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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Pleasantly surprised... - 2007 Scion TC
  By Bobbyb38 - November 2 - 4:50 am

  I test drove this car recently while waiting for my 04 Cavalier to get serviced yet again. I fell in love with this car from the moment I saw it and was stunned at how fun it was to drive. Tight handling, good acceleration, and really cool dash features. Needless to say I traded in my Chevy and am so glad I did. There is simply no comparison in my opinion when driving a Toyota and a GM made car. The difference in quality was apparent as soon as I opened the door. Just a solidly built car with quality parts thru out. If you want a reliable car thats fun to drive, buy this car today!

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  Absolutely Love it!!!!! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Denverite - November 1 - 10:00 am

  lived in a rural area and drove to the City everyday. Despite the high miles, this car has had absolutely no problems. regular maintenance is all that is has required. I live in a winter snowy area and it handles very well. Gas is between 35-40 mpg. This car has been the best of any I have ever owned or ridden in!!!!

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  An XB in Nebraska - 2005 Scion XB
  By scionguyNE - October 30 - 9:03 pm

  Just bought this great little car a few weeks ago and I love it. I read every review I could find before buying it and most were dead on. The style turns heads, the interior (size and design) is amazing, and the questions people ask are sure to keep you from being bored at parties. My wife loves it too and is looking forward to the day when we can fill up that HUGE back seat with a baby seat, a stroller, and every other thing well ever need for our child 4 months from now: the space will happily accomodate all of it. Ours ended up at about 19000 (be careful with all the warranties, paperwork, and other "extras", they are good but read up before hand) and I think its worth every cent.

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  Best decision I ever made - 2005 Scion xA
  By PatNC - October 29 - 4:10 am

  All this for a car for around $13,000. I love mine. In mostly city driving I am now getting 23 mpg with the manual. Havent had it out on all hwy. yet. Its not just the young people buying it. Im over 45 and was looking for a comfortable, economical car and this was it. After much research, this was by far the best choice.

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  My Ninja - 2005 Scion XB
  By ninja - October 29 - 2:53 am

  I bought my xB in Jan of 05, and its been nothing but fun driving, customizing, and even cleaning it. It turns heads when on the road. Every modification has gone very smoothly. It is gentle on the wallet at the pump, but I think one of the coolest aspects is the community these little boxes have created. When Im driving and another xB pops up we always wave and generally ride together when ever possible. Scion car clubs have sprung up across the country and its exciting to be part of what I call the "Scion Invasion." Goodbye "Its a Jeep thing..." hello "Its a box thing, you wouldnt understand."

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  The Affortable Sports Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By jason - October 27 - 10:30 pm

  The 2006 Scion tC is an overall TEN in my book. It has nice looks with overall good perfomance. It can be tricked out anyway you want as well. Im sure there be more ways to customize your Scion and add on features from the aftermarket world.

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  Easy to Buy, Easy to Drive - 2008 Scion XD
  By romans623 - October 26 - 1:16 pm

  Scion has everything done right, from the interactive website where you can build your vehicle, the pure pricing so you know what youre getting, to the buying experience where you pick the transmission, whether to have VSC or not, and then a list of dealer added options. Then when you get the car, everything is intuitively in the right place, and you dont even have to read the manual, since you can go to the website and watch the instructional videos. The xD is cute, spunky, has a lot of pep, and feels solid for such a small car. Its spacious enough for four adults, and very economical on the gas. It was made for Japanese domestic market so it slips into and out of traffic easily.

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  Amazing Im so happy - 2009 Scion TC
  By Danny - October 25 - 1:50 pm

  I drove many car before the tc and it was by far the best. Mazda3, civic, protege, neon, etc this is by far the best car I have had. Car is cool, looks good, many many options of mods and wheels just many many ways to make it better and faster. I got the car a month ago and I love it. 5 speed engine intake hks exhaust 10,000k hids yellow jdm fogs 2 12 subs 2000 Watt amp lowered it on tein coilovers and upper sway bar. The moonrof is amazing I live in Florida and its the best choice for this place! If you are looking for a car and youre Young or older but want a fun and sporty car search no more you have found it!

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  Love this car! - 2006 Scion xA
  By scruffy - October 25 - 2:06 am

  I have had my car 3yrs and have been completely satisfied. The seats are comfortable and sit high for good visibility. The gas mileage is decent. And I like the looks. I hope to have this car a long time.

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  Decent car, but wouldnt buy it again - 2008 Scion XD
  By DJ - October 24 - 11:06 am

  I was looking for something inexpensive, reliable, and stylish; Id pretty much had my heart set on the scion tc, but I had hesitations about getting a 2 door, so I got the xd instead. This car is ok, but I have a few somewhat major gripes. There are HUGE blind spots on either side near the rear windows [& a tiny back window], so when I want to change lanes, I feel like Im taking a risk even with turning my head to look and using my mirrors. The brake system is weird, and even though its supposed to respond to a light tap, I have to press pretty hard to get the car to stop, and its a very bumpy ride (even going over parking lot speed bumps feels like off-roading in rough terrain).