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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  One test drive is all you need - 2006 Scion TC
  By Rob - March 5 - 11:53 pm

  My 06 tC (manual trans) was adopted a few days ago. Its an amazing car with an amazing price tag. Its features were designed well. I am probably its typical target market (in my 20s in an urban setting). They nailed this car for us. I customized mine with the LED tail lights, fog lights and lip spoiler and I am pretty sure no one will have one like it in my area. The CD cover is a blessing since I plan on replacing the radio head unit with a DVD player and wont be subject to wandering eyes wherever I park it. The car drives nice, with plenty of speed to pass people and looks a lot more expensive than it is. The trunk space isnt the best, but Im only using it for small items like groceries.

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  Scion xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By F Elliott - March 5 - 5:00 pm

  Best small car for long trip I have driven. Lots of space inside and with the flat roof can put rack on, to carry kayaks and roof box. These do not interfer with handling of vehicle. Around town only gas up every other week. People like to see the car.

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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Jaime S. Rios - March 5 - 5:13 am

  I am really pleased with the gas mileage, leg room, and power this little but very comfortable vehicle has. It has a very modern design and you cant beat the price.

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  Scion - A Blast - 2004 Scion XB
  By Steve Lehtman - March 4 - 12:23 pm

  This is the most fun Ive had driving a vehicle at this price point. It is unexpectedly peppy. The interior space is quite surprising and roomy. Gas mileage is excellent (around 30mpg). The sound system (6 CD changer) is amazing. It is like driving a huge boom box.

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  Luv It - 2005 Scion xA
  By MizzTee03 - March 3 - 7:20 pm

  I just love my Scion xA. What more can I say. When I sat in it I knew it was the car for me!!!! I love the design and it is great on gas. I would suggest anyone looking for a new csr to get a xA.

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  A New Driver Must Have!~^_^~! - 2004 Scion xA
  By Honey B - March 3 - 10:00 am

  The car looks super cute and the size is easy for new driver to handle. I am a new driver. It saves gas, it saves u money and it looks great. The car gives u more flexibility since the seats at the back can be pulled down easily so u can buy as much groceries as u wanna to. Little effort is needed if u want to accelerate your car. Ull love this car if u live in San Francisco since the parking space is so scared in the city -_-; I love this car and all of my friends love my car too....What are u waiting for??? If u need more room in the car...check out XB! I feel great when i test drive that car since the interior is brighter than XA and it is more roomy.

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  Great, sensible, affordable - 2006 Scion XB
  By Erik - March 3 - 6:16 am

  Very unique, Everyone comments on the "Toaster on wheels" shape of the car love walking out to my car, cant help but smile when i drive it around at 30- 32 MPG with a/c blasting against the Texas sun. Loads of room inside, ergonomics make a lot of sense. its very simple and roomy everywhere. (looking around before buying a saw a lot of them, if you are in the market make sure to check several things, the front and rear plastic clip on bumpers in many cases seem to get damaged and should be checked as getting replacements color matched will be expensive. Also beware of certain aftermarket wheels in some cases they trigger the Indicator lights b/c of the way it reads MPH.

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  Best car I ever owned - 2005 Scion XB
  By Deb - February 27 - 5:20 am

  Even after 10 mos. I am still getting 35-38 mpg. The room inside is unbelievable and it is so comfortable to drive.

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  Value, value, value... - 2005 Scion TC
  By AV tC - February 26 - 11:00 pm

  I only have 1200 miles on it, but so far the TC has gone beyond my expectations. The handling is fantastic. I commute through steep curvy hills everyday. The ride is sporty, but still smooth enough for comfort. There is plenty of power to take the hills and the N. California freeways with ease. The car is an extreme value. The accessories can bring the value of the purchase down a bit. Buy the add-ons that you can install yourself later online and save money. The no haggle pricing made the purchase experience stress free. Ordering exactly what I wanted was fantastic, took 2 weeks. The TC is in high demand right now though. Choice of transmission, color and side air bags may take 6.

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  I CALL HIM "MR" XB - 2009 Scion XB
  By MR XB - February 24 - 11:23 pm

  I purchased my white XB with 19 miles on it. I added (dealer installed) a moonroof, scion security and lo-jack, fog lights, cargo cover. From the outside it looks so small, but it is huge on the inside. I love the performance and sometimes fool around with the semi-manual shift for fun. I am very glad not to see a XB every where I turn. The biggest selling point for me was the safety features you get for the low price.