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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Not Feeling My tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By Mllipsey - January 28 - 3:40 am

  I have had this car from 77 miles to 57000 miles and I have been trying to get rid of it since 5000 miles. I must admit the car is fun to drive at times but compared to 75% of the other cars on the road its not much power under the hood. The only time I feel like its fast is when I am the only car on the road. The gas mileage stinks, I get 265 out of a full tank and the dealership tells me its because of "winter" gas in the winter and "summer" gas in the summer. The worst part is that loud whistling from the sunroof that toyota refuses to look at unless I pay them. Its time for me to move on.

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  Best in Small Car Its Class - 2006 Scion TC
  By O - January 21 - 11:56 pm

  Before I bought the \tC I researched and test drove the Civic, RSX, and Eclipse. The tC offers the most interior room and most back seat comfort by far. It doesnÂ’t handle at all like a sports car, but the ride is smooth, its acceleration is peppy and its handling is accurate. I bought the iPod compatible radio which is fun, but the sound quality is greatly lacking. The seats are very comfortable for a small person and so far it has handled quite nicely in the snow!

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  Nice Car - 2006 Scion TC
  By Sheel Shah - January 18 - 5:26 pm

  Ive had this car for a year. Done about 13,000 miles on it. I enjoy driving it daily. I love the sunroof and the moonroof and the alloy wheels. The car looks great..

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  2006 Scion tC in NC - 2006 Scion TC
  By temo - January 12 - 1:13 pm

  the 2006 Scion tC has excellent handling, performance, and styling. I hadnt driven a stick shift for more than 25 years...so I was a little apprehensive about not getting the automatic. I am glad I did now...it is very quick and smooth now that I am back in the groove. I love the tried and true 4-cyl. engine. I have no mechanical complaints so far. I am getting 25.5 MPG with 90% city driving.

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  A little disappointed - 2005 Scion TC
  By Carey - January 8 - 5:43 am

  Not sure if its because I had such high expectations after waiting almost 3 MONTHS to actually get the car, but now that I have it, Im not as impressed with it as I feel I should be. I do love the car, but am bummed at the lousy gas mileage (my V6 Mustang got better gas mileage than the tC) and the teeny tiny trunk. The ride is really loud, but maybe its because of the low profile tires. But then again, for $19K out the door, you cant expect it to ride like a Lexus. It is a fun car to drive and the interior is huge. My 64" BF fits comfortably in the front seats.

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  Love my car - 2007 Scion TC
  By nestars - January 7 - 10:20 pm

  I bought my car for myself for my 18th birthday and I love it. I was debating between the tC and the Civic but once I was in the tC I knew I had to have it. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel and the whole design of the car. I have to agree with some reviews here that say it is a little hard to stay under the speed limit with this car =). I have had a few tires issues with this car. Had to replace 2 in about 2 years but overall i am extremely pleased with this car

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  SWEET! - 2004 Scion xA
  By Renee - January 7 - 5:56 pm

  Have had the car for just over a month. Was my birthday prize from my husband. My 18 year old son loves it, although he can not drive it as it is MINE! It is a great get around the city and to work car. I have back problems and the seating is great for me to get in and out of.

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  Average Car - 2007 Scion TC
  By CuRiOuSfIsH - January 1 - 2:26 am

  I have had this car for four months. The car is a looker and thats where it ends. It doesnt perform much better than the average car, doesnt handle well, doesnt get good gas mileage, its paint is too thin, and its build quality and materials are not good. If youre looking for performance or practicality, look elsewhere. If you want a lot of features/toys, fairly cheap, reliable, and a nice looking commuter car, this is for you. The tC can be made to be fast but that would cost too much. My last car was an 02 Civic. I was happier with that. As an unhappy buyer said, if your last vehicle was an SUV or van, this may feel like a sports car but its far from it. No matter how they market this car, its just an average car

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  Great car to commute in - 2010 Scion TC
  By Tony P III - December 27 - 8:10 am

  I just purchased a 2010 TC last month. Interior is nice, sound system is awesome, car handles very nicely. I disagree about its lack of power...its a 4cyl commuter car, I think its rather torquey and responsive compared to civics Ive owned. If you want to be fast, go buy an LSX car. This car looks great and delivers, no complaints thus far.

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  It Needs a Sunroof - 2006 Scion xA
  By LandaOz - December 21 - 3:46 am

  The xA is a great car if you are looking for a small vehicle to zip around in and it has great mileage. It is so hard to find a little 2 door hatchback like the ones that we all grew up with, but this fits the mold. I had a 2 door RAV4 and miss it terribly, but this is kinda like a little SUV. It is small, but but fits quite a bit of stuff for a single or couple.