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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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:

• 

  they rock - 2005 Scion xA
  By kloey - June 5 - 12:36 pm

  I really like my car i think that the scoin xA is a perfect car for young parents and people looking for comfort yet reliablity. I would recommend that anyone looking for something that is dependable, safe and fun check it out

• 

  Way better than the old XB - 2009 Scion XB
  By sigjuliussen - June 4 - 2:10 am

  Just replaced my old 06 XB with a 09 and I love my new one way more. Im getting 25 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. It is more stable on the highway and feels much more substantial of a car. I get almost as much MPG out of the new one and way more power.

• 

  Great Car for the Money - 2007 Scion TC
  By Rocky - May 28 - 4:23 pm

  I just bought this car a few weeks ago. So far it is great in almost every aspect. The highway gas mileage seems low though (only 28 mpg so far) I am hoping that it gets better. It drives great and is a great compromise for practicality. I am not excited about the low treadwear of the tires.

• 

  Canoes Ownership Experience - Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Jesse - May 27 - 4:46 am

  My 2006 Scion xA is rattle-proof, very easy to drive, and has excellent fuel economy. I did 40 mpg on third tank of gas.

• 

  Happy So Far - 2011 Scion XB
  By WAGKISS - May 26 - 10:00 am

  So far I am pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the ride, the solid handling qualities, throttle response and gas mileage. The majority of my driving is open road and I am averaging 31.5 overall. The headroom is great, my only complaint is the offset of the steering wheel.

• 

  A new tC - 2011 Scion TC
  By Vince - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 2011 tC for about two weeks and there are some significant changes from the two previous tCs Ive owned. The 2011 is a bit larger with more interior room and the six speed automatic transmission makes it more fun to drive in the sport mode. However, it does not seem as responsive as the previous tCs, perhaps because of its larger size. One big improvement is the gas mileage. Ive been averaging between 30 to 31 miles per gallon around town. On my other tCs I never exceeded 30 MPG even on the highway.

• 

  my pip squeak - 2006 Scion XB
  By Ken Moore - May 26 - 5:23 am

  As my grand-daughter calls my xB, a pip squeak, it goes good the motor wont snap a bean or neck, but the xB turns heads. Plenty of room for 4 big men and I get, with the modifications Ive done, 41 mpg in town. Ive got a bad back therefore I installed a drivers and passenger racing seats. Plenty of glass with excellent sight lines. I installed p215x60x15 tires because the automatic transmission needs another gear. But my toaster on wheels is GREAT!

• 

  Great for casual luxury - 2006 Scion TC
  By Sitnspin4lfe - May 25 - 7:06 pm

  I love my Scion tC. Its reliable and affordable. You cant go wrong with this car. There is so much you can to to it as well. It looks mostly like a girlie car though. Guys just dont look right in one of these. Replace the tiers. I blew one out and it set me back about $250.

• 

  Happy with My Tc - 2006 Scion TC
  By DAD - May 23 - 5:50 pm

  This car is just plain fun to drive, I have had it for about six months and now even my wife (who swears by her F-350 diesel) likes driving it. The car handles very well and while it isnt race ready it moves very well. I am not sure I would buy this in an automatic but I sure like the 5-speed. The sound system is good and there are a lot of nice features. More importantly, there are very few options - the car came with everything I wanted and more.

• 

  Good things come in small packages - 2004 Scion XB
  By Taro - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Tons of room for a small car. Great 2nd. car or great for a first time driver. The options for this car is endless.