What's Our Favorite Scion?
CARS.COM — When Toyota unveiled its Scion brand more than a decade ago, out-of-the-box models such as the xB and the tC were a hit with both the brand’s targeted young, urban demographic and mainstream buyers. Years marked by a stale lineup and flagging sales, however, have dulled the shine on this once bright brand, leading Toyota to plug the plug.
Related: Scion is Toast: What It Means to Owners and Shoppers
Will we miss Scion? Well, it’s complicated. Cars.com’s editors weigh in on the brand’s hits and misses below.
Jennifer Geiger, Assistant Managing Editor
Favorite: The iA’s styling leaves something to be desired, but under that gaping fish face is a pleasant little car with nimble handling, class-leading fuel economy and impressive safety features.
Least favorite: Pricey, cramped and not that great on gas, the Scion iQ made no sense.
Mike Hanley, Senior Research Editor
Favorite: The Scion FR-S is a great-handling car that’s fun to drive even when you’re doing things that aren’t fun, like running errands.
Least favorite: The Scion iQ required that you sacrifice a lot of space without great gas mileage in return.
Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor
Favorite: The iA. Yes, it’s a rebadged Mazda, but it’s exactly what today’s teen drivers need: nimble handling, affordable pricing and standard safety technology that’s optional on cars that cost two or three times more. Glad to see Toyota hang onto this one.
Least favorite: The second-gen tC. Scion took a high-quality coupe in the first-gen tC and eviscerated its cabin to become low-budget plastic hell, with a choppy suspension and uninspired styling to boot.
Fred Meier, D.C. Bureau Chief
Favorite: The original xB (preferably the bright yellow) is my favorite for purity of execution: shamelessly practical for the city, yet with distinctive (and very Japanese) style — and fun to throw around.
Least favorite: The iQ is the dog — the name itself was a vain attempt to convince buyers they hadn’t just done something really dumb.
Jennifer Newman, Managing Editor
Favorite: The FR-S is hands-down the best that Scion had to offer, especially when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. The 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes a burbling sound that makes even the most mundane commute something to look forward to. Cars.com’s editors liked the FR-S so much that we named it, and its corporate twin the Subaru BRZ, our Best of 2013.
Least favorite: After its 2014 redesign, the tC landed on my list of least-favorite cars. Its bland exterior hid a downright cheap interior with uncomfortable seats and a slapped-together center stack.
Brian Wong, L.A. Bureau Chief
Favorite: Since day one, it’s always been the Scion xB which had funky styling, practicality and affordability in a unique package that gave the new brand some legs to stand on at launch.
Least favorite: The ironically named iQ, which tried to be “smart” but ended up being silly instead.
