Here’s how Scion was much more than a Toyota for young people

In this episode I provide the history of Scion, a sub-brand of Toyota which was first launched in the U.S. in 2003, and would later also be sold in Canada by 2010. Scion cars were marketed exclusively to young people, and Toyota also launched Scion AV, which produced music and videos, and organized rock concerts around the country to help promote the brand. Starting with the xA and xB, the latter being one of the most oddly cool vehicles ever, they later expanded with the tC and xD, the tiny city car iQ, and the rear-drive sports car FR-S. After peaking in sales in 2006, the sales dropped every year after that, leading to Toyota to end Scion by 2016.

[Planag]

I appreciate the mention of the echo before going into the Scions. Parts are basically the same for a while and actually use those a lot and junk yards when I do need things for my echo. Still keeping that 550, 000 mile baby

[nutandboltguy]

I bought a used 2010 xB and liked the car, other than the toaster jokes. I don’t see many xA or xB around. I still see the TC. When I had my xB, I noticed more retired people were driving them than young people in their 20’s, which it was marketed for. I think old people liked them because the xB was cheap, easy to drive, easy to get in and out of, and it was a reliable Toyota.

[sammyspeed]

Miss the Scion. I actually was in the Salesmen training brochure as Gen X, the customer they were targeting and one of the few that was lucky enough to to be invited to all the biggest and best shows as an ambassador of the brand. Thank you for giving the Scion brand justice.

[jlcii]

Also fun fact, the Toyota C-HR crossover Coupe was supposed to be the Scion C-HR, but the brand went out of business before Toyota could launch it as a Scion

[uscars]

Fun fact: the XB was a Japanese interpretation of an Chevy Astro van - on the domestic market, because the Astro/Safari vans are cult in Japan.

[BananaWagon]

Long time Scion owner since 2004 here and I can help shed some light into some holes.

- Late 2003 California got the xA and xB while the East coast got the xA and xB in early 2004. The Midwest finally got them in late 2004.
- Due to the “pure price” aspect, when we bought our first xB in May of 2004, we couldn’t get a salesperson to give us a look. In the beginning Toyota salespeople didn’t want to touch them because they were only able to make a certain amount and can’t upsell. So we got a young guy that was fantastic but it was so obvious the “older salespeople” wanted nothing to do with Scion.
- Scion used to have stellar events for their owners. Huge shows at big stadiums and cruises through major cities. Specific sections of shows like HIN too. You’d have to apply with your car for smaller shows but the big ones drew people from all over. It was really a great community back in the day.
- Originally Scion claimed they were only going to use model names for a model cycle and then drop them for all new models as time progressed. Which is why the xA became the xD. Buuuut Scion changed their mind with the strong sales of the original xB. They also did this with the tC by keeping around way longer and keeping the name into the tC2.
- When the second gen xB was introduced, we all called them xB2’s and within the community they are still known as that.
- The original xA and xB were basically Toyota Echos and Yaris’ as they shared soooo many parts, including the 1NZFE engines.
- The second gen bB, which is what the xB is in Japan, would have been the perfect successor for the first gen xB. But it never happened and we got the xB 2 instead.
- The xD was more Corolla than it was Yaris.

My personal take is Scion could have stayed around a long time if it stuck to the quirky city cars. But they went after bigger fish and those fish didn’t bite. The weirdos build brand loyalty while the masses jump from ship to ship.

Many xB owners are still around. I’ve had my OG xB RS2.0 (the yellow one) since April of 2005 and am about to buy my third to start preserving these cars. Many OG xBs are recognizable within the community.

[alexsaffamerica]

Fun fact: The Toyota C-HR was almost gonna be a Scion C-HR.

[brandtseyfert]

The company I work for uses purple scion xb's as company cars. The lowest mileage one we have is 240, 000 miles. Highest mileage is over 300, 000 (don't know the exact number).

[sixerjosh]

I was running a tire shop in the late 90’s and one of my customers was a Toyota dealership. When they got Scions on their lot to sell, we did all sorts of customs to them. Shortly after, they did all the customizing at the dealership. They really angled towards those Honda owners. Another great choice of topics by this channel. I’ll watch this at least three times. So good!!

[johahnz]

I had a white 08 xb. It was the best new car that I ever purchased. My friends always called it the "fridge" so I put a Frigidaire decal across the rear bumper. I loved that car and people's reaction when they noticed the decal. Thanks for the video and memories.

[nathanjoseph]

I love this channel! Because you talk about cars which don't have much time under the spotlight that not many other YouTube channels do. I look forward to every video you put out, and keep up the great work!

[alecrusso]

I drive my 2012 tC to this day! Very reliable, fairly quick, and the stock sound system sounds great

[TEDdotcom]

I still have my minty 2014 Scion tC Monogram Series.
It’s rare, sporty, my daily driver, and I love it.

[KTJohnsonkidThunder]

I loved Scion. Such a shame the brand was discontinued.

[FunkatronicDingus]

Still rocking a tC2 here. Still going strong at 148k, got it at 67k in 2017. All it's needed besides oil changes were a couple of wheel bearings and brake calipers since I live in road salt country. Hoping to upgrade sometime soon, but with the current state of the market I'll just have to wait a bit longer. Till then I'll still proudly rock a Scion.
I still see xB, an occasional xA, and tCs riding around likely also still on stock trans fluid, stock struts, stock everything. These things are darn near bulletproof.

[mysticmelody]

I’m in Colorado and the Scion xB, which for having a Corolla and a Camry engine depending on 1st or 2nd gen, is ridiculously reliable. And there is SO MANY scions in Colorado still. Constantly see them. Makes me jealous.

[weaponizedautism]

I bought an 06 xb. It is my favorite car I’ve ever had. I treated it terribly. I pulled a zero turn mower on a trailer behind it every day pretty much for two years. Hit two deer. Still running and driving today. I took ALL the scion branding off it and put nice Ford logos on it. People asked constantly what kind of Ford it was. I would tell them it was a Ford FlexB. Half the people believed me. I also mounted a expensive full width led light bar on the roof and a ladder rack. 18” wheels with wide tires and it would corner like crazy. Wouldn’t want one with an automatic though. Not a lot of power as it is and an automatic would kill it. Never would be able to tow with an automatic.

[valeriazaragoza]

I remember in 2003 buying my first ever new car, it was a dead heat between the xA, xB, and Saturn Ion.

Went with the Ion and loved it, was an amazing car that lasted a decade without a single issue—but I also really liked Scion and sort of regretted not buying one.

[imnollii]

the xB's are actually relatively popular in the mn twin cities! i see both 1st and 2nd gens just about daily! and oddly enough, iQ's aren't the rarest sight here either!

[FearlessConservative]

Had a TC, loved it. My first car was a used stick shift 1989 Ford Taurus SHO with the Yamaha engine. Wish I still had it