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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  DONT KNOCK THE BOXX - 2004 Scion XB
  By TREX212426 - June 17 - 10:00 am

  At first I was doubtful that the xb would actully mesure up to my standards. But after the first test drive i was sold. This is not a race car but a car with speed when necessary. I love the fact that it still shocks people no matter how many times people see it.

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  Excellent Achievement - 2004 Scion XB
  By wiharris - June 17 - 10:00 am

  The Scion xB is a fun vehicle to drive. Its exterior is deceptive. What appears to be a small car on the outside is actually a large car inside. Comfortable and firm bucket seats with enough knee room in the back for 6 foot plus passengers. Storage is minimal throughout vehicle. It low center of gravity make it stable in handling corners. In fact its low base make it very comfortable to enter and exit. No extended step down nor an uneasy pull to get up and out. Very similar to getting out of a chair. For the price and gas mileage I consider the Scion xB an excellent achievement in small cars. By the way it makes an excellent conversation piece.

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  Excellent car especially for the price! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Wookie` - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I had a good experience with the purchase of my Scion. The dealer was easy to deal with and he did a great job in finding my bright red RS 1.0 xA. I did however have to wait 40 days to take delivery and I was originally waiting for a stock (non RS 1.0) xA with a 5 speed. The sales practice of MSRP is wonderful, no hassle and no haggle. Lots of options available, even if most are cosmetic and not really functional. The car has a very high cute factor but with large rims and low profile tires can actualy have a muscular look. For the price I dont think you can beat the xA or the xB.

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  Love it...but having mpg problems - 2005 Scion TC
  By nvi4imaqt pi - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I love it-- its a great car, and it drives great. However, has anyone else been having gas mileage problems? Its supposed to get 23-29 mpg, but Ive tested it twice and mine only gets 15 mpg! This is really scary, and I know Im figuring it out right. But besides that, Ive had no problems with it. If anyone else has noticed their tCs gas mileage is considerably worse than it should be, please respond in a review.

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  More bang for your buck.... - 2005 Scion TC
  By Murf the Surf - June 17 - 10:00 am

  If youre looking for a fun, fast(relatively speaking) and versatile vehicle with excellent fuel economy, then the search is over(if you can find one for sale). The 05 Scion tC is, for once, better than the hype. The quality, fit and finish is up to Lexus standards. The value is exceptional with standard features like one touch up/down power windows for both driver and passenger, a sound system with 6 speakers that puts you in the center of the concert and 4 wheel force balanced ABS brakes that puts safety at all corners. The only drawback is that they are hard to find right now.(are you listening Toyota?) I think its worth the wait....

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  I love my Scion! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Sam - June 17 - 6:43 am

  Not everyone will like the Scion xBs unorthodox design as much as I do, but it sure provokes a lot of "stares" from folks who see me. The Honda Element pales in comparison.

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Scion xA
  By bobbic6314 - June 17 - 1:26 am

  I have enjoyed this car greatly. It drives very well and its a great car for a child. I really like it because its easy to drive and the comfort of the car is awesome.

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  Just love it love it love it! - 2004 Scion xA
  By beaniefamily - June 16 - 2:46 am

  We bought this car more than one month ago and just absolutely love it! It has very responsive handling and is just a joy to drive! I just cant stop saying I love it!

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  I like it alot but... - 2005 Scion TC
  By tom - June 15 - 12:26 pm

  my review about my scion tc is... My thougts on the scion tc are very skattered. If i could have control of the car i would first off put more horsepower. This car needs to have at least 220-230 horsepower, it would attract more people, because people love speed. Affordable is another thing even if the car comes out with 230 horsepower and its now $18,000-$19,000 (starting) its worth it. So my review of the car is basicly all i need is horsepower everything else about the car i like alot but always end up bein left behind the crowd in traffic.....

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  Awesome Car at Awesome Price - 2009 Scion TC
  By scchilling74 - June 14 - 2:46 pm

  I have owned this car for almost a year and I must say I still love to drive it. I have owned allot of cars over the years and I usually get bored with them after a few months, but not my tC. This car has the necessary power, style and comfort to keep you coming back for more. I really like that Toyota did the first two scheduled maintenance services for free. The car is put together well and offers a spacious sleek design for a coupe. I went from driving a truck to my tC and I havent missed my truck, aside from the occassional need to haul something big. I got the optional Nav system which was a bit pricey but worth the money.