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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  I Love My Clown Car - 2004 Scion XB
  By stresslevel66 - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. I love driving it and I love the looks I get. It is very cute, the interior is awesome and very roomy. The gas mileage is great. This car is a great value and I love it.

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  Have your gas and your fun too - 2004 Scion XB
  By randyg - September 22 - 10:00 am

  You may look at the outside and think how small.But jump inside and its another world. Lots of room for both front and rear passagers. It may not have a large engine, but makes up for it in comfort and extras other cars charge extra for. You wont find cruise control, but having fun driving ,you wont mind.

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  Parking in Boston? HA! no problem!! - 2006 Scion xA
  By Professor X - September 17 - 7:56 pm

  I dont understand why some owners are getting less than 35 mpg on the highway. I visit my mom in NY every other weekend; exactly 250 miles. It has a 10.9 gallon tank. On average I get there with half a tank left. It breaks down to 38+ mpg. I purchased the xA because of the price. At first I was deeply concerned about its size. Thats no longer a problem. As an average college student, theres plenty of room for friends, laundry, computer parts, etc. Should you need more drop one of the seats. Another concern was its engine. Since its only 1.5 liter, I feared it will be too small for a car. Again its not a problem. Its a very nimble car for me and...a date. 4 adults is a different story

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  Great Affordable Mruck - 2004 Scion XB
  By TTalliere - September 16 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has been really fun to drive, feels much bigger than it looks. I love it! The options are overpriced, better off getting them as aftermarket features. For the price its a great car.

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  Excellent! - 2005 Scion TC
  By wnorton81 - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Test drove a number of competing cars (rsx, mazda3...) the tC was the best mainly because of its, IMO, superior design both inside and out, and it was the best bang for the buck.

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  Ive Been Waiting A Long Time For This.. - 2005 Scion TC
  By Fritzie_Pup - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive been waiting for a few years now for a car company to come along, and finally change the market for the popular, young crowd. After looking at the Civic, RSX, WRX, and SRT-4, I thought I had my mind made up until my roommate showed me the tC previews.. After driving one at the local dealership, I was hooked within minutes. For the low base price of $15,595, you get yourself a car fully loaded with options you would normally only find on cars well over the $20k+ range. The No Hassle dealers make the buying process very simple, and the fact that everything has to be sold at dealer cost (Toyota Platinum warranty included!) makes it a very, very good selling point.

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  Fun car - 2009 Scion XB
  By CENCALMIKE - September 15 - 10:36 pm

  Just got my scion a few days ago. I love it. Im always on the road, so the gas mileage is great and it fun to drive.

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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Chet Pilcher - September 15 - 2:46 pm

  The xA makes an excellent second car. It has easy access, great visibility and a high seat position. Its sound system rivals the one in my Avalon. It has smooth shifting up and down. Its overall gas consumption is currently at 32+mpg around town. The air conditioning can "run you out." This is a really fun car to drive!

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  Ideal compact car for runabout in city - 2008 Scion XD
  By Rose - September 14 - 12:43 am

  I live in the city and have a compact garage where only a very few cars could fit easily. With this in mind I bought the Scion xD. This little car has a "big car" feel to it, drives well, has the Toyota assured reliability. I say "Go for it!!"

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  Superb - 2005 Scion XB
  By Shadow - September 11 - 6:43 pm

  The Scion xB is a one of its top models done this year. Compared to other similar models that I have seen, I believe this one is at the top of the class. When I bought this Scion I expected it to be a little more than average (in other words if it got me to point B from point A and was a little fashionable I was alright) but, it wasnt even less than Superb.