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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Its about the MPG - 2006 Scion XB
  By sparksinner - April 2 - 11:56 am

  Traded a 2000 Jetta for this because we had a 2nd kid on the way. No chance wed all fit in the Jetta. Its been fantastic. I used to miss my manual, but Ive gotten over that. Im 62" and have plenty room all around. Even the infant seat fit behind me. Plus it has calmed down my driving. There was an instant 10mph slow-down on the highway. Then, as gas prices kept rising Ive dialed my old man driving skills way up.

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  An economy car that thinks its a sport - 2008 Scion TC
  By Eric - March 29 - 2:56 am

  I was going to buy a Mazda3 but the dealer didnt give me enough on my trade in so I went to look at the corolla and I saw the TC and thought it was a 26k car, I had never seen it before or known scion made it, I knew I wanted it right away and bought it the next day. Im very happy with it but the seats are very uncomfortable, im 62. It needs lumbar support. But honestly for 18k you cant get much more with out stealing it.

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  Scion xB, Better Have Glass Insurance - 2006 Scion XB
  By LaVarious - March 28 - 8:20 am

  The main problem I have with the car is broken windshields. I have looked around online and no one seems to be bringing this little design flaw up. I have owned my xB for about six months now and I have had to replace the windshield glass seven times. That means seven entirely new pieces of glass have been installed on the car. That is just insane. This week alone I have had to replace the glass three times. Each time the glass has cracked/chipped, the first time was two days after I purchased the car, I was driving between 40-70mph and have been about 4-10 car lengths away from the person in front of me. I am taking a loss and getting rid of the car tonight.

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  Okay Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By HeatB - March 24 - 12:50 pm

  This is a fun car to drive. It is a real attention getter. I have not had any mechanical problems, now at 36,500 miles. It still runs great. It has a good ride, but it is not so comfortable on long trips. I drove from Alabama to Orlando and on to North Carolina. There is not nearly enough room for people and luggage. My number one gripe is the lack of a center arm rest! The center mounted speedometer and gauges took some getting used to. I have to readjust when driving husbands truck.

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  Solid car for the money. - 2005 Scion TC
  By JAG - March 21 - 3:10 pm

  I have been driving my Scion tC for almost a year now and I really enjoy this vehicle. It looks great and had all the features I was looking for such as power everything, decent gas mileage, sun roof, air conditioning, and disc changer. I bought it with 57,000 miles on it and it still drives like a brand new car. I am hoping to get as many miles out of my current tC as possible and would definitely purchase another one in the future.

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  2005 Scion Tc 5 Speed - 2005 Scion TC
  By Scottg - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Amazing car when you consider the price. Its pretty quick, has a very solid ride, handles good, and looks good. I just have a couple of complaints about minor details. The leather shift boot tore the 1st day I had the car, the radio cover is hard to open, roof rattles, and now something is squeaking. Dealer fixed shift boot, said radio cover is supposed to be like that and couldnt find source of roof rattle.

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  Good value - 2005 Scion TC
  By Lumpyhotdog - March 7 - 11:23 pm

  Not really meant for tall people to drive. Paint chips easily.

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  Deep Scanning a Transmission Meltdown - 2008 Scion TC
  By Josh - February 29 - 1:16 pm

  Everything has been very good except for one thing: the automatic transmission on this car is not very dependable. With the car not yet even 2 years, and the transmission is kicking forward while driving at 35-40 mph and when decelerating. Unfortunately, this only one thing happens to be a major component of the vehicle. Difficult to mask my disappointment with Toyota here, and surely will not. Not quite what I bargained for when this vehicle was purchased. It has enjoyed the luxury of oil changes, minor and major services at scheduled intervals and has been taken well care off so I am not sure what to think of this. It only has 42,000 miles. Its going in for a diagnostic tomorrow.

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  You ALMOST got it this time Toyota. - 2004 Scion xA
  By driverofscion - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I was passing by the local Toyota dealer by my house and to my surprise I saw a Scion in front. This is a surprise because I live in Illinois and Scions are not being sold here yet. I test drove it and it is very unique (now at least); I was being stared at by the drivers of the tuned Hondas. This car definitely has style. I like the center-mounted speedometer; it has plenty of space in the back for three of my friends (no tall people welcome). I think this would be great as a first car for someone who wants style but is willing to sacrifice speed.

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  Still getting the stare. - 2004 Scion XB
  By Brian Bubonic - February 22 - 10:00 am

  A few months into owning the car and I still have to answer the usual questions about it (ie: Who makes this? Is it a hybrid? Why did you buy such an ugly car?...) Its a fun ride and offers lots of space for passengers. I was in a minor accident a few weeks after buying the car and was surprised at how quickly parts were available for such a new model.