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 The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor.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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  These are going to sell. - 2005 Scion TC
  By jgill17 - March 25 - 8:53 pm

  Ive had my TC for a little over 3 months and Im very happy with it so far. Very fun to drive, nice acceleration and good handling. For the price there is not a better all around car out there. Gas milage is reasonable depending on your driving style, Im avging 26mpg. Not having to pay for premium helps balance that. I have read some complaints about highway noise but I think the TC is queiter than my 96 Accord EX was. Im very happy with the build quality. Back seats actually fit adults comfortably. Warning this car wants to run on the highway. at 80mph rpms are around 4K so it might benefit from a higher final drive ratio. Overall I am very happy with my purchase.

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  The Little Box Can Hang - 2008 Scion XB
  By AZ xB - March 22 - 2:10 am

  This car feels big, but drives small. The xB covers the fundamentals very well for an inexpensive car. There is enough room behind the rear seats for regular stuff and a ton of room with the seats folded for big stuff. The base stereo sounds really decent, which was a concern because head units are not installed until after you buy the vehicle. Power is good. I have yet to find myself wishing for more. Shifts can be a little chunky, between first and second especially, but itÂ’s not too bad. Manumatic will probably go wholly unused. Overall, the pros of this vehicle dwarf the cons and I would say to anyone that the xB is worth a look, even if youÂ’re shopping the small SUV market.

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  Buy an xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By xb boy - March 14 - 4:13 am

  Ive had my Scion xB for a year and would buy another one tommorrow. I love how you can fold the front seats back take off the head rests and it meets with the back seat to make a bed. This car is great for travel.

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  For GrandPas too - 2005 Scion XB
  By BobV - March 10 - 5:20 am

  I took the 5-speed xB for a test and found a little slack in the drive line, but being 72 now I figured I would be better off with the auto anyway, which is very smooth. I have always liked the "different" car, I owned several "Borgwards". But this box is surely my furthest venture from sanity. But since it is my bliss that matters...I dont have a problem using the cup holders that have been baded, better than most of the "in dash" type I have used. The speedo and info center took 5 minutes to get used to...Now I love it. Got 33.6 mpg on my first tank. 2/3 on Interstate 1/3 in town.

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  Fun as Heck! - 2006 Scion TC
  By madman - March 10 - 2:10 am

  Driving my 2006 Scion tC is way more fun then driving my Volkswagen Jetta. Its as fast as heck. The 5-speed manual transmission gives you a rush of adrenaline. It has a stylish and supringlly roomy rear seat and stylish interior. This car is affordable and you can trick it out.

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  My Attention Magnet - 2004 Scion XB
  By RevRDavid - March 8 - 2:00 am

  What a great fun car. Traded the mini- van for something I can feel better about the gas mileage in. More than enough passenger room front and rear for 64" bodies. Get stopped everywhere with questions--WHAT IS IT?

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  Great car relative to competition - 2009 Scion XB
  By Love my xB - March 7 - 2:10 am

  Ive had this car for about a month now and Ive ran up about 1100 miles on it. Each time I take it out to drive I like it a little bit more and I loved it when I bought it. The xB isnt the fastest, sportiest, or most luxurious car Ive owned but its pretty fun to drive, it handles well, and it has a comfortable ride whether Ive been on road trips or just cruising around town. Its a nice balance in pretty much all fronts, which is surprising for a car this cheap. Also, the folks at Scion are a pleasure to deal with. Ive also noticed that a lot of people complain about the fuel economy of the xB but Ive found that Ive gotten between 28 to 33 mph, which isnt that bad.

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  Scion xB 101 - 2005 Scion XB
  By Charlie - March 6 - 5:36 am

  I just bought a Scion xB and it rules! They are more spacious than most SUVs and very cozy. The sound system is awesome, but the large inside consumes alot of sound. Wityh a not too impressive 150 watts i find myself wishing it could go louder. o well its a fun freaking car and...uhm well buy one theyre fun as shyt

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  I Love This Car! - 2007 Scion TC
  By Crystal - March 4 - 2:33 pm

  I love my new Scion tC. I was thinking about getting the xB but the more I looked at it the more it resembled a lunch box...so Im glad I opted for the better model. The tC is very roomy and comfortable, has good gas mileage, and a great sound system (I got the upgrade). I love the panoramic roof even though I have to rain-x the whole top of the car. I love the sporty design with the pedestal spoiler (a must, the car looks weird w/o it), and I can throw my massage table right in with no problem with the huge area of storage with the hatchback design. A++++

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  A tale of 2 Scions - 2004 Scion XB
  By marc scordato - March 3 - 9:20 am

  I have been waiting for someone to build a car that has more interior space then a camry yet costs less then a corrola.The scion xb is that car.I purchased one equiped with an automatic transmission for my wife.I was so impressed with this little cube car I just puchased a 5 speed for myself.The xb has a unique combination of virtues. No other vehical at this price point offers suv like interior volume, econocar fuel mileage, toyota reliability and a sport tuned suspension.