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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  the tC rocks!!! - 2007 Scion TC
  By rC-tC - May 16 - 5:16 am

  I loved the car ever since I saw the concept back in 2003. The styling was what caught my eye. I had wanted one ever since they came out, me and my babe went to test drive them and I knew I had to get one, so funny cause we test drove the tC cause of me, and my baby beat me to it and bought it before me, I bought mine a month later. This car surpassed by far all my expectations, everything about the car is great, the styling, the standard features, the comfort, the quality of the ride and the crafting and materials, and the economy, all around the tC is a winner!!! if you want to have a good sporty experience go for the 5 spd manual.

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  Good Value - 2005 Scion xA
  By Jim H - May 15 - 8:13 am

  When I first saw the Scion line at an auto show a few years ago, I thought they were ugly. But theyve really grown on me. When it came time to get a new car I didnt want to spend a lot of money but I wanted something comfortable, cool looking and economical. I felt myself being drawn to the xA. Knowing nothing about it I test drove it and really like the styling and handling. Plus it came loaded with EVERYTHING-standard! The no hassle buying was also a HUGE plus. I put a little extra in and got a power moonroof. This loaded little beauty came in under $16,000! I couldnt be happier.

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  I love going back to Toyota - 2008 Scion XB
  By exNissanAndexHonda - May 15 - 7:06 am

  Ive had it for a week now and have put on 500 miles. Perfect in every way: power, torque, cool automatic transmission that I can shift manually because my wife wanted auto and I wanted stick. With the sport shift, I dont even need Toyotas 30 hp supercharger. Quality is excellent, repeat excellent. It corners better (more flat) than my old 99 Nissan Maxima SE which was rated at .79g whereas the Scion xB is .81g and the car magazines say its 0-60 mph is 7.5 seconds and 1/4 mile is 16 sec at 90mph which is same as my 99 Nissan Maxima.

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  Scion xB - Hot Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By albertowpb - May 14 - 11:46 pm

  I love the Scion xB. Its kind of a downgrade from my previous car, but I cant get enough of it. I have spent in upgrades what I spent on the car and Im nowhere near done. I have never loved another car this much!

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  Cute, Roomy, Gas-Efficient & Technologically Friendly! - 2012 Scion IQ
  By nikegal - May 13 - 9:42 pm

  Im 5 11, this gives me plenty of head/leg room! I work out of my car, so that is a important. 37 mpg both city & highway driving. That in itself is a reason to jump on in! Turns on a dime so you can get out of even the tightest spots easily. My view in all directions is phenomenal, unlike my Mini that had blindspots. I get a lifetime plan which includes free oil changes regular maintenance, plus, I also get roadside assistance. It has a 3 year/36k warranty. There is a nice pull-out drawer under the passenger seat for your laptop. The power windows go completely down with 1 touch, & I also have radio controls on my steering wheel. My iPod sounds great and the bluetooth is clear & easy!

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  Scion xA Release Series 1.0 Rocks - 2004 Scion xA
  By Jamison - May 12 - 6:16 pm

  Weve only had this car for a few weeks, but have totally enjoyed it. Even though the sticker (and the dealer) said wed only get 31-36mpg weve found that using 89 octane instead of 87, and driving sensibly have gotten us an average of 38-43 mpg. The car is fun! It is packed with lots of nice standard features and the RS 1.0 version adds a nice "moon roof", cool wheels, and much more agile handling than the standar Scion xA. I with that it came with cruise control though. Weve added the cold air induction system and gotten a lot better acceleraton with no apparent negative effect on gas mileage. There arent many Scions around here so no one seems to know what it is. Its easy to find in a parking lot full of look alikes.

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  bad power steering - 2007 Scion TC
  By dim - May 12 - 5:56 am

  The power steering pump went bad after two months of using that car. Now have jumping RPM problem.

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  Unique looking car - 2006 Scion XB
  By s moore - May 10 - 6:33 pm

  Cheap sounding rear hatch when closing. Be careful opening if not unlocked plastic mechanism will break. (replaced under warranty.) Good gas mileage (30) road, less than sticker indicated, checked several times. Arm rest optional, should be std. Little noisy on road at high speeds. Will not hold speed using cruise controls on hills and noisy when cruise downshifts. Std. Cruise would be nice, currently optional. Handles well on mountain curves. Needs additional lighting in rear interior. Wish I had waited for 08 as it is about 1 ft. longer. I need the extra space as I am in sales and need the room for catalogs and samples. Overall this car is acceptable given the reasonable price

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  SCION xA 2004 - 2004 Scion xA
  By GWMERKLE. - May 10 - 10:00 am

  I LIKE SMALL CARS AND THIS IS THE BEST SMALL CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED. IT HAS EVERYTHING ON IT AND I DIDNT THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE THIS, BUT I DO. IT IS A REMARKABLE CAR.

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  This is an AMAZING car! - 2004 Scion XB
  By LAScionXBGuy - May 10 - 10:00 am

  I just wanted to take the time and say what an awesome car this is! Toyota really outdid themselves in putting together this great concept and it has really shown through its amazing sales in California and hopefully in the nation. The styling is great to begin with, and its very different, so expect a lot of heads to turn and turn and turn. The interior is very well equipped with features that you would normally only find on a higher end vehicle, such as ABS brakes and traction control, just to name a few. The amount of space in the vehicle is amazing, larger than anything I have every seen in the compact/subcompact almost SUV like car class.