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Daily Debate: Is Scion Still Cool?

Daily Debate: Is Scion Still Cool?

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett June 24th, 2008

2008 Scion xB

2008 Scion xB

Enlarge Photo
This month's five-year anniversary of the Scion brand begs the question: Is Toyota's youth division too old to be cool?

When Scion was launched with the '04 xB and xA, they presaged a new generation of cheap-and-cheerful compacts to come. Everything from the Honda Fit to the Chevrolet Aveo owes Toyota a little debt for ratcheting down the race to get big, in terms of engines, bodies, and price tags. The boxy shape even managed to make an anti-car statement look like fun.

Now in year five, Scion's gears have been stripped a little. The second-generation vehicles, the 2008 xB and xD, haven't sold as well as the first range--and they've grown larger, less fuel-efficient, and less JDM (Japanese domestic market) in feel, which really strips them of their unique appeal. While still a huge hit, Scion's major wave has receded to a ripple while Ford preps a Fiesta and Dodge readies a Hornet that could crowd the segment even more.

Our gut reaction? Scion's salad days are over, but 100,000 of you each year will still ante up for Toyota's squared-off take on subcompacts each year. What's your take? Does Scion have the legs to run against the coming onslaught of Fits, Aveos, Fiestas, and Hornets? 2008 Scion xBEnlarge PhotoThis month's five-year anniversary of the Scion brand begs the question: Is Toyota's youth division too old to be cool? When Scion was launched with the '04 xB and xA, they presaged a new generation of cheap-and-cheerful compacts to come. Everything from the Honda Fit to the Chevrolet Aveo owes Toyota a little debt for ratcheting down the race to get big, in terms of engines, bodies, and price tags. The boxy shape even managed to make an anti-car statement look like fun. Now in year five, Scion's gears have been stripped a little. The second-generation vehicles, the 2008 xB and xD, haven't sold as well as the first range--and they've grown larger, less fuel-efficient, and less JDM (Japanese domestic market) in feel, which really strips them of their unique appeal. While still a huge hit, Scion's major wave has receded to a ripple while Ford preps a Fiesta and Dodge readies a Hornet that could crowd the segment even more. Our gut reaction? Scion's salad days are over, but 100,000 of you each year will still ante up for Toyota's squared-off take on subcompacts each year. What's your take? Does Scion have the legs to run against the coming onslaught of Fits, Aveos, Fiestas, and Hornets?

Posted in: 2011, Ford, Scion, Fiesta



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Responses (10 total)

  1. By Jack #1, Posted: 6/24/2008

    I had hoped to buy a Scion XB when I got a new vehicle.
    When they were coming out with a new version, I thought they might make it slightly larger, refined, and put the new 1.8 liter Corolla engine in it. Instead, they made it huge and put the 2.4 liter Camry engine in it and the fuel economy plunged.
    The XD, which does have the new 1.8 liter engine is not large enough in the cargo area. So now I'd probably go for the next generation Fit. The Kia Soul could be nice, but the Koreans need to work on their real world mileage. What's the deal with them, are they cast iron engines ?

  2. By Rich #2, Posted: 6/24/2008

    It's a total Mom's car now. Big, ugly, ungainly, miserably dull... hey, even Moms deserve better cars than these Scion turds.

  3. By boxcarz #3, Posted: 6/25/2008

    The BOX is GOOD.
    The bOx is GREAT.
    The boX is BEST.
    The BOX is all any needed.

  4. By Gordon #4, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion would still be cool if they stuck to the formula that worked in 2004-06, rather than making their cars appeal to the audience they didn't originally have. My '05 xB is cool, especially at 30 MPG in the city.

  5. By JKD #5, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion needs a pickup, a couple of SUVs, and a van. Then it will really be as cool as Toyota :-)

  6. By throwback #6, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion stopped being cool when they replaced the xB with a 600lb heavier car. If they want to be cool again bring over the iQ and sell it as a Scion.

  7. By Bob #7, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion was cool??

  8. By  Jerry E #8, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion was cool to kids. Kids don't investigate much. If they did, they would see how noisy, bouncy, uncomfortable their Scions are. And they would buy any of a host of Fit, Focus, Corolla, etc instead. Who was it that philosophized what a pity it is that youth is wasted on the young!?!

  9. By mark #9, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Scion = Geo

  10. By Ed #10, Posted: 6/27/2008

    xD=utter fraud, just an overpriced Yaris
    XB has lousy MPG
    the COUPE would be the only scion I'd buy..

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