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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  xB Review - 2005 Scion XB
  By Halpal - March 21 - 8:30 pm

  This car is lots of fun to drive, easy on fuel, and extremely roomy. I am over 6 feet tall and have plenty of leg room, and about 5-6 inches of headroom. Even with the seat adjusted rearward all the way, there is still plenty or legroom in the back seat. With the rear seats folded forward, the cargo room is plentiful. We love the car and we get lots of looks and good commenrts on the road.

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  I give it a B - 2005 Scion xA
  By ben5150 - March 18 - 5:56 pm

  The shocks in my Scion xA are shot at 19,000 miles and a little wind can make it feel like a boxkite. However, I love the fuel economy and the price was right.

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  Rattles and Rattles but Good Reliability - 2007 Scion TC
  By Tib - March 17 - 6:53 am

  This car is a poorly made car but reliable as all can be. After the first month my radio door started squeaking. The first day that it was below 25 degrees you could hear what sounds to be a bolt snapping against the windshield...3 warranty claims later and still does it. The drivers mirror vibrated like you wouldnt believe so that was replaced under warranty. The trunk rattles so much it will make you go mad. The gears are too small, with a different 5th gear this car would easily get 40+mpg. At 70mph in fifth Im at 3700rpm. I wouldnt recommend this car to anyone with my experience without corrections to these areas.

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  My Work Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By slicklizard - March 7 - 11:41 pm

  Im a courier and this is the car provided to me by my boss. Its a nice car to work with, as its nimble, quick and easy to park. Its got about 115K miles on it, mostly highway miles and the only thing thats been done to it is tires, brakes and a new alternator (the old one chewed up the belt). It has a nice stereo, cold a/c and hot heat and the seating position is up high (almost minivan-like). I normally put 300-500 miles on the car per day and, besides a tire blowout, its never let me down. Id buy this car.

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  08 xB New Style, Price, Decreased MPG - 2008 Scion XB
  By JK - February 20 - 2:53 pm

  The 08 xB looks less like a box, has more features, more power, is fun to drive, and gets fewer MPG than the prior xB models. I really enjoy the new auto trans with the trick shifting lever it is kinda like a stick without a clutch. The ride is much quieter and so much smoother - even with all the improvements I will always love the looks of the first generation xB over the new one.

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  Better Than Expected - 2007 Scion TC
  By Drifter123 - February 7 - 9:43 am

  This is the best car out there for such a low price. Its fun to drive. It accelerates very quickly. Its reliability is questionable though. The engine should last a long time because its a Toyota Camry engine. The body seems a little too plastic. Overall, its a great valued car. I recommend it to anyone on a tight budget or who likes to tune cars.

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  Items to be aware of... - 2006 Scion TC
  By Anjanette - February 5 - 3:26 am

  We bought our tC new. We do love it but there are some build quality issues that need to be dealt with. The back panel, at the trunk release, broke off. The C-pillar air bag covers have popped off. The vent fan squeals and sometimes has stopped (thats fun in the blazing summer). Our breaks needed to be replaced at 33k miles and we dont drive hard or jam our foot into them. The tires are low profile and develop breaks in the sidewall radials easily if a hole or other bump is hit just right. The tires are also expensive and dont gain traction well on wet pavement and easily break loose. With continued use the seats dont stay in place when slid forward when accessing the back seat.

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  Scion tC 2008 vs 2009 - 2009 Scion TC
  By Chris - January 29 - 2:23 am

  They pretty much look the same but I did notice some slight differences. For one, the seats are darker. When you put the A/C to the coldest position, it says “A/C Max.” If you have a manual transmission, the shifting is a lot easier in the 2009 than the 2008. I think the gears also rev higher in the 2009. Other than that, they are pretty much the same.

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  The Little Workhorse - 2006 Scion XB
  By David Harlass - January 26 - 9:36 am

  I needed a car for small deliveries and sales calls. I did not want this car, but it made sense financially. I keep very detailed mileage records and it never matters if you are highway or city it is always between 29.5 and 33 miles per gallon. The A/C matters little to my overall mileage, even with the A/C running. I have 80000 miles on it and only one small issue with a switch. It is exactly as it is promoted for an inexpensive vehicle and I recommend this car mightily.

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  Great value. - 2015 Scion XB
  By DJC - January 25 - 12:13 am

  Its too bad the xB is being discontinued. Its a good value that with a few improvements would be phenomenal. We are a family of 3 and this is a good alternative to a crossover. The pluses include fantastic use of space, comfortable seats, and punchy acceleration. You can pack this car easily for vacation or road trips. The sound system is great. A few improvements that I would suggest include, mediocre fuel economy and an outdated transmission. Theyre likely related. With another gear or two mileage would improve as would passing on the highway. Acceleration around town is great though. Lastly Edmunds complaints about the center mounted gauges is just silly. Not destracting at all. To sum up this is a great car for a small family who needs some versatility, but not a big SUV.