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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  This would be the best car for the money - 2007 Scion TC
  By AmoAMiTc - July 24 - 8:06 pm

  I love this car. It is fun to drive and you dont see it everywhere like mazda 3s and other new, semi affordable cars. Everyone compliments the car, even with paint chips. Its just different and fun.

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  Solid car with lots of room - 2005 Scion XB
  By jkm - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Just bought this car used. Its very solid and basic, much like the imports of the 70s and 80s. For a car with such little power, its surprisingly fun to drive. The interior room is simply amazing. Its like a theater with 6 screens. The car seems to grow magically when you get in. I always tell friends that its bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Driving position is comfortable but you have to get used to the position of the gauges. The engine is peppy and fun to rev on city streets but merging on the interstate can be a challenge. This is allot of car for the money. Ive found that its several thousand less than a comparable Honda Element, Fit, or Toyota Matrix.

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  Some really obvious design oversights - 2005 Scion TC
  By WL - July 10 - 10:00 am

  A "cool" looking car, however I have had numerous issues with it. The most recent being the poor construction of the rear hatch handle. It snapped off after regular use (not excessive force) and Ive had it epoxied back on twice. It is only held in place by plastic screws and it is the only way to lift open the heavy hatch. The tires are also expensive (low profile racing-type tires).

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  Cute - 2006 Scion xA
  By Joy - July 6 - 7:23 pm

  Gas mileage is certainly good. The odometer, etc. being in the center took some getting used to but I now prefer it. The cloth seats should be a better quality. After having owned it a few weeks, someone tapped it in a parking lot. My Scion had been parked. My car sustained damage while the other vehicle had nothing. My concern is the Scion vs anything else on the road! Safety is my major concern. I would also like to add that while sitting at the dealer I mentioned I heard the XA was to be discontinued and she said it was a rumor. A few months later (2 months to be exact), it was discontinued. Be sure to use an honest dealer. I wouldnt buy a pencil from them now.

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  Fun Little Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Jared Davis - July 4 - 5:56 pm

  I had a 2005 xB - it was a very fun car to drive. My only complaint was with the small engine. It accelerated fine - but revs at 4,000 - 5,000 RPM when doing 75 - 80 mph on the freeway. My wife and two children were in this car when they were hit from behind at about 50 mph on the freeway. The xB spun them sevral times without tipping and no major injuries. It surprisingly held up very well considering. I would buy another one, but I am going to wait till a larger engine is offered - the 2.2 would be nice.

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  Toyota Should Rethink - 2006 Scion XB
  By Mattie - June 27 - 7:33 am

  When I first bought the car it was a smooth, quiet ride. Now, that I have put 13,000 miles on it, it shakes, rattles, and rolls. There is so much interior noise and the interior is made with cheap looking plastic. It gets good gas mileage but, is terrible on the highway and has no acceleration and the throttle hesitates. I love the fact that the whole car has a lot of space especially in the back seat. I do a lot of highway driving and its a comfortable ride. If youre looking for a car with high performance, this is not your car. Get the tC instead. If youre looking for a car to drive around town to get you from point A to point B then this is the car for you!

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  Nice features, POOR quality. - 2008 Scion TC
  By Kent - June 22 - 11:40 am

  This car has a ton of great features and is a very nice looking car, but the quality is very very poor. Many squeaks and rattles and the moon roof rattles terribly, the dealership cant fix it, Toyota has no answers for it either--so I gave up, I just live with it. I bought a 2008 Scion tC for myself and a 2009 Scion tC for my wife the same day and her car has the SAME poor workmanship issues. Nice looking little car, nice features, underpowered, but horrid quality. I bought two Toyotas because I heard they were well made--well I now have two, and they are NOT well made. I cant and wont recommend this vehicle.

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  The car of the future - 2005 Scion XB
  By JET from Florida - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Since 1996 went from Town Car to Lex LS400 to Prius. This is one terrific little package that sacrifices nothing. We call it the box car. Cant believe that a package this small on the outside can have so many feaures in and out, not the least of which is the look. It turns heads everywhere we go! We miss a speed control, may add one, but overall this is one of the best buys today, any where. I am disappointed so far with gas mileage, but car is new, hope it will improve, but was really spoiled by the Prius. Im a good American, but there is no way anyone so far can innovate the car market like Toyota. Also own a GMC 3500 Pickup, its going bye bye, too!

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  My Scion xB results at 11,000 miles - 2006 Scion XB
  By Michigan_Mark - June 19 - 9:53 am

  This car does what it should do. Its lifetime MPG is about 30 mpg. My xBs gas mileage improved after about 5,000 miles

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  scion needs some improvements - 2005 Scion TC
  By kls0383 - June 17 - 5:16 am

  This car is great on handling, and its fun to drive. The engine seems very reliable thus far.