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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2005 Scion TC
  By Oz - April 27 - 1:43 pm

  I purchased my tC a year and a half ago, it now has 32,xxx miles. Stepping down to this economy car from my 1990 LS 400 with 200,xxx miles was a wise decision, especially with skyrocketing gas prices. I average around 26-28 mpg mostly highway, my highest on single tank was 32 mpg. I once fit 3 adult friends + me + mountain bike in it. I replaced the hatch struts at 30,000 miles =( . Also, it has spongy brakes. The large tire / fender gap makes it feel like I am driving an SUV. Please remember that the tC is an economy car and in stock form is a nice daily driver. It has a soft suspension and seat belt buzzer. Many of the tCs pitfalls can be remedied with upgrades. The tC is the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and sportiness (or lack thereof). I am happy with my purchase.

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  The "Lunch Box" - 2005 Scion XB
  By rhinoman - April 26 - 8:36 am

  With a handle on top it would look just like a lunch box. I have driven it to work, (round trip 54 miles) and now have 36,500 miles on it. Averages about 33 mpg. It would be best in the urban runabout mode, but makes for a fine enough commuter. Took awhile to get used to the wheels out at the corners - ran onto a parked cars bumper and did $2K damage to the right side doors early on. Mine is an automatic and for the price theres little to complain about and lots to like.

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  Fun to Drive...Cool to look at - 2004 Scion XB
  By xB Enforcer - April 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun vehicle.....very roomy all around....dressed up with the TRD mags and exhaust system with air induction...gives it a little umph. Handling is great....and with the TRD mags & tire option, you still get the OEM wheels/tires for winter driving...better traction/handling that the mags/Pirellis. Pretty much loaded and well under $20K. The xA is also a fun car to drive!

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  my scion - 2005 Scion XB
  By s - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Love the car, HATE the dealership in Corpus Christi, Texas

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  Good car. - 2012 Scion IQ
  By iqbill - April 4 - 8:48 am

  Ive owned em all. Traded in a truck for this. I bought $25 bucks worth of gas on my way to work Thursday, went to work Friday, after work, the get gas light came on. I had IT!! I was near the Toyota dealer, went by and looked at the Scions, my daughter has one, looked at the IQ, learned it was the cheapest to maintain over 3 years, said fine, take this truck, give me this car. Off i went. (had to continue below)

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  Lovin my TC - 2006 Scion TC
  By Loving it! - April 3 - 12:53 pm

  I purchased my car brand new in 10/06. Its been almost 2 years and I have over 60k miles on it. I drive it mostly on the highway and I dont care for the amount of noise from the sunroof (event when its closed). I have also had a problem with the molding between the windshield and the sunroof. It has blown off twice! The drivers seat broke about a month after I had the vehicle and the dealership had to replace the entire thing! My tc is great in any driving condition and I love the speed I get from it. I always feel safe driving it and I love the way it handles! Except for the few minor things I absolutely love the car! I just wish it came with a better warranty.

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  Best ugly car Ive purchased - 2009 Scion XB
  By Mr. Teacher - April 1 - 2:26 am

  I ordered my xB with only the floor mats and an upgraded stereo. I did choose the automatic transmission for my xB. Shortly after my purchase, I had to make a 2000 mile trip. At posted speeds, the car proved very solid on the road and achieved 32 MPG on the first 300 miles of the trip. The vehicle handles well in the city, and I quickly acclimated to the awkward interior which included the center mounted gauges. The shelf in front of the steering wheel was perfect for my GPS. My kids couldnt believe I bought such an "ugly car" until they got inside. The whole family loves the spacious interior and I love the great cost of ownership and the information display. Quite a bargain at 18K.

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  xBs Biggest Problem - 2006 Scion XB
  By Surmar - March 31 - 12:06 pm

  I absolutely love my Scion xB. The only problem I have had with it is the windshield keeps cracking. I took it to the dealer before he even looked at it he automatically said the "stone chip" which I really didnt think twice about until I searched the internet. It seems a lot of people have this same exact problem their windshield. It cracks for no apparent reason, starting at above the rear view mirror. I went back to the dealer to complain about it. All he said was, "well what do you expect the windshield is straight up and down." If they pitch you that line, dont buy into it. I had a Jeep Wrangler for 10 years with 200,000 miles on it. The windshield is almost vertical and it never cracked.

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  for the value - 2005 Scion XB
  By fmtmp - March 31 - 10:00 am

  The most obvious characteristic of this car is the design. I have watched people gawking at it all over the place. When I tell them what I paid (14500, they are shocked assuming it was a 20K car. I still havent seen another one in my color (burgundy red) so the sense of uniqueness is lasting. Overall it is a great value, particularly in terms of the use of space and the less apparent features like stability control and traction control. Build quality is another asset. The car is not perfect, however, as Ill outline below but for the price and standard features, can one complain?

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  I Hope It Lasts for 10 Plus Years - 2006 Scion XB
  By Brian - March 21 - 10:30 pm

  This is my second new car purchase in over six years. The xB is easy and nice to drive, no thrills, but enjoyable. I do have complaints with the A/C unit though. It does not put out enough cool air in the hot Arizona summers. Also, I can feel the bumps on the road, but I can deal with that given the value price. Would buy the same model again if I had to buy over? Absolutely, there is nothing else on market with equal value in terms of pricing, size, and quality. I average about 27 miles per gallon (but A/C was on all the time). I dont care for the color choices or accessories. It needs a center arm rest.