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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  Love this xD! - 2009 Scion XD
  By MJ - December 25 - 6:53 pm

  I have only had it for a few days but love it. I did a great deal of research (for years) before deciding on a vehicle. This one had the most to offer for the price plus the looks, cannot beat that!

• 

  Should have bought a Civic - 2009 Scion TC
  By ihatemytc - December 24 - 7:56 am

  Cheaply put together car after of month of driving, things start to rattle. Very cheaply put together. The sound is awful you cant turn it up with out it crackling the speakers. After breaking the car, in it just feels so cheap. I want out of this thing and back into a Civic, worst mistake of my life is buying this car. I thought Toyota was quality.

• 

  hot lava - 2004 Scion XB
  By rkjones55 - December 24 - 6:46 am

  great car fun to drive.geat visibility could use a little power boost. tons of head and leg room

• 

  Fantastic Little Car - 2008 Scion XD
  By Bob - December 22 - 8:56 pm

  Just a month and half and I am already seeing gas mileage close to 40 mpg. I drive 35 miles everyday and this is average between city and highway. Cant wait to stretch it on highway and see what mileage will be. This is a great car and with this kind of gas mileage it will be a great car no matter what the gas prices become.

• 

  luv the xb - 2004 Scion XB
  By jade ivy - December 21 - 2:00 am

  the scion xb is afun car. at first i thought it was a funny looking car but then it grew on me. not only is it affordable, the gas mileage is excellent. maybe in the future it will have a little more horsepower, but other than that its a great car to own.

• 

  Needs more front leg room - 2006 Scion XB
  By TallSFMan - December 18 - 5:43 pm

  Its a great little car. That sums it up.

• 

  Ms - 2005 Scion xA
  By America Curl - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle I origionally bought for my daughter, but because of the comfort of the ride, the interior design, and the space I went out and bought one of my own. This is a great family car, or for those that are active, and need room for you toys.

• 

  Great, fun to drive - 2005 Scion XB
  By Blondie382 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought a XB in the cherry pearl i love this car, it is fun and great on gas. Alot of people have asked about it, alot have stared. It is a car either you love or hate. I love mine!! Live in MA just took it on a road trip to the White Mountains in NH it did great very impressed, smooth ride the entire drive. No complaints. Thanks to Bernardi Toyota for getting me my XB so quickly, youll be seeing more of me in the future. Thanks again to everyone who was involved in getting me my XB. I LOVE THIS CAR!

• 

  My little white SHOE - 2009 Scion XB
  By Walt Stevens - December 15 - 6:16 am

  Well, I have been looking at the Scion Xb,s for some time. I went from an average of 14.7 ml/gal Truck to 26 ml/gal. Although the Xb is smaller on the road, it has a big roomy interior. Very good pick-up and has the go power when needed, a little bit bumpy ride but is tolerable, a little road noise but again is tolerable. My wife drove the XB for 4 days When I was out of town, she said she had more fun driving it then her new Toyota Avalon. told me that I could drive her car all the time. She loved the XB. . My Wife loves the interior and the extra leg room in the back, and My grand kids, think its a cool car over all. I did test drive other small cars , the Scion Xb won hands down.

• 

  Scions best selling car! - 2008 Scion TC
  By revinnova - December 12 - 11:46 am

  The new Scion tC is awesome! It seems to be very similar to the previous models with the exception of the taillights, headlights, two more standard side curtain airbags, and iPod connectivity. The Scion tC is really fun to drive. I think its cool that it comes with so many standard features, such as alloy wheels, sun/moonroof, side indicators, six airbags, and immobiliser.The steering is nice and solid like a race car, and I love the rear hatch. I can fit a whole of stuff in that the rear. One problem with the tC is that it seems to rattle a little more than normal if I drive over old pavement. Other than that its an awesome car!