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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  My Second XB - 2008 Scion XB
  By 2nrmom - June 11 - 8:01 pm

  My first XB was an 04 auto white. With the guidence of my son I did some modifying of it. It was pretty cool! Improved horsepower with a short ram intake, header and exhaust. Rota bronze wheels, lowered and a CF hood completed the look. I loved it but after a time I needed something bigger. Fast forward to present day.. I needed to downsize. While I was very partial to the 04 boxy style and room I knew I would love to have a bigger engine. Also didnt like the huge flat windshield of the 04 that had to be replaced every year. I bought an 08, dark blue, auto, used with 47k. So far I have had no problems with it. So nice to zip around again! Will make improvements to customize.

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  2008 Scion xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By Job - June 9 - 12:33 am

  My wife was appalled when I brought this thing home for her. But after driving it for a while she likes it. I was looking at everything in this price range and below and found nothing but blah until I saw this. Good car, good utility, bit of a head-turner, great safety features, first-aid kit, easy in-and-out, kids love it, and my bride is off my back. Its an econo-Camry with some style.

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  Great Little Ride - 2006 Scion xA
  By R McInerney - June 5 - 6:33 pm

  This little car car has a smooth comfortable ride and its maneuverability is great. Its tiny and cute outside, but has plenty of room for adult passengers in the front and back inside. Its large window area makes for really good view out of rear when backing. Driving the xA is a joy!

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  too bad - 2008 Scion XB
  By had to trade it in - June 3 - 4:46 pm

  Had a very high expectation level for the 08 xB. The Camry engine was a plus, except for my actual 26 mpg on the highway. Over all, I just didnt find it enjoyable to keep. It was difficult to see stop lights, poor color selection, the rear bumper is a dust and dirt magnet, the style gets a bit long in the tooth after only 6 months. Couldnt slow down the rear window wipers.

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  Summary of long review... - 2005 Scion xA
  By Jon Savory - May 23 - 9:16 am

  1. External Appearance: Like a mini-minivan, really... the hood running parallel with the windshield isnt -that- new. 2. Interior Appearance and Feel SO much hard plastic and no where to rest an arm or store CDs. The toaster oven in certer console is cute but not functional! Seating front AND back is very comfortable for all. The Sound System sounds great but is HORRIBLE to use - so many little bottons! 3. Driving Feel The handing is top-notch for the price- class. Nothing has more punch or holds the road better. There is plenty of power in the 3-4000 rpm range. 4. Fuel Efficiency Sub-par. A higher ratio 5th gear would do wonders. 5. Quality Issues 2K miles already has a rattle!

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  Good stuff - 2006 Scion XB
  By Nate DIGGITY - May 13 - 5:23 pm

  I bought this car early 2004. It runs great i have driven from Los Angeles to Denver Colorado. Lots of fun! No problems, A couple of trim and finish issues but besides that everything with this car is GREAT. I have the custom intake and exhaust. The only downside of this car is no pick up! However there is enough power to get through the Rockies in the snow without a problem.

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  Review - 2005 Scion XB
  By D. Sharp - April 24 - 4:43 pm

  This car has been wonderful and fun to drive. It gets great gas mileage, is compact in a parking spot and especially garage. The interior is a tight squeeze with 5 adults (hip-wise), but has lots of leg room. Perfect for a 4-person family and hauling kids around. It is built well and does good on the highway.

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  Needs Another Gear - 2006 Scion xA
  By Texan - April 23 - 6:53 am

  The Scion xA needs another gear, other than that, I like it. I still get 32-34 MPG at 75 mph, but it could use a little overdrive. The AC compressor seized up and burned up the belt. That shouldnt happen in a year-old car.

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  Good First Car but Wish I Had Taken a Different Route - 2012 Scion TC
  By bigzman95 - April 18 - 11:41 am

  I have had this car since the day it hit the lot back in September of 2011. While there are a lot of things I love about my car, there are also things that I dont. Overall its a pretty good car but I wish I had done more research before buying it. For instance, by the time I added some options onto my car, the purchase price was well into the upper $20k range. For that amount of money I honestly wish I had went with something like the Subaru WRX, which is faster, AWD and has four doors. Scion makes lots of attractive points to buyers, but honestly the cars are a bit overpriced in my opinion. If you want a car for a new driver Id look at the Dodge Dart or Subaru Impreza.

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  Pros and Cons - 2007 Scion TC
  By James - April 18 - 6:10 am

  I really like the way the outside of the car has been styled and when I got in i quickly fell in love with the way the car was put together. I like how the dash wraps around the driver making all of the controls easily accessible. the standard features of the car are awesome; moon/sunroof, power windows and locks, stereo controls on the steering wheel, and alloy wheels.