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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  Best auto move ever - 2008 Scion XD
  By chad Reznicek - September 29 - 10:40 am

  Traded in a 2004 4 runner due to fuel costs. Looked at the matrix but couldnt figure out what we were actually getting for the cost. My wife test drove both and loved the Xd. The test drive combined with all the standard options and the price of the Xd made it a no brainer for us over the matrix. We enjoy driving it, its no sports car but the power to MPG factor is better than expected. At 6 feet tall, I find it just a bit short on leg room but overall very comfortable. The bottom line is that for a great price we have a highly fuel efficient vehicle that looks good, is fun to drive, and loaded with creature comforts. Hated to give up the 4 runner but love what we got in return.

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  scion tc a wonderful car - 2005 Scion TC
  By sciontc05 - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the greatest car for the money and the best part is that aftermarket companies are really looking at this car for kool things to do to it. great car

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  How can they do this - 2005 Scion TC
  By sstaszak11 - September 28 - 3:16 am

  I still cant figure out how you can get all of this car for around 17,000. It has the look and feel of a luxury car with power everything. The panorama moonroof is a great feature. Ive read some complaints about road noise and/or engine noise at higher speeds, and maybe Im just used to the sounds of my old Saturn, but this car seems extremely quiet to me. I made it a point to drive with the radio off to see if I could pick up any noise. Nothing. I cannot stress how much I recommend this car

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  Big on the Inside - 2005 Scion xA
  By Doug - September 26 - 3:10 pm

  After 13 years of very reliable service my Tercel bit the dust so I went to my Toyota dealer to look at the Corolla. I need something to get me to work and back and pick up two kids with car seats from day care. The salesman recommended that I look at the Scion xA since I had a Tercel. I assumed it would be too small for the car seats but I was wrong. They fit in the back seat easily. The hatchback design makes for enough room in the back to store a fair amount of stuff. The car is very fun to drive. The milage is great. Aside from the few suggested improvements listed below the car is awesome for the price and I am very, very happy I bought a Scion XA.

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  Fun, Fun, fun - 2005 Scion XB
  By minihummer - September 19 - 5:40 am

  Got the box less than a month ago. Traded the Cadillac for this fun economical vehicle. Gas mileage is great, comfort is surprisingly good. The body style is love or hate-I love it. Took it in the curves and it did remarkably well and had the power ratio to climb the hills. Put on the low profile tires and wheels which made a huge difference in its look. The people at Maita were very accomodating. Had the lights put in under the dash which makes one feel young when driving. I like it more everytime I drive it. I would recommend the car to any age group, not just the young. The more goodies you put on to make it unique-the better.

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  Excellent Car for the Cost. - 2005 Scion TC
  By Josh - September 16 - 4:50 pm

  The Scion TC comes absolutely loaded with features you would have to pay a premium for on other cars: 17" wheels, ABS brakes, power windows/door locks, and panoramic sunroof to name a few. Although all of these features make this car rather heavy, it still has plenty of "get-up-and-go" for cars in this price range. The tC is fun to drive around town and is plenty comfortable on long trips. Build quality is solid. You can buy a tC with confidence, knowing that it is built by Toyota.

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  I love my car!! - 2005 Scion TC
  By joyous_knoxville - September 10 - 6:43 am

  I bought my scion in September and love riding it around the hills of Knoxville. Its such a smooth little speed dragon! I would recommend this car to anyone who wants performance with reliability.

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  Good little car - 2006 Scion TC
  By Jim H - Longwood FL - September 9 - 8:10 pm

  I have had this car now for about 8 months, and it was a change going from a Camry to the tC. The car has good take off, and I have had no problem with the handling. It is a fun little car to drive.

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  First New Car - 2008 Scion TC
  By Bill Brasky - September 9 - 7:16 am

  This is my first new car purchase. After looking for a quality sporty 2-door car. It was a easy decision after comparing the features, quality, performance, and price. Once you add the features the tC has to a car like a Civic, or Tiberon the tC is a much better value. One of the nicest things about buying this car is that the Scion dealerships do not add any unnecessary features, you get to choose was added features when you buy the car. They just give you a well appointed blank canvass to have fun expressing yourself with. My Scion dealership even drove over 300 miles to get the color car I wanted and in a short amount of time. Plus this car looks really cool and is fun to drive.

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  Great Car - 2005 Scion xA
  By xa_lover - September 8 - 10:40 am

  I have loved this car since I first saw it. It is very customizable and looks great in the inside. The problem is the back is a little too small. Also, it doesnt have cruise control. I would love a moonroof or maybe a convertible top. Other than that, its very economical and fun to drive.