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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great Price, Great Value! - 2008 Scion TC
  By Tony Nguyen - August 21 - 7:00 pm

  First car to own; one of many cars driven. Value for its price is above outstanding. Looks great, and IS great as the parts are all made with Toyota quality. I drive about 75 miles per day in Houston weather, and do not have much to complain about. The standard tires are a bit below average, (slide during not too aggressive turns). The radio door squeaks (nothing a bit of oil cant fix though). Has projector headlights which is a GREAT plus! The only major problem is the coin/change compartment. DO NOT put pennies or dimes in there! They will fall through the hinge hole and cause the compartment to NOT open up fully anymore! Be caution of this. Otherwise, Great Value Car!

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  The right choice - 2004 Scion xA
  By SFScion - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Just love it since moment I drove off the dealership. Opted for the electric locking system which is a must, also the six-CD player. Hated to pay for the extra floor mats, come on... Otherwise, love my blue rocketship...

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  Its aight.. - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mizzle - August 14 - 6:33 pm

  While the Scion xB isnt much to look at, its a good ride. Its smooth and comfortable, but I wish people wouldnt look at me all funny while Im driving around town...

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  Solid car - 2006 Scion TC
  By pakman7 - August 8 - 10:06 pm

  Ive had it for 5+ years and it was my 1st big purchase after college. Its been good but Ive had similar problems as some of the other posts written. Biggest problem was water pump going out at 67k, luckly it didnt heat and part was inexpensive. read trunk latch broke off, sunroof doesnt close all the way unless I hold down the wind blocker. Front seats dont go back to original position when accessing the back seat. Fun to drive tho and fairly roomy for a coupe, great on gas (avg 27 mpgs for me). The car also comes with good options in a standard package and has retained its value. Which is good cuz Im ready to move on from coupes, tired of 2 doors and poor vision in coupes.

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  My New Scion XB - 2004 Scion XB
  By bailey - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is great fun to drive, and for the money, it is a great bargain. It needs a few more features to make it a truly great car - such as: a driver right side arm rest, an indoor light in the front of the car, and lighted mirrors on the flip side of the front window visors. A tiny bit more space in the back would be fabulous. Having said all this, I am in love with this car. Oh, a tiny bit more pick-up and speed wouldnt hurt either. Hope this is helpful information.

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  Cookie - 2005 Scion XB
  By CarmelPine - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle for my business. The cute design has really gotten me noticed.

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  Shoe Box! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Dan - August 6 - 8:03 pm

  As a couple in our 40s with two small kids, we hardly fit Toyotas intended Gen-Y/first- time buyer profile. We wanted a fuel-efficient vehicle to haul said kids around town, and the xB fit the bill perfectly. Having visted Japan many times, Ive seen plenty of these small/tall vehicles, which are offered by all Japanese mfrs, not just Toyota. In a country where traffic and parking issues are far worse than the US, theyre quite popular. Kudos to Toyota for the foresight to export the xB. I bought ours in Oregon to avoid sales tax, and drove it 1200 miles back to Colorado. While its not ideal for long-distance travel, its comfortable (Im 64"), cruises all day at 80-85, and gets 32mpg.

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  Best Value Ever - 2005 Scion xA
  By D. Remmers - August 5 - 6:46 am

  This car is the best value you can get for your money. Standard ABS, great sound system, power everything-you-could-want, and great gas mileage all for about $13,500.

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  In a double rollover! - 2009 Scion XD
  By Kerry - August 4 - 4:50 am

  T-boned (broadsided,) out of state, rolled twice, wrapped around a light pole. No broken bones! No broken windows!?!?! What a sturdy little beast.

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  Got a killer lease on an xB - 2009 Scion XB
  By b-in-mia - July 30 - 12:53 pm

  I was able to haggle the price to invoice AND lease for same money as the national offer thats available for the Corolla. Im a big guy and I find ingress excellent with great seating position. However, the seats are barely acceptable with limited adjustment and no lower back support. I should have paid more attention to this detail b4 purchase! Furthermore, the seating room is plentiful but the center console rubs my knee pretty hard. I may velcro on a little padding and solve this problem. Ride and handling are excellent. Car feels solid, wind noise is nil, engine is awesome. Although sheetmetal is flimsy, i think structure is solid and the complement of airbags make car pretty safe