005 Scion xA
  By ScionLove - November 15 - 2:36 pm

  I love my new Scion. It was an easy purchase. Toyota financed my purchase without a cosigner and no down payment. How great is that! I havent had a single problem with the car, as of yet. The car doesnt pick up speed quickly, but who cares. As a commuter student, I need a reliable car and Scion provided it.

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  The Greatest - 2009 Scion XB
  By bobk - November 13 - 2:50 pm

  The XB is the greatest. Great for large people both in the front and rear seats. 27-29 mpg on a regular basis. Easily cruises at 80+ mph on the open highway. Fun to drive. Also have a Porsche Boxster and would have to say I enjoy the XB more-makes my wife happy. The only negatives that I have are, like everyone else, is the armrest and mostly the lack of electrical outlets for cell phones, gps etc. This is really a stylish great car with great performance at a more than fair price.

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  This Is It - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mike Smith - November 13 - 7:16 am

  Theres no denying it. This thing is cool. There is so much you can do to it. I put on Momo rims, a new steering wheel, a different shifter, improved seats, everything Momo, and it looks SWEET. This makes an awesome dub car. Plus, I put a few goodies under the hood, so now it has about 224 hp. Im not trading this baby for anything

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  Toaster Tribute From Alaska - 2005 Scion XB
  By xcentric - November 10 - 11:20 pm

  Blessed to find an immaculate 05 after months researching original vs redesign; thrilled w/visibility, handling, mpg, ease of maintainence and cleaning, interior size, ease of entry/exit. Only negative so far is that rain drips into interior when window open - should be an easy fix with visors. Fun to watch folks strain their necks when seeing the xB for the first time, get lots of questions about it. Plan on keeping this forever. Will test out the traction and stability soon on the approaching ice and snow.

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  Great coupe with good features - 2016 Scion TC
  By CXavier - November 10 - 8:59 am

  I bought my 2016 tC in November 2016 and I love it. The car cost a little over $20k and the vehicle comes with some great features at this price point ( push to start button with smart key, 7 inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, amazing stereo, and great torque). I put this car on the road twice and the ride was perfect for going out of town on the highway. The car comes with the same 2.5 L engine as the Camry trims and the cargo space is pretty big for a car this size. Love the push to start button (which is a rare feature on an entry car starting around $20k) and you can lock and unlock the 2016 model with your hand and thumb and never have to take your keys out of your pocket. The car comes with scheduled maintenance for the first 25k miles which is a major plus. The TC is not going to be rebadged as a Toyota and not sure what is going to happen to the residual value but the XB was discontinued last year and they still hold their value pretty well and scion cars are low production so the supply should match the demand in the used market. I plan on keeping it until the odometer clocks 250-300k so resale value isnt a big deal for me. Gas mileage is average but its still a decent has saver. If you are interested in coupes at an reasonable price but the TC before the conclusion of 2016.

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  2008 XD auto - 2008 Scion XD
  By simonccny - November 8 - 6:23 pm

  got this car for $12000, 13k miles , i would say its a good deal. the car is fun to drive, totally would fit scions market. i am a 26 years old guy, and have no eager to buy those camery.

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  Great car - 2006 Scion TC
  By lk4d4 - November 5 - 9:38 am

  Bought my 06 tC in may 2006 with 53 miles on it, now up to 210,000+ miles. No major issues what so ever. I still have the original car battery, which is impressive. I did have to add some distilled water into it after 6 years, no big feat there. I have a short RAM intake, Borla axle back exhaust, which after adding bumped my MPG to about 31-33 hwy. Most of my driving is hwy, my daily commute is 60 mi each way. and I drive frequently from San Diego to Sacramento, roughly 550 mi each way. The tC is comfortable enough to drive the whole way with no problems. Im 510". Very easy to maintain. Easy access to the oil filter, I always check the placement of that on cars before buying.

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  Excellent car, fun to drive - 2008 Scion XB
  By Jack - November 5 - 6:56 am

  Nice exterior design. Much better than the previous models. Fun to drive. I drive 70% highway, and the MPG is about 27. I think it is good enough.

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  X marks the spot - 2004 Scion XB
  By thefoth - November 3 - 10:00 am

  With over 3000 miles logged its time to say my part. In trying to figure out what I should buy as my first car I read countless reviews. At first I dismissed the Scion because it was only available in California, but once hooked on it I didnt stop until I owned one. I read every article and review I could find, and from personal experience Id say it has come through with everything it was said to be and more. From the no pressure sales and extremely nice dealer experience to all the enjoyment Ive gotten out of this extremely versatile car. I am beginning to modify it and personalize it and feel that it will make an awesome cruiser.