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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  MY TC - 2005 Scion TC
  By LHM - December 7 - 1:10 pm

  I love this car. It drives like a high performance luxury car. Very affordable. Fuel efficient with plenty of power.

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  I Was Surprised - 2007 Scion TC
  By Dad gives in - December 6 - 4:40 am

  I bought this car as a good, safe small car for my teenagers to drive. However, they may have trouble getting Dad out of it. My normal daily drive is a 1988 Porsche 924S that I love nearly as much as my wife, but this new Scion is a lot of fun to drive. With its sleek body style, the double sunroof, 17 inch wheels and general good looks, I dont mind parking the my old Porsche from time to time and driving the kids car. Of course, the kids are not too pleased.

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  Get A Lot of Bread out of this Bread Box - 2005 Scion XB
  By Scion xB - December 6 - 1:36 am

  I could not ask for a better car. My Bread Box is the best. I get so many looks at it. Even though I am in the older baby boomer crowd, this car seems like it was made for us - believe it or not.

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  SWEET - 2005 Scion TC
  By Paige - December 2 - 6:13 am

  My husband and I looked at 12 different cars before deciding on 3 for my daughter to choose from. She picked the Scion with no reservations. And we bought it feeling good about her choice. This car has nearly every safety feature a parent could want. It is incredibly easy to drive, daughter just got in and took off. For a first time driver this is a great car. The value and quality for the price was wonderful! We purchased a car with practically every option available and still were well under 25K. Highly recomend car and dealer. Great car, great people.

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  LOVE - 2005 Scion xA
  By Ebonys Owner - December 1 - 6:00 pm

  I traded in my 04 VW beetle for this car because I needed a small 4 door car. Ive owned Ebony for almost a year now and I love her! So far Ive needed 1 new tire, battery and ABS assembly in addition to the regular maintenance. The fuel economy is AMAZING! I love the way she handles, her roomy back door, how easy it is to park and so much more! I only have three complaints 1.No armrest 2.No cruise control 3. She has a weak A/C (in comparison to my beetle), which is hard with the FL summer heat.

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  Love my xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By ScionDad - November 29 - 1:16 pm

  I really love my xB. I bought it as a run around town grocery getter for my wife but it has become our favorite car! If you have read the reviews about noise and comfort being a problem dont believe them. I regularly cruse at 80 MPH on the highway in total comfort! Just for the record, Im 63" and 240 lbs. I drive 35 miles one way to work on I-95 in South Florida. Get cruse control if you drive long distances. I also like the ride better with the 15" rims and tires over the 17" or 18". I have the 7 spoke alloys from Enkei. They look awesome!

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  I love this car! - 2005 Scion TC
  By BDUtah - November 25 - 8:30 pm

  Nothing in this price range even compares to the tC. Based on the prices of comparable cars, I feel like I got a fantastic deal. The car is fun to drive (three speeding tickets in three months though), handles incredibily well, and is comfortable, especially for a compact.

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  Great little big car - 2008 Scion XB
  By Jerry K - November 24 - 7:10 pm

  My Scion xB reminds me of my last new car, a 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel only much larger. Fun to drive, stable and safe handling, great brakes too. Quiet and powerful engine. Very responsive steering. Im using a fuel additive that increases my millage about 15%, Im getting 30 in town and 37 highway. Very easy to get into and out of. Now the bad. Poor seating position, steering wheel too far away, pedals too close together. Driver armrest is useless, same for the door armrest. Very little back support, seat too short, poor all around visibility, windows too short and windshield too far away. Clutch travel is too long. Needs sound proofing in doors and roof.

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  Not the Target Market, but Enjoying It - 2007 Scion TC
  By Dana & Rachael - November 24 - 5:06 am

  The Scion tC is a very well equipped car for the cost. It is not a sports car, but it is fairly sporty. It also is not a fuel economy champion, but it is better than many. Its a versatile, fun coupe for a couple who have grown kids, but still want something other than a plain vanilla sedan.

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  I love my Toasty - 2006 Scion XB
  By Toastys Mom - November 23 - 7:30 pm

  What a super car! Ive owned many cars before, but none even come close to my stylish, fun, zippy little Scion XB. Ive had my car for three plus years and have very few complaints. The most pressing is the number of times Ive had to have my windshield repaired. Because of the angle it seems to attract every stray stone or pebble. Also, my ground effects have been damaged a couple of times (mostly my fault). Aside from that, it runs great, looks great, good gas millage, fun to drive, great stereo, I-Pod compatible, very reliable and totally COOL! I strongly recommend that any cool people, who want an equally fun, reliable and affordable ride, run, dont walk, and get yourself one!