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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  yellow xb limited editon - 2005 Scion XB
  By mr. divine - July 20 - 12:33 pm

  Picked up my new yellow XB 2005 tonight , got all the bells and whistles ...and sunroof too!! im 62and man the headroom is unbelievable!!!6 cd radio, and bazooka subwoofer has outragious sound.The ride is great and steers real well.The look is perfectly wonderful.The 7 spoke wheels are relly cool. I cant wait to start driving around new york city,In my new solar yellow XB. I know this limited edition is going to be a real winner!!! great job Scion!!!!!!!!!!!!! my xb also has the platinum 7 year 75,000 miles protection warranty lojack and remote start and alarm system, the window tinting finished off the car beautifully, as did the rain guards and now Im all set to enjoy my new ScionXB

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  Best Bang for your Buck! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Alex - July 20 - 1:30 am

  After owning this car for 7 months and 4,500, the car feels just like the first day I bought it. Honestly this is one of the most fun car to drive on the road. For one its very spacious for a small vehicle. Theres ample head room and leg room, and it fits 4 passengers very comfortably! The seats are firm but comfortable, I love the odometer and the way its displayed, it doesnt distract you but its very easy to read. A/C is very strong. Also the package I went with inlcuded an upgrade head unit plus an ipod connection which I cant live without. The car is very smooth while driving but a bit noisy but since the music is on it doesnt bother me at all. This car is a steal for your $s!

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  An alternative review - 2007 Scion TC
  By Scion Owner - July 18 - 6:46 pm

  Im 2,500 miles into my 2007 Scion tC and I can say Im pretty happy with my purchase. Most reviews tell you how great the car is, and for the most part, they are true. Its a pleasure to drive and looks great. Not to be negative, I just want to take my chance to inform readers of the flip side. Dont get me wrong, I love 95% of the car, but to offer more insight to prospective buyers, here are the things that irk me: the sunroof cover is cheap. It is made of flimsy canvas and mine broke and came off the track the 2nd/3rd time I used it! Black interior shows every little speck, nearly impossible to keep looking clean. A/C vents arent placed well, its hard to get air to blow right on you.

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  Lowest Total Cost of Ownership - 2006 Scion XB
  By Clinton - July 18 - 1:46 pm

  After doing research (we are talking spreadsheets) on hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles, I settled on the xB. I am 63" and commute at least 80 miles a day, 5 days a week. Additionally, I truck around clients to show real estate and needed good legroom all around. Lastly gas mileage, dependability, and resale value were taken into account. This little box financially makes sense and is fun and comfortable. Doing it again, I would have gotten silver instead of black (had to try black once in my life) and an automatic transmission as I wear dress shoes to work (little pedals and Rockports dont mix), but this is no fault of the cars by any means. This vehicle is so functional it makes you question ALL other vehicles.

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  W-O-W spells wow - 2004 Scion xA
  By Greg78945602 - July 17 - 10:00 am

  Reallly Great is the words i would use to describe it. I travel alot in it

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  my 2005 xb - 2004 Scion XB
  By john grieco - July 17 - 10:00 am

  great car to own ,and drive

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  scion xb - 2004 Scion XB
  By 1meanscion - July 17 - 10:00 am

  love it,best over all car

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  I luv my Scion xB - 2005 Scion XB
  By Scionxbdriver07 - July 17 - 10:00 am

  I brought this car a couple of days and when i drive to crowded places its a head turner with the style of the car and the sound system that comes with the car stock. The comfort of the car is great u have a lot of room from leg room to head room. Well i suggest that people shold get it b/c u have lots of options to add and when u buy it comes with lots of option already put in.

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  So much promise until you drive it!!!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By brandell99 - July 17 - 10:00 am

  I have been looking at this car since it was introduced at the major auto shows. I was so exicted to test drive it. But I was so disappointed when I finally had the opportunity. I am 61" tall and my head brushed against the moonroof even with the seat at its lowest. The car had to get moving before there was brisk accelleration. The handelling felt average especially on a car with such large tires. The interior looked cheap and too plain. The car shifted well with a short throw. Braking was also very good. But the car just feels like a $16000 car. Overall car lacks refinement.

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  I love my tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By Pvt Joker - July 17 - 10:00 am

  My last car was a Subaru WRX...i decided to go cheap with my new car and bought a Scion tC. I wasnt expecting much besides reliability and fuel economy. What i got instead was a perfect example of how a car can be stylish, come with decent standard options and get great gas mileage in the mid to high teens price range. I now believe that this $16k car is better overall than my old 26k WRX. The WRX had two things going for it... AWD and a turbo charger. Besides those two things, the tC beats it in every category. From seat comfort all the way down to the sound the door makes when you shut it. Even simple things like clutch. The WRX clutch SUCKED...the tC is so smooth