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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Fun car but NOT worth it! READ. - 2006 Scion TC
  By shehob11 - August 8 - 2:35 am

  After one year of purchase I am selling for another Honda. My accord was totaled so I bought this. Bad mistake. This car is built very cheap and if you look hard enough you will very clearly see it. Driving it overtime you will see many things you hate. The moon-roof whistles so loud and there is no fix, embarrassing to have friends point out how annoying it is. But the worst thing yet is the MPG. averages between 22-26 and thats it! The rating is 19mpg for city! Just awful. Seriously look into another car before buying. Just test drive a Honda and you will immediately notice how bad the TC quality is.

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  A Go Cart built like a Lexus. - 2012 Scion IQ
  By ramrod7 - August 7 - 12:20 am

  I purchased my IQ on 1/3/12, just after it arrived at my local Toyota Dealer. I now have 3600 miles on the IQ. My previous car was a 2010 Challenger. The IQ is very nimble and easy to see out of. The Challenger had serious blind spots. A simple lane change required lots of mirror checking and head movement. I had the Scion Red rear stabilizer bar installed by the dealer. This part took about a week to arrived/be installed, so I had a chance to do a before/after comparison. The stabilizer bar is worth every penny it cost IMHO. Prior to installation the rear would lean quite a bit during spirited cornering. Now the IQ maintains a flat stance in corners w/very little lean.

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  Best compact for the money - 2008 Scion XD
  By robert - August 2 - 5:23 pm

  This has been the best compact car I have ever owned. It gets 34 mpg all the time and thats city and hwy. Driving. If you want good looks, reliability, performance and lowest owner ship costs this is the one!

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  my car - 2005 Scion TC
  By Art - July 31 - 10:46 pm

  Have one and love it!!!!!!

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  A Must Drive for Cost Concious - 2004 Scion xA
  By AET - July 23 - 10:00 am

  We reasearched this car and decided to take a gamble based on its Toyota "heritage". This is a great fun little car. Over sticker price options with other cars are "Standard features" in the XA. It was cheaper to insure than some of its competitors as well. Money was a big factor in decision making. I wish I had the money to buy another XA for my wifes running around town errands. The back seat has the added security of the hooks for the "latch systems" on todays child car seats. Its fun to drive. I love it, and my kids love it. It feels like having the best new toy on the block, without breaking the piggy bank.

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  a different by nice for the price - 2004 Scion XB
  By old cat - July 23 - 10:00 am

  The look took a little while to grow on me but now i like the car.Its very comfortable an very roomie inside.The speed reminds u of a typical 4 cycle car.overall im satisfied w/ it an would recommend to any one as a 1st time buyer.

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  awesome car - 2004 Scion XB
  By fastscooby2 - July 23 - 10:00 am

  paid 12400 with 5000 mile and it was 2 months old. Best deal ever. cheap gas. ultra cheap insurance and excellent room for my kids. Im buying another one tommorrow. Seriously I am.

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  excellent - 2004 Scion XB
  By leslee - July 23 - 10:00 am

  went to test drive it, fell in love with it,took it home that day

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  The Dual Sunroofs Are Sick - 2007 Scion TC
  By lively_crab - July 23 - 4:23 am

  I did not intend to buy this car. I stopped at a Toyota dealer after test driving a Subaru Outback and a Mazda3 and I liked them both. Well, the smoking black 2007 tC was just sitting there waiting for me. My son was chanting in my ear to test drive it (I think as a dare). It is a simply beautiful car with plenty of room for what I needed at a rock bottom price for a fully loaded sporty car. I bought it and now I just have to try to keep my 20 year old away from it. I love the handling, fit and finish, Pioneer stereo, easy controls, etc, etc.

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  This Scion is so much fun - 2005 Scion xA
  By Lysiana - July 22 - 8:10 am

  I purchased my Scion Xa in July of 2004. The interior design, where speedometer and all is placed, has reduced nighttime driving glare, resulting in less eye strain. After 40,000 miles, I have had to spend only $30 in maintanance. My highway mileage has reached up to 42 mpg. The stock stereo is better then most premium stereos.