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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  ONE MORE TIME TO THE SHOP - 2004 Scion xA
  By FROSTBYT - July 31 - 10:00 am

  WITH IN A WEEK OF HAVING THE CAR, i HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK AND THE TECH PEOPLE DECIDED IT NEED A LUBE JOB ON THE FRONT SPENDLE, WHICH MAY ONLY PROLONG A CONTINUING PROBLEM, NOW AFTER HAVING THAT DONE, THE ALINMENT IS OFF AND I WILL HAVE THE TAKE IT BACK A THIRD TIME.THE XA DOSENT SEEM AS REFINE AS A NORMAL TOYOTA, BUT FOR THE PRICE ITS STILL BETTER THEN MOST

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  After one year and 18,000 miles... - 2008 Scion XB
  By Rob - July 30 - 6:40 am

  ... my Scion xB is still living up to my expectations with zero problems and gas mileage consistently over 30mpg. With 69.9 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats folded (more than a Jeep Grand Cherokee at 67.4 cu.ft.) The xB can carry a lot of stuff if needed. Bottom line is that the Scion xB is a great value, reliable, efficient. Negatives are few at this price point. Ride can be a bit intrusive on bad roads but still solid. Interior plastic scratches easily... thats about it really. I am always looking for a replacement for the car that I currently drive. Just to see if there is something that would work better for the price. I havent found it yet.

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  Sport coupe - 2005 Scion TC
  By little soldier - July 25 - 10:00 am

  People really love the looks of this car. It is a real bargain for that price. Manual transmission version is surprisingly quick. A lot of tire noise.

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  Feels/sounds cheap - 2005 Scion XB
  By Andy - July 15 - 7:26 am

  At 67" I love the spaciousness of this car both in front and rear seats. It is peppy yet frugal. I get 30mpg (+/- 1) no matter how I drive it. I dont like the sound the doors make when you slam them shut (especially with windows rolled down halfway). NOT confidence inspiring and actually downright embarrassing!! Ive taken the car in twice now to get serious rattles taken care of. It still has one. The interior could be a little less cheap feeling. The stereo is tinny and boomy (no midrange). The stereo in my Focus sounds 10 times better (even if it doesnt make your knees shake)!

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  have driven only in town - 2005 Scion XB
  By Robert Eubank - July 9 - 5:06 pm

  Reacts very nice in traffic, coners well. Needs arm rest on right side. Needs space to put cd tapes. Glove box is small. Over all very nice ride.

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  I Liked It Until the Winter - 2004 Scion xA
  By jonboy - July 8 - 7:53 am

  I purchased this car because my Eclipse decided to break permanently. I wanted a car that was different and got good gas mileage. It fit the bill. Its surprisingly agile and has a great stereo. I truly loved the car until I drove home from work during a small snow storm. I almost ended up sliding over a cliff. This car is terrible in the snow and rain. It is the only car Ive ever felt uncomfortable driving in bad weather. Also, the trim in the interior is always making an annoying vibration sound. Im going to trade it in after I get a good down payment for a Subaru WRX.

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  Cool Moving Box - 2006 Scion XB
  By Box on Wheels - June 30 - 7:30 am

  This is the best car you can buy for money and more. It had good build quality and is super good on gas. It is the best on resale value.

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  Best in its class but... - 2010 Scion XD
  By brandonwardell - June 29 - 2:08 am

  I bought my 2010 xD in August and have already put 9000 miles on it. I get 40 mpg hwy, its comfortable, and so far has handled well in its first Chicago winter. That being said, there are some serious rattles that are driving me crazy. Theres a cold-weather rattle in the radio, a rough-road rattle in the dash, and a seatbelt rattle at high speeds. Also certain NPR voices cause the speakers to buzz. Its a frustrating car to spend 5 hours in per day, and the dealer cant seem to fix it. Cant beat the value, though, and having driven every car in its class I cant recommend anything better. I only wish someone would make a quality 5 door with a pricetage and mileage like the xD

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  Coot Scoot - 2004 Scion XB
  By xB Coot - June 27 - 2:43 am

  I wanted a van w/o the huge size so I bought an xB. It fits me to a "T." It is fairly comfy for long trips, not too noisy and easy to drive. It fits my dog and two passengers plus our luggage, or me plus 3 HS Football players and their equipment with legroom to spare. I hope itll last at least 16 more years!

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  A Great Runabout - 2006 Scion XB
  By Rodger - June 25 - 8:40 am

  This car replaced my beloved 95 Honda Accord Wagon which was wrecked, so I tend to compare it with the Accord. The xB excells in ease of entry/exit, price, fuel economy, head and legroom, cargo space when the rear seat isnt in use, 360 degree visibility, and ease of parking. On the down side, its engine performance is barely adequate, its ride quality is a little rough, it doesnt have much seat comfort, has a high noise level, and its handling in cross winds are tolerable but dont compare favorably with the Honda. In general, I like the Scion for local driving but miss the Accord for trips over 50 miles and cargo space with four people on board.