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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Great for the money! - 2012 Scion TC
  By reconmac - September 27 - 2:08 am

  Bought this car for its reliability and good looks, and it delivers all that I wanted and then some. Keyless entry/ignition is awesome and the shiftable 6-speed automatic livens things up. Great ipod integration and a decent sound system.

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  combat toaster... mini-mini van - 2006 Scion XB
  By joffficer - September 26 - 11:16 pm

  I needed to get something good on gas ($3 per/gallon was on the horizon). My Hemi powered Dodge 2500, while needed, is thirsty. Not to mention a bear to drive around town. I looked at several gas misers, but wanted something with more usefulness then past festivas. After test drives, and reading I bought an xB. It was an easy purchase, $20 filled the tank (although, sadly more is needed now!) and its handles city driving like a roller skate!

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  SUPER SCION! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Katie - September 25 - 6:23 am

  The Scion xB is THE CAR to own! A friend let me drive his xB and I was sold. I purchased it when I was 59 years young (Im now "60"!) It is comfortable, practical, fun, attractive, economical and dependable. I would buy another one in a heartbeat! Yeah, SCION - TOYOTA hit this one out of the park!

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  Best car ever! - 2013 Scion TC
  By mcnasty101 - September 25 - 6:05 am

  Ok, so ive owned 4 cars in my life and probably test driven hundreds....why? because i love cars, and not just the awesome sports that "everybody" loves...but i love all cars. I recently bought a 2013 Scion tC...and let me tell ya this car is amazing to look at and to drive. Ive had te 2010 Scion tC before i moved into this one....and i couldnt help but wonder that they couldve made it better than what it was. It was pretty to look at and the after market parts for it were cheep and made it look and run better. But it is nothing like the 2013....the tC i have now is just so awesome, it hugs the corners, handles very well in the snow and its a game changer in the car industry.

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  Lot of car for the money - 2008 Scion XB
  By retmsg - September 25 - 1:16 am

  Ive owned my XB for about a month and had several upgrades installed by the dealer. The upgrades are cold-air intake, front strut bar, rear sway- bar, pioneer sound system. The original 16" wheels/Goodyear tires have been replaced with 18" alloy wheels/Nitto NeoGen tires for better handling. This car has a lot of room for a big guy. Im 64" and 290lbs. This is the first car I bought (other than a muscle car) that I enjoy driving. The XB is quite responsive for its size. The new engine size has plenty of power for the normal driver. I have been very impressed with the way this car is built.

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  I Love My Clown Car - 2004 Scion XB
  By stresslevel66 - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. I love driving it and I love the looks I get. It is very cute, the interior is awesome and very roomy. The gas mileage is great. This car is a great value and I love it.

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  Have your gas and your fun too - 2004 Scion XB
  By randyg - September 22 - 10:00 am

  You may look at the outside and think how small.But jump inside and its another world. Lots of room for both front and rear passagers. It may not have a large engine, but makes up for it in comfort and extras other cars charge extra for. You wont find cruise control, but having fun driving ,you wont mind.

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  Excellent! - 2005 Scion TC
  By wnorton81 - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Test drove a number of competing cars (rsx, mazda3...) the tC was the best mainly because of its, IMO, superior design both inside and out, and it was the best bang for the buck.

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  Ive Been Waiting A Long Time For This.. - 2005 Scion TC
  By Fritzie_Pup - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive been waiting for a few years now for a car company to come along, and finally change the market for the popular, young crowd. After looking at the Civic, RSX, WRX, and SRT-4, I thought I had my mind made up until my roommate showed me the tC previews.. After driving one at the local dealership, I was hooked within minutes. For the low base price of $15,595, you get yourself a car fully loaded with options you would normally only find on cars well over the $20k+ range. The No Hassle dealers make the buying process very simple, and the fact that everything has to be sold at dealer cost (Toyota Platinum warranty included!) makes it a very, very good selling point.

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  Fun car - 2009 Scion XB
  By CENCALMIKE - September 15 - 10:36 pm

  Just got my scion a few days ago. I love it. Im always on the road, so the gas mileage is great and it fun to drive.