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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Trd is a must - 2009 Scion XB
  By STEVE - October 14 - 3:33 pm

  Looking for a car/SUV this is a great pic with a Toyota build. My was bought for $17,091. Always go with a credit union for the best deal. Sticker was 20k included upgraded radio tint and fog lights. I had the dealer add trd air intake, lowering springs, grill, rear wind deflector, cargo box. It rides well with near 50/50 weight transfer with very little body roll. Floor it and it sounds like a turbo. The ride is quick for a 167.3 inch ride. Next is a trd supercharger duel borla exhaust, this will hit just over 300 hp.

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  Paint an issue - 2008 Scion XD
  By WHY? - October 9 - 11:36 am

  I am so disappointed with my xD. I researched countless vehicles until I decided on the xD. Bought it last week and it already has paint chips and scratches (and I dont drive in rough areas). In fact, upon closer inspection -- dirt combined with dew is actually what is causing the scratching, while Im driving. Also has a small rust spot on the back. This car is only one week old!! Will be taking it back to the dealer tomorrow for inspection. Be warned!! I wish I stayed with Honda.

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  love it so far - 2004 Scion XB
  By andergtr - October 6 - 10:00 am

  i picked up the xB as a second car. my main car is a 2002 BMW 325ci, but i drive 30K miles a year and have some big cargo requirements, too. so far it has been great, with one, hopefully isolated, exception, and that was when the car power-stalled on different occasions coming off the freeway. the problem was checked out by the dealer (no problems found) and has not occurred since. well, one more gripe...the gas mileage is nowhere near their claimed levels. ive been averaging 28 mpg on mixed city/highway driving.

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  Scion xB Long Term - 2005 Scion XB
  By Tim Haupt - October 5 - 9:36 am

  My car has been problem free for 53,000 miles. It gets an honest 33 MPG in mixed driving. Its a great run-about vehicle. Its engine and auto transmission are a great combination - good drivability and nice compromise between performance and gas mileage. It handles well and is not as bad in side winds as the body style might suggest. The ride is a bit stiff and a little bouncy, especially when new. This improves after several thousand miles, however they should really soften up the suspension just a little, especially in the rear. The traction control and electronic stability control (standard equipment) result in a secure feeling drive, even in moderate snow. Buy the Konig Helium wheels - their light weight improves acceleration.

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  What a great car! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Bubba K - October 2 - 9:36 pm

  So glad I bought this thing before the new one came out (yuck!). Its the best car Ive ever had. Fun to drive, gets good mileage, extremely useful to haul large objects, I could go on and on. You can even push the front seat to connect the back and take a nap. This is not a performance vehicle, so dont expect much of that. With the stick, it merges just fine on the freeway. My only gripe is the cheap plastic faux-lowrider crap around the outside of the car. If you want a great little car thats a blast to drive, this is a good choice.

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  Scion tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By scion tc - September 18 - 8:13 pm

  I love this car. It is a beautiful car and it is fun to drive. The only problem with the car is that is skids easily in the rain. I dont recommend this car if you drive in an area that it rains a lot. This car tends to fish tail making turns. It is a very light car so you would have to be careful driving in poor weather conditions. Other then that it is comfortable to drive in and is a great looking car.

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  Worth every penny - 2006 Scion TC
  By luvcars32 - September 15 - 11:54 am

  Racked up 112,000 mile on my 06 tC, and never had 1 mechanical issue with it! I replaced the clutch after 80,000 miles, and thats it. Truth be told, this is a fun little car to drive and I beat on mine quite a bit. The reason for my review is, I was weary about Scion, because they were new. I bought it because its a Toyota. Since they had done away with their sporty cars, I took my chances on this. Im so glad I did. It was maintained with proper flushes, oil changes, tires and brakes, and never had gave me any mechanical issues.

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  Rough Drivers beware - 2004 Scion XB
  By Ranstar - September 13 - 9:50 pm

  I loved it, then I hit a bump lightly , the curve lightly and snow bank not so lightly. Things seem to snap, crack and split on this car very easily. I am probably too aggressive of a driver but be aware that the grille, grates and bumpers are not strong or well secured. But what a great car for performance if you have the 5 speed manual. It is fun and fast. The head room and leg room are incredible. I am 63" and I fit in this car great. I have moved some many things inside this car, its as good as van.

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  Best under-$20k car, and its sexy too - 2009 Scion TC
  By TC driver - September 10 - 9:33 am

  Yeah so its made for people younger than me (51) but I love my TC. The drive, comfort and handling impressed me from day one. Plenty of pickup, great visibility, a pleasure to drive. Plus the TC is a great value $$$. 160-watt stereo has too much bass for my tastes but it has great iPod interfacing. Logical interior layout. The moonroof is terrific. Good gas economy. Roomier on the inside than it looks from the outside. Large cargo space with back seats folded down. I get lots of compliments on how my silver TC looks. Its a sleek & sexy car. All the other Scions look clunky to me but the TC stands out. I dont think theres a better new car for under $20k out there.

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  Much improved xb for 2008 - 2008 Scion XB
  By JIM - September 8 - 2:03 am

  I upgraded from my 2007 "2006" xb. I could not achieve the 30-34 mpg. I averaged 26 mpg, so i went for the 2008 for the performance. It gets the claimed 23 mpg. It is a camry drivetrain and platform, and it rides like a camry. Good acceleration. Smooth ride. All the bells and whistles that were only options in the 06. Are present in the 08. Bigger rear storage area.