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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Not for anyone over 5 feet tall - 2004 Scion xA
  By The Science guy - November 20 - 2:00 am

  This car allows me to commute for about the same price as my motorcycle, and about the same level of safety too. I truly love this cars ability to get me from LA to SF for less than fifty bucks. The stereo is great and I can fit a drum set in the back with room to spare. The car is actually quite quick if it has a manual transmission. It can park almost anywhere (i.e. double parking on standard sized driveways).

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  Solid Little Car - 2004 Scion xA
  By ScionDriver - November 17 - 9:46 pm

  I bought this Scion brand new off the lot and it has been very reliable since then. I have over 103K on the car in just 5 years, but Ive only done minor repair to it. Its fuel economy has been dismal, Im not sure how anyone is getting 38mpg+. But, for the price (around $12,500) its a bargain and comes standard with many features most cars in the price range do not include.

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  Sweet Little Ride - 2009 Scion XD
  By LastHamlet - November 17 - 10:40 am

  Just acquired the Scion XD a week ago. The cash for clunkers program got me to looking, and I almost bought the XB, but am so glad I went with the XD... Better fuel economy, abd a much less boxy look. For a small vehicle, you dont think it is small on the inside. I went from a Tundra to this and I am really impressed. Full height front seats are a real nice feature, though an upgrade fabric would have been even sweeter. Apparently there was a mistake at the factory, cause I actually got a High-Def radio made by Alpine in my XD and yet the catalog says it is only available on the XBs as an option. The invoice shows 400 plus for the Pioneer upgrade, but I got the fully stacked Alpine.

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  Scion xD Good Choice - 2008 Scion XD
  By wendy - November 17 - 6:43 am

  Overall I am completely satisfied with my Scion xD. I purchased a 2008 xD in May 2008 because I commute 140 miles round trip. The xD has all the air bags, ABS and cruise control standard unlike some other small cars I looked at (Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit). My commute is half open freeway and half stop and go freeway. My fuel efficiency averages 35 MPG during the summer with the AC on all the time. I expect it to go up in the fall and winter. The xD is comfortable although the seats could be a little cushier. I think the gauges are well placed. Not having an arm rest doesnt bother me. Main drawback is blocking the sun from the door window. The sun visor doesnt have an extension.

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  Very nice car - 2007 Scion TC
  By joetowntc - November 15 - 7:00 am

  I have had no problems with this car at all. I bought it 2 months ago and already have 4000 miles on it and the only thing that has gone wrong is a clutch cable had to be adjusted because I tried power shifting it a couple of times. It is a great buy for the price. It doesnt jerk out of any gear, you just need to learn how to drive a manual. The clutch is a little touchy but once you get used to it, its awesome. You can put the power to the wheels in an instant.

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  Love it! - 2009 Scion XB
  By rzrbk1 - November 14 - 11:10 pm

  Went from a 2007 Durango Limited to the 2009 xB. We went from 14 mpg to 28 mpg (although to give the Durango credit. Yeah..it has a HEMI!. We werent sure if we would like something as small as the xB with both of us being "real" sized people. The xB has a lot of room inside and is very comfortable. We have had it for about 2 months and have had no problems at all. It is surprisingly peppy for a 4 cyl and handles great!

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  Cheap but reliable. - 2005 Scion XB
  By Sean - November 13 - 11:50 am

  I had this car for two years. The a/c stopped working, and it turned out something in the a/c pipes burst, and sent shards of metal all through the system, and it was going to cost around $800 to fix. My rear trunk panel cracked off, the interior feels cheap and "plastic-y". Its very simple, not much too it. No bells and whistles here. While it isnt extremely powerful or fast, I always had a good time driving it, and it never once broke down on me.

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  Toyota/ Scion xA- Engine Problems - 2005 Scion xA
  By Brandon - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought a used 2005 Scion XA in April 2010 with 118k miles. Based on my research & previous experience with Toyota; I thought I was getting a reliable and fuel economic commuter car. Unfortunately within 5 months and 7k miles later my check engine light came on. My mechanic told me heard a knock in the engine. 2 weeks later the car started to shake and the got very loud. I will never buy a scion again & lost faith in toyotas reliability.

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  the best car eva - 2005 Scion XB
  By 2005 scion xB styles - November 11 - 9:36 am

  this is the best car ever if you want a relibly car pick this one

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  Its a Buggy - 2005 Scion xA
  By robocop - November 9 - 12:50 am

  Rides like a buggy, run over a toothpick and youll feel it. Quick and nimble on dry pavement, terrible in snow. Bought with 32k miles and replaced AC at 38K for $600 and new battery at 40K but it has never left me stranded. Its a local driver thats not meant for the highway. Get about 25 MPG local and I beat the crap out of it and it just keeps going.