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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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 used car ever purchased! - 2006 Scion xA
  By jiminy - September 7 - 11:56 pm

  Toyota Quality! Fun to drive. A little tight at times, but excellent performance for the price. No major concerns.

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  I LOVE IT - 2004 Scion XB
  By leopardpixie - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE IT. IT SO ROOMY. EVEN THE LARGEST OR TALLEST OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE.

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  Car for all ages - 2005 Scion xA
  By OLD DADDY - September 1 - 9:13 pm

  We now have about 8,000 miles on our Scion xa. We purchased it to compliment two other vehicles and to save money on gas. Boy was I wrong. This car does, as advertised, save lots on cost of gas but it is fun to drive. We have three vehicles and the first person out the door in the morning always goes for the Scion. It is a great car, great investment, and a good decision. By the way, I am not a member of Generation X, I am 60+. Thanks Toyota. Geezers like a bargain too.

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  Awesome car..competition cant come close - 2008 Scion TC
  By CaptainJJg29 - September 1 - 3:36 pm

  I am a very satisfied new owner of the 2008 Scion TC. To start, I looked at several competitors before deciding on the Scion and found for the money, the scion could not be beat. I made several modifications to the car, but still kept it at a better price point than the others. It is very fun to drive with a great sporty look while maintaining great gas mileage. Well worth it with the 2008 changes. In each case, its a great new upgrade!

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  xB Experience - 2006 Scion XB
  By tree - August 30 - 7:00 pm

  As a commuter vehicle this is the best vehicle I have found. I am above average in size and needed a vehicle with the best overall fuel economy. I averaged 33 mpg overall with this car. I drove it daily back and forth 50 miles per day to work. I would be driving it now however my employer provided me with a company car. It was low cost to maintain and on fuel. It is nice looking vehicle for a box and served the purpose it was purchased for. I would highly recommend the xB to anyone looking for a low cost, reliable, fuel efficient vehicle. If they happen to be 69" tall they can drive in comfort also.

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  my black cherry Scion xB - 2004 Scion XB
  By Boowitch - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for 2 months & love it.

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  STAN FROM PHILLY - 2004 Scion XB
  By STAN WLAS - August 28 - 10:00 am

  IF YOUR USE TO A MINI VAN THIS CAR WILL SURPRISE YOU I`M 6FT 4 & 250 LBS AND THE INTERIOR ROOM IS AMAZING ALL THE COMFORT OF A MINI VAN BUT SMALLER WITH FANTASTIC GAS MILAGE AND THE PRICE THE DASHBOARD SCEME IS GREAT EEVERYTHING IS AFINGE TOUCH AWAY AND RIGHT IN YOUR LINE OF VISION THE BODY DEIGN IS UNUSUAL BUT THE POTENTIAL TO CUSTOM IT LEAVES NO LIMITS IVE DRIVIN FOR 30 YEARS AND IT`S IMPRESED ME TO NO END

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  Love this car - 2010 Scion XD
  By navigatorgal - August 28 - 5:14 am

  Bought this new 8/10 and after all these months, I still love driving it. I get 30 MPG in the city if I dont drive like Mario Andretti. I put a nav system and heated leather seats in before I picked it up, and it is great. You can park where no SUV can park, can zip in and out of bus traffic with ease. Highly recommend this car for city driving!

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  Makes sense - 2006 Scion XB
  By phyzxtchr - August 28 - 3:43 am

  Very few cars available on the USA market make sense at any level. The original Scion xB (example 2006)is such a car. I check the mileage at every fill up. Worst ever, 33. Best ever, 35. The 2006 is light weight (good) small engine (good) and cheap (great). I drive the 5-speed. Owners with the automatic have themselves to blame. The xB proves that "It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow." I go past everyone in my xB and they have twice the engine, they just drive like slugs because they bought big hoggish cars and they are disgusted with the driving experience. Dont add weight, horsepower, or engine size! Too late, the newest xB did all three. Whoops! USA marketing!

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  great - 2005 Scion XB
  By aron - August 27 - 2:53 pm

  this is a really good car, and it looks good while I am driving it. Awesome!