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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Nightmare - 2005 Scion TC
  By STANGMAC8183 - May 13 - 8:16 pm

  I traded in a 2001 Acura Integra GSR for a 2005 Scion TC, that was the biggest mistake in my life car wise. My scion was in the shop 13 times in 3 months. The windshield was replaced bc it broke due to bad weather stripping. The rear hatch panels as well at the glove box were all replace. There are to many problems to list but this car was a nightmare, I traded it in after just 9 months

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  Generally OK, some issues need attention - 2005 Scion xA
  By Ed man - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Wiper motor burned out in less than 1 day. Seat belt clip broke day 5. Multiple LOUD rattle developed. Not good mileage. Radio exptememly difficult to figure out and to operate when you do. Radio rates a 1 out of ten. I may replace it.

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  Very cool car but in the end UNIMPRESSIVE - 2009 Scion XB
  By Big Daddy WC - January 25 - 5:00 am

  The Good: Huge interior. I am 63" and have plenty of headroom. Legroom for the driver is average. Front Seat passenger legroom is good. You can lay the back seats down and haul a bunch. Peppy engine and sound system is good. Handles really well. Toyota Camry engine so it is a reliable engine. The Bad: - The seats. Horrible. Arm rest for the driver is way to low and slender. Worthless. The passenger arm rest is... wait, there is NO armrest. Really?? Only 1 power adapter in the entire vehicle. The center console is tiny, too low and pretty much useless. The trim is cheap. The weather stripping on the drivers side window lost its felt (or whatever it is) and the window bound up on the stripping when lowering it. Car Max extended warranty would not cover. Had to take a razor and cut it out, else spend $500 for a new door panel. The ride is horrible. You feel every bump. If you are just using this for a trip here and there around town or for short commutes then it is ok. I am using for a daily commute and it is abysmal. There really is no intermittent wiper. The intermittent setting cant be adjusted so it is just a lower low setting. There is a horrible blind spot on the passenger side when backing out of parking spaces. The fenders, hood, etc will dent if a leaf falls on it. I barely leaned up against it and accidentally dented it. Overall: If you want a car for short commutes or a safe car for teen drivers then this is it. Otherwise buy a Camry or Corolla.

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  My Horrible Experience - 2005 Scion TC
  By Billy - December 12 - 11:46 pm

  I bought this car with 167 mi. on it and since I drove it off the lot its been nothing but problems. It has been in the shop 6 weeks total time, has been repainted, and Im still having problems with it. The sunroof wont stop creaking (even though Ive had it "fixed" twice), the CD player broke, the ac/heat button are sticking for some unknown reason, and sometimes the heat doesnt even work. Worst car I have EVER owned.

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  engine stopped going to vegas - 2010 Scion XB
  By milodog - September 9 - 3:56 am

  I was fairly happy with car until this week. Seats arent comfy, but I can live with it. Driving to Vegas, car all of a sudden comes out of gear, check engine and oil lights come on and I coast to the side of road. I turn it off for a minute, and it starts right up. took to dealer and cleared codes. still in process of what really went wrong. Thought potential buyers might be interested. Have Toyota problems gone to scion ?

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  Last toyota ill buy - 2008 Scion TC
  By last_toyota - July 31 - 8:16 pm

  car had a recall for gas cap 2nd month. Tires are only good on paved roads in the dry and started to separate by 20k. got stuck in the middle of the street with 1/2 an inch of snow. throttle has a delay and a couple times a mind of its own. Finally, at 30k I struck a section of bad rural road and supposedly bent 2 wheels and caused the side curtain airbag to go off, which will cost over $5000 to fix which Toyota will not cover.I had just got new tires the week before and the car doesnt shake or show any external damage. If you live in rural America, dont waste your$. I did file a claim with the NHTSA.

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  Bad egg - 2005 Scion xA
  By kretek1 - July 5 - 11:31 pm

  Two wheel bearings out, two bent wheels replaced, stabilizers replaced, brakes and calipers replaced, wheel fitting replaced, all fluids replaced, two batteries dead. Its cost me $1,700 to repair a car worth $4,800. Screw that. Its not worth it. Go with a Honda. Its only been 78,000 miles.

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  Less than stellar - 2009 Scion XB
  By unclealan - June 9 - 4:53 am

  I used a true Klunker to get this Release Red, and I dont enjoy it as much as some. One tiny armrest, much too wide rear corners, quite hard to back up. Personally I am always hitting the gearshift knob when going to the gps/radio panel. Even the cupholder ticks me off (though admittedly I am a touchy guy). I do like the lights except for the single back-up one. Heated seats on the top should have been part of the package

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  Would not buy again - 2008 Scion XD
  By ts16240 - May 13 - 2:02 am

  The XD was my first brand new car, and I am very disappointed in it. I will be trading it in soon. First off the tires are not great on it. It slides all over the road, rain and snow. I did however find winter tires this year and it went much better, but the cost was high ($600). Driving on the highway is horrible because any little bit of wind and it blows you all over the road. Also when driving with just the front windows down is impossible, it makes a wind tunnel effect and is a killer on your ears, so the back windows have to be down too. I also replaced the charcoal canister twice in it, which happened at 38,000 miles. $1,000+ each time replaced. Not the vehicle I expected.

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  Potentially a good car...but not. - 2008 Scion XB
  By troytali - April 24 - 2:43 pm

  Having grown up on pocket rockets like the GTi, Honda Prelude Si, Civic Si, Mazdas, etc., the Scion xB was a bit more practical extension of that. I only wish Scion would make it with some performance. We know they use the same engine in the tC, so its a mystery why they castrate the xB so deliberately. Put an engine with actual power below 4k rpm, close ratio 5 or 6 speed manual and auto choices, GOOD sound system, less body roll, NO MORE center gauges then maybe we have a car worth buying again. Ive had two of these, and auto and the manual. Both have squeaks and rattles in the same places, and from new and almost new. Plasticky interior, peaky power delivery, lazy throttle response? Wow