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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  A whole lotta car for the bucks... - 2009 Scion XB
  By Great family car! - August 10 - 12:23 am

  Owned this little dickens nearly 2 weeks..We love it!Mpg is around 24-26 in a 50-50 mix..It likes to scoot. We love the deep burgundy color. Hope to add wheels and spoiler at a later date.Traded a Highlander with 135,000 miles. Hope the Scion is nearly as good to us..This is affordable and fun..Give it a shot! Big Camry motor.

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  excellent - 2005 Scion TC
  By fernanda labree - August 4 - 4:36 am

  I just purchased the scion 3 weeks ago, and so far its fun to drive, very safe, performance its excellent and i love the looks of it.

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  xB Amazing vehicle - 2004 Scion XB
  By rickoo - August 3 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a xB and I must say, it is so FUN to drive. I added the entrie TRD package to it and almost every option available to it and it was still under 20k. It has very good pickup for just a 1.5ltr engine which surprised me. It handles very well and very tight too. RIde is a tad ruff, but I expected that when I ordered the 19" 35s. Plenty of space for my BUG friends and stuff i move around. This car will be the HUGE hit for 2004 guaranteed.

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  Awesome car! - 2007 Scion TC
  By kellyen - July 30 - 11:32 am

  Honestly, if you are thinking about getting this car, get it. I had it for 4 years, been through 4 accidents, then it finally got totaled last week when some woman on drugs hit me on the highway. The first response people thought I was dead or badly injured. I walked out w/o a scratch. The car took all of the damage. This car is VERY safe and Id recommend it to anyone. I just bought a 2009 Scion tC to replace it because I liked the 07 so much. **I would not recommend this car to a tall person. Im 54" and the car was perfect for me, but my taller friends were a little uncomfortable.**

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  Awesome Car, two notes - 2005 Scion TC
  By Glenn M. Rife - July 30 - 10:13 am

  Ive had my tC since November and have racked up the miles. Its performed wonderfully, was a huge bargain, and continues to delight. Two notes: some folks complain about the "cheap" sunroof shades. Hello! Theyre retractable/roll-up fabric b/c youre getting TWO sunroofs! Also, some say the exterior resembles a Tiburon crossed with a BMW. I urge folks to compare the rear profile of the tC with that of its predecessor, the celica. Its similar, at least to my eyes, though beefier!

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  Great car - 2010 Scion XD
  By Frank - July 28 - 4:43 pm

  I have 5000 miles on my 2010 Scion XD and its a great car, it can handle 4 large people with ease, I am getting average fuel mileage(city and highway) of 39.5 and it handles cargo like a pro, I have been able to fit all the equipment for my job into this vehicle that I was using a Plymouth grand voyager for. Its fun to drive, has great performance, and its cornering is great like little or no body roll and very tight steering control. It gives me great confidence that I can maneuver it in any situation that arises with safety. So far nothing has gone wrong, car works perfectly.

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  Scion XB - 2004 Scion XB
  By Brent Neil - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Really a fun car.

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  Gas Efficient and Spacious Cargo - 2006 Scion xA
  By JGU - July 20 - 1:30 am

  I cant believe that I could fit my dining table in this car. Its just a good buy! Very large cargo space. Its gas efficient.

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  best car for the dollar - 2005 Scion TC
  By malk - July 18 - 2:06 pm

  This is by far the most fun car Ive ever driven. The 160hp is more than ample power to handle everyday driving, not to mention beating Civics off the line. The center console is beautifully designed and well crafted without any dials that clash with the rest of the car, which is also with high quality materials. And with a laundry list of options, and aftermarket tuner parts by TRD and AEM, the fun with this car never stops. My only complaints are the blindspot in the driver side rear window and the gearshift. The shifter is loose. At a quick glance, first gear can look like third gear. A sinxth gear would be nice too. The engine revs a bit high travelling at highway speed.

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  I Love It - 2004 Scion XB
  By Beth karch - July 16 - 7:10 am

  I have had my xB for one and a half years. It still seems new to me, nothing is breaking or malfunctioning. The interior still looks new with little up keep. I have owned many models and makes of cars. My xB and a Mazda Miata are the best cars I have ever owned.