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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  One Awesome Car!! - 2008 Scion TC
  By 50tito50 - September 21 - 6:13 pm

  I just wanted to say that I just love my 2008 Toyota Scion tC! Its just what I needed! With the capability to upgrade whenever money is in the bank and with tons of parts to choose from I know that I would never be completely satisfied until I deck mine out 120%!!! Thank you Toyota for putting out such a nice vehicle that people like me can be proud of!

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  Poor A/C on an otherwise brilliant car - 2004 Scion XB
  By basiegal - September 21 - 10:00 am

  We made an special effort to find, buy and ship this car back to Dallas after my wife test drove on in Santa Rosa. At the test drive my wife reported the A/C seemed weak. On delivery we found the A/C marginal at over 100F. Taken to the local Toyota dealer found the air mix control off but this did little to fix overall performance. Appears the is the first of a new system of not compressor clutch. Its a shame the system is underpowered as the rest of the car is like nothing else on the market.

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  impressed owner - 2005 Scion XB
  By rusell palmer - September 21 - 6:13 am

  getting in/out a pleasure..plenty of zip

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  Very nice affordable car - 2006 Scion TC
  By ohsosmooth1 - September 19 - 2:53 pm

  My girlfriend and I financed a tC last year, and it rides very cool. Im not much of a manual driver, so for me its a great car. Im also just under 66" and it has a lot more room behind the wheel than I thought it would. It gets great mileage, has a decent sound system (which we upgraded), and already has an exterior look that only requires ground effects for that street racing look. However, I wouldnt recommend factory upgrades for the car. Other racing dealers are way cheaper that Scion. Start off adding an Injen Cold Air Intake, and any catback exhaust for fun. Enjoy the ride

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  I Like It! - 2006 Scion XB
  By MYNEWCAR - September 17 - 4:00 am

  Im a professional photographer and I do a lot of intown driving and sometimes hit the road for business as well. The Scion xB is going to be one of my better buying dicissions. Its really roomy for my equipment and my Bassett Hound. The sound system is awesome. It has a really smooth ride, too. Its so roomy to drive in. Im 50 years old and I think that its great!

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  Love the Box - 2008 Scion XB
  By ronhawk62 - September 16 - 10:23 am

  Ive put about 1500 miles on the box in two weeks and it has been excellent, so far. Ive been getting over 32 mpg on trips and about 27 in everyday commuting, way better than expected. Im 63" and have plenty of room and the ride is surprisingly quiet on the highway. The engine has excellent power and the transmission works seemlessly. It handles very well and Im more than pleased with my purchase. I like this car better than my previous car, a 2002 Lexus ES 300, and I really liked it.

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  Cheap to maintain, joy to park - 2006 Scion xA
  By Dmitry - September 10 - 4:33 pm

  I used to drive a Mercedes C230, but when my job got relocated, I had to get an economical car that is cheap and does not depreciate much. I highly recommend the Scion xA. It may not have the performance one would desire for or the sporty styling but over the life of the car or 25,000 miles, the only money I spent not counting oil change was spark plugs and belts. This is a dream for somebody who travels to work on long distances, wants a car with very low maintenance, utilitarian and easy to park. Four people sit comfortably in this Scion. Moreover, the resale value holds. I bought it in Dec 08 for $7,950 with 57K miles. Price has not changed at all during the year. Toyota did A+ job

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  Almost glowing - 2009 Scion XB
  By PA Deerhunter - September 5 - 10:26 pm

  I like this car a lot but I find the suspension to be a little "bouncy" for my taste. Acceleration is surprisingly good and I find it to be exceptionally maneuverable. Biggest gripe: No Daytime Running Lights, not even as an option. Lights are required in work zones here, so thats annoying. My wife is petite, so she has to use a cushion because the side mirrors are in an awkward spot in her field of view. Other than that, its a real crowd-pleaser. Lots of people come up and want to talk about it.

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  Best car for the price - 2005 Scion TC
  By Bonifacio Recile - September 5 - 6:30 pm

  This car handles sweet and so much fun to drive. the interior has so much room compare to diff. coupes. my friend were amazed with the interior space.

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  Drives Like A "Go Kart" - 2008 Scion XD
  By coytheboy - September 4 - 6:10 pm

  This is a neat little car that drives like a sports car but gives you the feel that you are in a larger car that grips the road like a Jag. The xD is very responsive and well powered in spite of its economy. It reminds me a bit like a "Go Kart" the way it handles turns. On long trips she is very comfortable and the standard stereo is high quality. MPG is in the mid 30s which is great for such a peppy car. Only negative is that the mirror buttons and dimmer controls are not illuminated at night. No big deal but it would be nice.