Overview & Reviews

Inspired in spirit by the Toyota Corolla GT-S sport coupe of the mid-'80s, the Scion FR-S is something that hasn't been seen in ages in new car showrooms: an affordable, no-frills sport coupe.

Compact and light, the FR-S is considerably shorter in length and some 600 pounds lighter than other modern sport coupes. In addition to its impressive lack of extraneous mass, this sporting Scion has everything that driving enthusiasts hold dear, such as rear-wheel drive, a spirited engine, an agile chassis and a simple, ergonomically sound cockpit. Well-received by critics and consumers alike, the Scion FR-S will no doubt be a future classic for the latest generation of driving enthusiasts.

Current Scion FR-S
The Scion FR-S is a rear-wheel-drive sport coupe. It's similar to the Subaru BRZ, as the two cars were co-developed by Subaru and Toyota. As such, they share a platform, powertrain and most exterior and interior components. They differ only in terms of minor styling details and feature content.

Available in a single trim level, the FR-S comes fairly well equipped. Standard feature highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a six-way (manual) driver seat, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and an eight-speaker sound system with iPod integration and a touchscreen interface. There are no factory options available, but Scion offers a number of dealer-installed accessories. These include audio system upgrades, different wheels and performance engine and suspension parts.

For power, the Scion FR-S relies on a horizontally opposed, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Power flows to the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The FR-S has a simply styled cabin that will seem a bit plain compared to some other sporty cars, but it is functional and without gimmicks. A pair of aggressively bolstered buckets holds pilot and co-pilot secure during spirited runs. There's a backseat, but as this car is what is classically known as a "2+2," it's really only suitable for children or cargo. Another downside is a significant amount of road noise, especially when traveling on the highway.

Let loose on a curvy road, the new Scion FR-S shows its engaging character. Acceleration is brisk enough provided you keep the revs up, while the communicative steering, agile-yet-forgiving handling and powerful brakes all contribute to an entertaining drive. For novice and expert drivers alike, this Scion is thoroughly rewarding to drive and proves that there's more to a true sports car than all-out power and speed.

Used Scion FR-S Models
The Scion FR-S was introduced for 2013. Apart from lacking a standard touchscreen audio system and additional padding on the door panels and console sides, this FR-S is identical to today's version.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 11.00

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  Nice Little Car, Lots of Power - 2014 Scion FR-S
  By Pete Wilson - April 22 - 12:10 pm

  This is a fun little car to drive.

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  So Fun Firestorm Red - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By jlennox - November 6 - 4:05 am

  If you love to drive and your not carrying more than a passenger next to you then this is a superb handling ride at a great price. I could not get out of this car the first two days of ownership. Limited availability but if you find one you like and arent so concerned about color then buy it. They go fast out the door. I traded my lumbering gas guzzler Tacoma 4X4 and dont have any regrets. took two trips. One to Tucson from Phoenix mostly highway some city and got 33.4 mpg. Then on the second day I got 35.5 mostly highway with a/c on the whole time. Thats better than my Yaris! I suppose the aerodynamics help. The seats a snug but comfortable. The pioneer stereo cranks.

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  A real Gem - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By pukalady - August 25 - 11:54 am

  I owned a 2006 Scion TC that I bought in 2007. Loved that car and was searching the internet for more two door cars and the 2013 Scion FR-S came up and I was hooked. I went to my Scion dealer here in Kahului on Maui , Hawaii on May 25th . They told me the car would debut on June 1. I had to wait a week! June 1st, 2012 back to the dealer I went and three hours later I drove out with the "whiteout" color (not a good name for the color, its a real pearl oyster white). I use ethanol free gas right now and get 35 mpg. I just love the way it "gets out of the way" of everyone else . I did get the automatic and wont be using the snow mode. And by the way Im 67 yrs. old and LOVE my car

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  So Far Great - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By oceaneer77 - November 15 - 9:24 pm

  I had for a very long time an old porsche 928 s4. It was a amazing car, and I thrashed the crap out of it. It died a terrible death... The new Scion replaced it. The Sion is not nearly as fast, nor as flashy. But it is WAAAAY more fun. At every red light the little 4 gives it a mighty big BRAAAPPPP and off we go. The shift points are just pure joy. This is not a car that will set a new land speed record, or corner at speeds that make your brains turn to mush. BUT----It is a very fun car that is amazingly responsive. It puts a smile on your face driving in city traffic as its sure is a little street fighter. Its great on the highway and its MPG is amazing. The car has a real soul.

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  My second FRS - 2016 Scion FR-S
  By Ish G. - November 20 - 8:48 pm

  Great car, fast look good and gets lots of compliments.

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  Overall very disappointing - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By garrett2000 - September 27 - 4:57 pm

  I have the 6 speed manual. There are 2 main problems with the car, the first being the severe lack of power. Scion claims this car has 200 HP, I beg to differ, its lucky if it has 150. The acceleration is absolutely terrible, and the hesitation off the line makes the situation even worse. However, once its in 3rd gear or later, it does get a little better. The other thing that bothers me about the car is the transmission grinds when shifting from 1st to 2nd, and from 2nd to 3rd. It doesnt happen every time, but happens enough to be severely annoying. The only redeeming quality of the car is the styling. It looks like a sports car, but thats where the similarity ends.

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  Get it if you want to be actively involved in driving. - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By eperris - January 20 - 12:26 pm

  The FR-S rewards focused driving. Though it is easy to drive at low speeds and in the city, it really comes alive when you push it along windy roads and at high speed. It is simply the most solid, capable car I have ever driven. If you just want to look good, accelerate quickly and tour around - this isnt the car for you. I also like its small environmental footprint and ultra-sophisticated engineering where it counts. This car has a bleeding edge fuel system, a high performance, but ultra-reliable engine and Toyota/Subaru quality. It is small and lightweight. If you drive thoughtfully, the mileage is about 26 City and 36 highway - much higher than EPAs estimate.

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  Amazing Car For the Money - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By rudycassap - January 4 - 6:31 am

  Lucky for us, Toyota put this under the Scion brand so dealers cannot mark it up. I live in the Los Angeles area and cars still disappear from some dealers lots in a matter of a day or two. I did accept the fact that the dealer installed Lojack. Got mine in Asphalt Black (dark grey metallic, really) with the rear wing and TRD exhaust installed from the factory. I had test driven a car with the stock exhaust. While the TRD exhaust has a beautiful note, it makes it difficult to have a conversation with a passenger. Still, I would take the exhaust over stock. Seats are supportive and instrument gauges are perfect (very much like Porsche). Car reminds me of a Lotus - light, small, minimalist.

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  Easily one of the best cars for the money! - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By ehosch - February 11 - 4:55 am

  I was looking for a fun sporty car as my daily driver and after doing my research I decided to test drive the FR-S. It is the perfect car for me (Im 23) it is fun, fast, and so far reliable. The gas milage is also pretty good. I just have two complaints the first one is that I wish there were volume controls on the steering wheel the second is I wish it was called the Toyota 86 (like the rest of the world) but other than those two things I love the car and would reccomend it to anyone!

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  Best Drivers Car - 2013 Scion FR-S
  By worldrally17 - May 13 - 3:48 pm

  Dont listen to everybody who berates this car. Those are the people who dont understand its purpose. After 10,000 miles through 6 states and Canada, I can tell you this car is great in every single circumstance. City, highway, straight road, twisty road, road course, etc. I can get 34mpg on the highway, and average 31mpg even with some autocrosses and track days sprinkled in. You can fit a 6 person in the back as long as the front passenger is willing to give up some leg room. I honestly test drove every single new car with a manual transmission under $25k and this was by far my favorite.