Scion was Toyota’s daring experiment to capture Generation Y. By importing quirky JDM designs and enforcing a "Pure Price" no-haggle policy, Scion became the darling of the tuner scene. From the iconic boxy xB to the drift-happy FR-S, Scion brought customization culture to the masses before merging back into the Toyota mothership.
Explore the current production vehicles.
The car that brought pure, affordable, rear-wheel-drive fun back to the masses. A joint project with Subaru, the FR-S was a lightweight, perfectly balanced masterpiece designed for the true driving enthusiast. A future legend and a tuner's dream.
The icon. The box. The car that started it all. The original xB was a Japanese-market sensation that became a cult classic in America, a rolling statement of individuality. It was a blank canvas for customization and the undisputed soul of the Scion brand.
The stylish and sporty liftback coupe that was the brand's best-seller. The tC offered a powerful-for-its-class engine, a massive panoramic moonroof, and incredible value, making it the smart, fun, and practical choice for a generation of young buyers.
One of the original pioneers of the Scion brand. The xA was a conventional but quirky and incredibly reliable subcompact hatchback, offering a funky, urban-focused alternative to mainstream economy cars. It was the sensible-but-fun choice.
The bulldog-like successor to the xA. The xD was a more powerful and substantial subcompact hatchback with a tough, chunky design. It offered a surprising amount of interior space and a host of customization options for a personalized ride.
A Scion with the soul of a Mazda. The iA was a rebadged Mazda2, a critically acclaimed subcompact sedan known for its premium interior and incredibly fun-to-drive chassis. For one year, it was arguably the best-handling car in its class.
The sporty and sophisticated compact hatchback. Based on the international Toyota Auris, the iM was a well-equipped and stylish 5-door that offered a more mature and refined experience, signaling the brand's evolution in its final year of production.
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In the early 2000s, Toyota had a problem: Their buyers were getting old. The average Toyota owner was nearing retirement age. To fix this, they created Scion. It was a "laboratory brand" designed specifically for younger buyers who wouldn't be caught dead in a Corolla.
Scion operated differently. They used "Pure Price" (no haggling), sold cars in "mono-spec" (one trim level, you just pick the color and transmission), and treated dealerships like record stores. It was a revolution in car buying.
The car that put Scion on the map was the xB (specifically the 2004-2006 first generation). It was literally a box on wheels. Imported straight from Japan (where it was known as the Toyota bB), it looked like nothing else on American roads.
People called it the "Toaster."
While the xB got the attention, the Scion tC paid the bills. It was a sleek, affordable coupe built on the Avensis chassis. It came standard with a panoramic glass roof (rare for the price) and a torquey 2.4L engine. It was the perfect first car for a college student who wanted something sporty but needed Toyota reliability.
In 2012, Scion dropped the mic. In collaboration with Subaru, they released the FR-S (known elsewhere as the Toyota GT86 or Subaru BRZ).
By 2016, Scionâs job was done. Toyota had become "cool" again (thanks to cars like the Scion FR-S proving they could do it). The youth market had shifted from modifying hatchbacks to buying crossovers. Toyota decided to absorb the brand. The FR-S became the Toyota 86, the iA became the Yaris iA, and the Scion badge retired to the history books.
Scion was a massive success masquerading as a failure. It taught a conservative giant like Toyota how to take risks. A first-generation xB is a JDM design icon, and the FR-S is a future classic. Scion proved that cheap cars didn't have to be boring.
Scion was discontinued in 2016 because it had accomplished its mission. Launched in 2003 to attract younger buyers to the Toyota family, it succeeded in lowering the average age of customers.
However, as consumer tastes shifted towards SUVs and the younger demographic became less interested in "tuner" culture, Toyota decided to absorb the best-selling models (FR-S, iA, iM) back into the main Toyota lineup rather than maintaining a separate dealer network.
Yes. The Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota 86 are mechanically identical "triplets" developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru.
When Scion was shut down in 2016, the FR-S was simply rebadged as the Toyota 86 for the 2017 model year. Used buyers should look for the Scion version if they want the same rear-wheel-drive sports car performance often at a lower price point.
Absolutely. Scion vehicles are 100% Toyota underneath.
Models like the tC and xB use legendary engines like the 2.4L (2AZ-FE) and 2.5L (2AR-FE) found in the Toyota Camry and RAV4. Because they share parts with high-volume Toyota models, they offer the same bulletproof reliability and low maintenance costs, making them excellent choices for first-time car buyers.
Pure Price was Scion's revolutionary "no-haggle" sales policy.
The price you saw on the sticker was the price you paid. Dealers were not allowed to add markups or negotiate. This transparency was designed to appeal to younger buyers who despised the traditional, high-pressure car dealership negotiation process.
Yes. The Scion iA (later the Toyota Yaris iA) is essentially a rebadged Mazda 2 Sedan.
It was built by Mazda in Mexico. This explains why the interior, infotainment system, and driving dynamics feel distinctly "Zoom-Zoom" rather than Toyota-like. It is widely considered one of the best subcompact cars of its era due to this Mazda engineering DNA.
The Release Series (RS) were limited-edition production runs released periodically for each model (tC, xB, xD).
Each RS featured a unique, loud exterior paint color (like "Hot Lava" orange or "Envy Green"), a numbered interior badge, and special aftermarket accessories like Kenwood audio systems or aggressive body kits, targeting the collector and tuner market.
The first-generation Scion xB (2004-2006) is a cult classic. Known as the "Toaster," it was based on the Japanese market Toyota bB.
Its boxy shape offered incredible interior volume relative to its small footprint. It became an icon of the aftermarket scene, with owners lowering them, adding neon lights, and customizing them extensively, which was exactly what Scion wanted.
Yes. Since the day Scion launched, service has always been handled by Toyota dealerships.
Even though the brand is defunct, parts availability is excellent because most components are shared with Corollas, Camrys, and Yaris models. Any Toyota technician is fully trained to work on any Scion vehicle.
The Scion tC was the brand's dedicated coupe. It was powered by torque-heavy 4-cylinder engines:
Unlike the high-revving Honda Civic Si, the tC was tuned for low-end torque, making it a relaxed and punchy daily driver.
The word "Scion" means a "descendant" or "heir" of a notable family.
The name was chosen to signify that the brand was the offspring of the Toyota family, inheriting its quality and engineering while forging a new, independent path for a new generation of drivers.