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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 of Two worlds - 2004 Scion XB
  By paulcat - August 31 - 9:36 am

  I have a 2004 Scion xB A/T. I recently took a 2,000 mile trip through the east, averaging 34.8 mpg at about 75 mph with the AC on. It rides according to the road surface, meaning, a good road = a good ride...jarring bumps, you get the picture. Im 61" and 230 lbs. and find it to be an easy drive. My mate is 50" and 135 pounds, and she gets excellent thigh support, but the pedals are far away, with the steering wheel very close, and the proximity of the A pillar and the outside mirror blocks her line of sight. I chose the xB because it was the BEST compromise between a van and a compact car, that suited my style.

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  hey - 2004 Scion xA
  By dnielle - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the right price!

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  Kids want to "pimp" our ride. - 2009 Scion XB
  By J&C Dillow - August 14 - 10:46 am

  Looking for a car to downsize from the family minivan. This little car caught our attention as soon as we drove onto the lot.Great looks, cool color (stingray). Test drive was impressive, roominess was impressive. Interior design is good. We have two almost teenagers, they think it is cool. Front and rear room was surprising. We didnt want anything we hit our heads on as we entered, this doesnt happen. We dont feel closed in, like the vehicle is touching us on all sides or laying on our head (our height 6 and 57"). Dont have to squat or fall into the seat. Seat height is good for entering and exiting. Completely satisfied so far.Owned the car one month.Kids want to "pimp" our ride.

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  2 ScionXB GREAT FOR THE $ - 2012 Scion XB
  By Roxanne - August 12 - 12:53 am

  This is my second Scion XB. POSITIVES . I loved the no barter sales What it was online was the price.Period . A great car for the practical person but i like the looks too.Not a muscle car peppy but good enough.Handles well. Scion XB comes with lots of great features as standard.I love the bkuevtoith which turns the radio sound off as you talk back on when done My First was a manual so bare bones but had everything i wanted and then some. .Second Scion XB i did opted for an automatic as they had them on the lot but not the manual.Auto was my only concession to how it came. Scion XB Has the biggest cargo area i could find for this price car. Main reason i bought one again. I have two 170 Mastiffs which fit well in this car. Str 22ndaw bales 50 lb feed bags building material.3X2 foot cage for chickens . everything fits with the back seat down plenty of extra room.and goes down with touch of a button top of each seat No hastle at all. Roomy seating decent gas mileage between 32 to 35 mpg I like the brightly lit instrument panel in the center although different Best.. It heats quickly to cozy hot and cools quickly to very cool as well. NEGATIVES.... RADIO....my 2010 had a mute button on the radio and steering wheel as well which the 2012 doesnt ..Better long distance reception MATERIAL...BIG sticking point with me is material and carpet are very hard to clean.. Debri gets stuck in the fibers and wont come out no matter what.Dog hair and straw mostly. Seat covers do clean up better than 2010 which were the worst ive ever had on a car but carpet is still just as bad. Terrible really.They should take a clue from Focus on easy maintainence seat and carpet material. Plus I wish id had a choice of color for floor and seat covering This black would NOT be my choice.! Best if no choice would be medium grey much more practical brighten and open the interior even more. CARGO LIGHT doesnt stay on long enough to get out my groceries but minor issue BLIND SPOT. My biggest criticism of this vehicle is the large blind spots on both sides.A real danger.Many times i have seen nobody in the mirrors but a car was there . FOR SURE LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER WISH LIST ... Id love an alarm to let you know sonethings behind you as the back windshield is pretty high . Better lighter color carpeting and bring back the radio mute button All and all i probably will buy this car a third time. .For the price the many standard features size roomy seats very roomy storage... just cant beat it with any other car .

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  08 Scion XB - 2008 Scion XB
  By marnie - July 24 - 11:26 am

  Love the interior room, looks and over all choice of this car. It is noisy in regards to road noise and it is fairly uncomfortable on long trips. The 08 did get a bit of a blind spot when it gained the extra length. Good car in general. Great for hauling. Just totaled ours. Will be replacing it with something a little more comfortable.

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  Fabulous 40,000 Miles So Far - 2004 Scion XB
  By Charlie SJC - July 21 - 1:40 am

  The Scion xB has more head and leg room for four tall people than most SUVs. The gas mileage with the stick shift has improved from year to year. I never get less that 32 mpg now and sometimes get 35 mpg.

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  tC Needs Improvements - 2007 Scion TC
  By JOSE N ENRIQUEZ - July 20 - 5:23 am

  This car is fun to drive and has good horsepower. It has a lot extras inside. The outside has nice a design and smooth edges. The performance tires are a plus for me and it handles great. Why did they put in such cheap materials for the dashboard and the door panals?

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  Very good buy for the price... - 2009 Scion XB
  By ZoomZoom - July 19 - 11:23 pm

  I have put about 1,500 miles on my XB and feel that I have driven it enough to write a review. I have had absolutely no problems with it, so far so good. I went to the dealership after reading reviews about the XD and felt it was a little too small. I didnt particularly like the look of the XB until I drove it. I was in love! And still am. I get alot more positive comments on it than I had expected. Its fun to drive and can get up and go if you need it to. Bottom line: If you are looking for a fun, reliable car under $20K; the XB is the right car for you!

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  Not for long rides - 2005 Scion xA
  By Balzo - July 17 - 6:56 am

  Got the car brand new in 04 and used it mostly around town with the occasional 200 mile weekend trip. Great value for the money in terms of low purchase price and low operating cost. Power is what one might expect from a 108-hp motor but the 5-spd manual trans made the driving experience a bit more interesting. A 6th gear would be perfect for speeds over 70mph. Ride quality is bouncy on the interstate because of the short wheelbase and firm suspension but its a blast around corners and when zipping around city traffic. 5 yrs and 50K miles later, I can say it was an overall positive experience. Would I buy a Scion again? Not likely. Just traded it in for a sporty euro sedan last week.

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  Great car - 2007 Scion TC
  By Oconnell - July 8 - 11:56 pm

  I bought this car because I liked the style and it was cheap. Ive had the car almost a year with no problems at all... all the talks of rattles and squeaks almost turned me off to the car but Ive yet to hear anything.