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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Worth Much More Than $16k - 2005 Scion TC
  By Chia - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Im still shocked at how much car I get for a mere $16,500. The Potenza tires alone are great. I feel very confident driving it around town and cant wait to put more parts in (supercharger, exhaust, sub, amp). The roominess of the interior is amazing too. Im still amazed at what I got.

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  Michigan to Alaska - 2006 Scion xA
  By rocknrollmormon - May 29 - 1:53 am

  We bought this car brand new, it now has 93,000 miles on it. At 62,000 miles the right rear wheel bearing had to be replaced but the dealer did that for free even though it wasnt under warranty anymore he said it shouldnt have happened on a Toyota, and at 78,000 miles I replaced the front brake pads. Other than that weve just done routine maintenance (spark plugs, oil, filters, belts) We bought this in Michigan and now live in Alaska and it does fine in the winter with studded tires. We drove through the mountains from Anchorage to Valdez and got 43 mpg on the highway. We get about 21-25mpg in the city. This car is really a great car, take care of it and it wont let you down.

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  Love my Scion! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Julianna - May 26 - 3:50 am

  My Scion has been fantastic! No mechanical problems at all, and it is a blast to drive. I love the way it looks, and we have plenty of interior room. My 60 yr old sister went out and bought one last month and she loves hers as well.

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  Love this XB!!! - 2010 Scion XB
  By JimJam - May 26 - 1:43 am

  I have had my new Classic Silver XB for about 4 days. It is so fun to drive and is very comfortable for all 5 passengers. It was the best value for any car in the price range. My XB has the same standard options (except Bluetooth) than my wifes 2009 Carolla XLE that we paid $20,000 for and the XB handles much better. I think you will love the cargo space as well. The fuel economy is good as well for the amount of power the car has. Give one a test drive and I think you will feel the same as I do. I LOVE this EB!!!

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  Outstanding Scion xB - 2005 Scion XB
  By Gabriel Monsalve - May 20 - 12:13 pm

  I have been quite tame when driving my Scion xB for the first year, since I am trying to break in the engine carefully. Last December I made a long round trip from Plano Texas to North Sacramento California, with four passengers plus lugage and this little vehicle performed like a superstar in all road conditions - going up hill or down, under heavy rain, and on soaked pavement. the stearing always felt safe and the handling and performance were superb. I was really surprised how pleasant the trip was in my xB since I been doing it in a Honda Odyssey and a Dodge Grand Caravan for years. the xB is a lot of fun to drive and is very comfortable.

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  I LOVE it. - 2006 Scion XB
  By Red - May 17 - 12:26 pm

  I LOVE my Scion xB SUV. Yeah thats right my SUV. Small Ugly Vehicle. It is responsive, stylish, and fun to drive. Its fit and finish is quite good for a "CHEAP" car. It is a real hoot to drive. It is a wee bit sluggish on passing on the highway, but other than that its wonderful. It has pleanty of room and a interior layout. I like this little box a great deal and would not hesitate to tell others how good it is.

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  Better than you might think - 2008 Scion XD
  By cindy - May 16 - 9:30 pm

  Ive had the xD for a week and it rocks! Ive got the VSC. When I first drove it to work, co-workers thought I was driving a Lexus, or Acura - in black, the xD is that sharp. Its higher up than you might expect, feels like an SUV on the road. Great on hilly terrain. Everything about it is nice. It has better lines than the Caliber, the Fit, or other Toyotas. Not as low as the Matrix or Prius. Interior dash is attractive, it has great get up and go. Its worth the money, every cent.

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  the tC rocks!!! - 2007 Scion TC
  By rC-tC - May 16 - 5:16 am

  I loved the car ever since I saw the concept back in 2003. The styling was what caught my eye. I had wanted one ever since they came out, me and my babe went to test drive them and I knew I had to get one, so funny cause we test drove the tC cause of me, and my baby beat me to it and bought it before me, I bought mine a month later. This car surpassed by far all my expectations, everything about the car is great, the styling, the standard features, the comfort, the quality of the ride and the crafting and materials, and the economy, all around the tC is a winner!!! if you want to have a good sporty experience go for the 5 spd manual.

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  Good Value - 2005 Scion xA
  By Jim H - May 15 - 8:13 am

  When I first saw the Scion line at an auto show a few years ago, I thought they were ugly. But theyve really grown on me. When it came time to get a new car I didnt want to spend a lot of money but I wanted something comfortable, cool looking and economical. I felt myself being drawn to the xA. Knowing nothing about it I test drove it and really like the styling and handling. Plus it came loaded with EVERYTHING-standard! The no hassle buying was also a HUGE plus. I put a little extra in and got a power moonroof. This loaded little beauty came in under $16,000! I couldnt be happier.

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  I love going back to Toyota - 2008 Scion XB
  By exNissanAndexHonda - May 15 - 7:06 am

  Ive had it for a week now and have put on 500 miles. Perfect in every way: power, torque, cool automatic transmission that I can shift manually because my wife wanted auto and I wanted stick. With the sport shift, I dont even need Toyotas 30 hp supercharger. Quality is excellent, repeat excellent. It corners better (more flat) than my old 99 Nissan Maxima SE which was rated at .79g whereas the Scion xB is .81g and the car magazines say its 0-60 mph is 7.5 seconds and 1/4 mile is 16 sec at 90mph which is same as my 99 Nissan Maxima.