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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Scion xD 2008 4A - 2008 Scion XD
  By Spikemcm2008 - July 12 - 5:50 am

  50ish years old, we just bought a 08 Scion xD 1/2008, love it!! Fun to drive, comfortable, getting 31.5 mpg highway, 26 avg. city/hwy. We check mileage against fillups/hand calculating, and found the on board mileage computer was pretty accurate. Lots of leg room, could use maybe another inch of headroom (for me anyway). Im 6-3", over 300lbs (of pure muscle mind you!) & am quite comfortable in it though. The automatic, shifts smoothly into gear, digital display on dash also. Engine has plenty of power, undercarriage/engine noise is quiet except when passing etc. but not that big of a deal. Can get a undercoat like Ziebarts Sound Barrier for $179 to help deaden sound.

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  You wont be sorry! - 2004 Scion XB
  By katyscion - July 10 - 10:00 am

  LOVE this car! And Im WAY past the targeted demographic age. :) If I could, I would buy another one just to have a new one in reserve. I cant believe the attention to detail and find something new I like better every day. Nice little storage compartments, the dash is EASY to read, you can feel for the disc/radio and change over without looking. Hooks to hold the floor mats in place that swivel if you use different mats. I could go on and on. I took the interior light option and illuminated cup holders. FUN!!!!! For adies; the shape of the windows means your hairdo isnt blown away. :) Its CUTE, its FUN to drive and the gas mileage is soooo nice!

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  a great car with a few flaws - 2008 Scion XB
  By mattoafilmscore - July 10 - 2:03 am

  i originally wanted one of the "old" XBs, but by the time i got my finances in order, they were gone. having since driven one of the older models, im happy to say im glad i went with the 08. while many people might point out the decreased MPGs, it should be noted that the decreasing MPGs arent for no reason. the 08 is much safer than the previous models, it doesnt blow all over the road during inclement weather and its quite a bit more powerful. while there definitely are things that need improvement, Im confident when i say i dont have any plans to purchase another vehicle for some time.

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  Not Much Fun - 2007 Scion TC
  By Dan - July 9 - 7:06 am

  I really want to like this car, but I cant help feeling I made a horrible decision here. Theres nothing actually WRONG with this car, its just that after a few months driving it, Ive realized that Ive just bought a pretty standard economy car, the number one issue being that its no fun to drive at all. It has good power for such a cheap car, but unfortunately its suspension is way too soft, it leans too much in corners, and its isolated from the road like a sedan, instead of a sports coupe. I like to hear some noise and feel some bumps, and I like hard solid suspension so I feel confident in corners. Put the Mazda3s suspension on this car and itd be perfect for the price.

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  My Popcorn Popper - 2006 Scion XB
  By Inez - July 8 - 7:16 pm

  I purchased a used 2004 Scion xB that I found on the Internet and drove it from CT to IN with no problem. I wanted to buy a new car, but this car had $2,000 in accessories and he sold it for $1,000 less than the blue book price. The previous owner tinted the back windows with a darker tint, and I was concerned about seeing other drivers. After almost 3 weeks, I am finally getting used to driving a manual, now it just comes natural. My hubbie calls it a popcorn popper, because it gets good gas mileage! I am totally pleased.

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  Best Car Available Under 20k - 2008 Scion XB
  By GC - July 8 - 12:46 pm

  I own a 2002 Mercedes S500, a 2007 Lexus Es 350 and drive my new Xbox 75 miles each way from West Palm Beach to Miami 5 days a week. Man, this car is fantastic. I test drove the BMW 5 series, 3 series, Toyota Camry, and E350, and just noticed the xB by accident while at a Toyota dealership. I liked the automatic, but when I tried the 5 speed manual, that was it . . . saved a ton of money. It is fun to drive, reliable and can use regular unleaded!!

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  Whats this? Tall Wagon? Small SUV? - 2008 Scion XB
  By XBLover - July 6 - 10:00 pm

  Its unique, Ill give it that. The fuel economy is a big disappointment, not expecting this from a Toyota brand and theres also a substantial amount of road noise. Its really a strip car, you have to pay for everything including floor mats! There seems to be some vibration at highway speeds (over 60 mph). The upgraded radio ($389) doesnt pick up all the stations in my area and there are 2 FM frequencies: FM1 and FM2 , this is a ripoff!! Save your money!! Overall its a good buy for the money.

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  Nice Ride - 2006 Scion TC
  By Dave - July 5 - 8:00 pm

  This is a very nice car. I considered 5 different cars with gas mileage and overall performance my main criteria. After all the test drives and comparisons, the tC was the standout choice for standard options and its powerful Camry engine. It is just a few dollars more than the base 2 door Civic and you get so much more. It provides a nice balance of performance and gas mileage for a bargain price.

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  Old Man Says YEA - 2004 Scion XB
  By Papi - July 5 - 3:43 pm

  I know these things were designed for the X-Generation, but I love mine. It is fun to drive, great on gas and you feel the Toyota quality. The interior is not perfect but I love the cargo space and my 3 year old grand son thinks that it is the greatest vehicle ever. By the way, so does by 84 year old mother-in-law because she finds it easy to enter and exit.

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  Loce my tC - 2005 Scion TC
  By connie - June 30 - 1:16 am

  My Scion tC is fun to drive. It has a lot of pick up and is very sporty. I definitely would buy another. It is a great car for anyone. People stop me and ask how I like the car. I am very happy that I picked this over the Mazada6. Test drive the car, you will be happy that you did.