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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Yo Ho Yo Ho an xB Life For Me! - 2008 Scion XB
  By Phillips - September 28 - 1:13 pm

  I have had my xB for three weeks and I believe it is an excellent automobile. The ride is quiet, responsive and it is extremely fast. The 2.4 liter engine gets up and goes and I get around 26 mpg overall. It has alot room inside and the stereo can rock you like a hurricane Consumer magazines have rated this car very high and its styling is unique. My family calls the xB the silver pearl and we discuss continually about who gets to drive it.

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  Great new wheels - 2008 Scion XB
  By Mark - September 27 - 11:03 pm

  Bought this as a commuter to save on gas as my primary car is a Buick Lucerne cxs which is not all that easy on gas. The Scion is a big surprise for a small amount of money. Offers pretty much more than cars costing thousands more plus is a Toyota and that alone stands for long term easy motoring.

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  Just right for boomers - 2008 Scion XB
  By Fiddlerdi - September 27 - 12:40 pm

  I bought my first Scion a couple of weeks ago and I still go out in the garage just to look at it. It is so cool. I am a musician and it has lots of space for instruments and sound equipment with the rear seats folded flat. I travel on the highway a lot and the comfort factor is a 10 for me. You sit up high and you have panoramic view out the front windows. Everyone comments on how much room there is inside. I have the nautical blue and it is beautiful in the sunshine. I have purchased a cargo bag for the back so my groceries stay contained. I love the MP3 connection and the pioneer stereo. Mine has the spoiler too! It feels very safe on the highway and very cozy to drive. Buy one.

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  Great for the money! - 2012 Scion TC
  By reconmac - September 27 - 2:08 am

  Bought this car for its reliability and good looks, and it delivers all that I wanted and then some. Keyless entry/ignition is awesome and the shiftable 6-speed automatic livens things up. Great ipod integration and a decent sound system.

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  combat toaster... mini-mini van - 2006 Scion XB
  By joffficer - September 26 - 11:16 pm

  I needed to get something good on gas ($3 per/gallon was on the horizon). My Hemi powered Dodge 2500, while needed, is thirsty. Not to mention a bear to drive around town. I looked at several gas misers, but wanted something with more usefulness then past festivas. After test drives, and reading I bought an xB. It was an easy purchase, $20 filled the tank (although, sadly more is needed now!) and its handles city driving like a roller skate!

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  decent car for the money - 2011 Scion TC
  By vickat - September 26 - 10:29 am

  Bought TC11 1 month ago, now have >3,000 miles on it. After having driven RSX for almost 8 years, needed to adjust to TC. TC feels larger and heavier than RSX, steering is lighter. Turns need to be initiated, while RSX turned effortlessly. That said, TC seems to to be quite a decent H-back, even tossable, with plenty of room in the back, and good gas mileage.

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  SUPER SCION! - 2006 Scion XB
  By Katie - September 25 - 6:23 am

  The Scion xB is THE CAR to own! A friend let me drive his xB and I was sold. I purchased it when I was 59 years young (Im now "60"!) It is comfortable, practical, fun, attractive, economical and dependable. I would buy another one in a heartbeat! Yeah, SCION - TOYOTA hit this one out of the park!

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  Best car ever! - 2013 Scion TC
  By mcnasty101 - September 25 - 6:05 am

  Ok, so ive owned 4 cars in my life and probably test driven hundreds....why? because i love cars, and not just the awesome sports that "everybody" loves...but i love all cars. I recently bought a 2013 Scion tC...and let me tell ya this car is amazing to look at and to drive. Ive had te 2010 Scion tC before i moved into this one....and i couldnt help but wonder that they couldve made it better than what it was. It was pretty to look at and the after market parts for it were cheep and made it look and run better. But it is nothing like the 2013....the tC i have now is just so awesome, it hugs the corners, handles very well in the snow and its a game changer in the car industry.

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  Lot of car for the money - 2008 Scion XB
  By retmsg - September 25 - 1:16 am

  Ive owned my XB for about a month and had several upgrades installed by the dealer. The upgrades are cold-air intake, front strut bar, rear sway- bar, pioneer sound system. The original 16" wheels/Goodyear tires have been replaced with 18" alloy wheels/Nitto NeoGen tires for better handling. This car has a lot of room for a big guy. Im 64" and 290lbs. This is the first car I bought (other than a muscle car) that I enjoy driving. The XB is quite responsive for its size. The new engine size has plenty of power for the normal driver. I have been very impressed with the way this car is built.

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  2005 Scion tC - 2006 Scion TC
  By RS1.0 #1790 - September 23 - 5:20 am

  My first car. I got the Release Series 1.0 in Absolutely Red. My RS numbers is 1790 of 2500. Great car especially for the "first car" experience. Greate price and very dependable seeing as how its from toyota. Overall a great buy for any age.