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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Supercharged Review - 2006 Scion TC
  By Rob - August 22 - 1:50 am

  Ive put 13,000 miles on my tC now in 6 months. Ive added the TRD supercharger to it and have driven on it for 7,000 miles. The car is a blast to drive. The power output with the supercharger is much higher than what TRD claimed (Ive had my car tested). The stock tires are quite crappy. Youll definitely need to replace them before too long. The supercharger is quiet and very reliable. The power output is good, yet not too much. The TRD supercharger is warrantied with the rest of my powertrain, so I feel comfortable about the extra power boost. If youre going to get the supercharger installed by a dealer, though, make sure they have done the installation before. This is the best car Ive owned.

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  A Bonanza for Baby-Boomers - 2005 Scion XB
  By egplant - August 20 - 3:10 pm

  Ive had nothing but fun with my xB. Only problems have been a vibration of the speedometer pod in the dash, and pieces of the front grille fell off initially because clips were not installed correctly. Im getting 33- 36 mpg. Love the sound system.

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Scion xA
  By Frank Yake - August 19 - 11:26 pm

  We love the Scion xA! It is extremely well-equipped and comfortable for such a basic car. It has proven to be super-reliable and very economical to drive. It is also quite nimble. Although mostly used in suburban driving, weve taken a 1,800 mile plus trip to Nashville and back and enjoyed the drive, with one notable and irritating exception. What were the designers thinking when they didnt offer cruise control...even as an option?

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  My Cute Car - 2010 Scion XD
  By marji rogstad - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Love this car, would like arm rest however. Great pickup, but find the rear window being so small, have trouble seeing cars alongside me. blind spot).Love the higher seats--easy to get in and out.Brakes are a little touchy,Overall, I enjoy riding in this car, very comfortable. Most people who see it call it "cute". Ok by me.

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  The Best Car that Ive Ever Driven - 2005 Scion TC
  By dudechewy - August 16 - 9:20 pm

  I love this car It is a headturner and the drive is awesome. I like the fact that it is something new. No one has seen it around the area I live in so its something unique.

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  A real alternative - 2005 Scion XB
  By Bob - August 10 - 5:26 am

  The Scion Xb is a joy to drive. It has a mileage return almost as good as a hybrid. The quality and fit are second to none. The standard features on another vehicle would add thousands to the price. On trips I often drive (once a week) eighty miles one way. The performance is supurb. I would reccomend this vehicle to anyone of any age desiring transportation with a flair and a very comfortable package as well.

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  My first new car - 2004 Scion xA
  By Suzykuntz - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I am a 55 year old widow. This Scion was sitting in the window and it was love at first sight. When the pleasent young man described all the features to me it was like they made it for me! I drove away with it 3HOURS later and I love it! People have actually stopped me at red lights to ask me what kind of car it was and to tell me how much they like it. Even my 3 grown children were pleased at my choice for my very first brand new car. It is so comfortable and so much fun to drive. I would reccomend the Scion to any one who wants a good looking,fun car with praticality.

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  Great on Gas! - 2004 Scion XB
  By anniegirl1 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased vehicle. Cheap price. Very roomy inside with lots of features. Great on gas, 1 tank lasts me at least 2 weeks. Great pickup, great sounds (comes standard with car). Pioneer radio with 6 speakers.

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  Superior - 2004 Scion XB
  By LuckyBabyBlue03 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I think it takes a bit to get used to the look of the vehicle, as it did for me, however, the design is modern, the interior is spacious, the milage per gallon is outstanding for what i consider an SUV type, i love this vehicle, i dont think there was a better choice out there.

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  Stylish, sporty, and practical - 2008 Scion TC
  By shawn - August 9 - 1:30 am

  Because of reliability issues, I traded a 2000 VW Jetta for this car and have gotten more horsepower, more fuel economy, and next to no maintenance/reliability hassles. It has the look of an expensive infinity or Lexus sports cars. However, despite how the scion brand encourages owners to customize, there is no choice in interior colors and leather upgrades are very limited to seating only. There is lots of road noise and the ride is very firm, but considering this is probably how most sports cars ride I suppose it adds to the feel.