TOYOTA! good on gas when the fuel induction cleaning is done at about every 40k miles

none that i have found yet love this little thing

have had it since i bought it in 06' was getting 420 to tank. now 320 to the city. did increase mileage to about 44mpg but dropped to 32mpg. havent done anything major to it runs great

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ford Escort x2 98year and olds 98 regency 96 year

The back support from the seat is very nice. I can see where I'm driving. I prefer hatchbacks. The sound system is pretty nice. Takes turns well. I can keep up with the monthly payments, and it only increased my insurance slightly.

Despite what the milage tag said, I'm getting about 24mpg highway! The dealership has no idea why. I have a carfax report that checks out perfect but I know there is something wrong there.

There is no cruise control , or keyless entry on mine. Nor is there an alarm system, sunroof or arm rest. It is a bit smaller, but the high roof is nice for taller people.

I purchased this car because it's an '05 with only 30,000 miles on it and in almost brand new condition. The milage tag said 38 highway which really impressed me because I drive an hour highway to work and an hour highway home, and since FL is so flat I thought I might even be able to squeeze 40 mpg out. I liked the plum color and the speedometer being in the center of the dash, as I am very short so it makes it easier for me to see the road when I'm driving.

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98 Saturn SW2 Wagon, not exactly similar I suppose.

zippy to drive, 29-33 mpg.

see above. alignment problems from the start (no I didn't hit any bumps) and dealer not helpful (yet?) in fixing or replacing

Bought the car b/ was looking for a hatchback that got good gas mileage (wish it was better) and would be reliable. But since buying it, have had consistent problems with the alignment - car pulls to either side and doesn't hold its alignment. took it in 4 times and still not fixed. am pursuing with knot-in-stomach with the dealer. something to be aware of for other potential buyers

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have been an owner of used toyotas for most of my life. this was first new car purchase.

It is easy to park and I feel safe driving the vehicle. I like the simplicity of the controls. The overall look of the vehicle is appealing to the eye (cute).

I had to replace front brakes at l0000 and again at 20000 miles. Mileage averages around 25 mpg. The tires need to be replaced at 21000 miles. The dash material is very difficult to clean as are the seats. The rearview mirror blocks a large part of the driver's view of the road.

Air bags are an impressive feature. The car handles well and can make sharp turns. I bought it because of the gas mileage rating of 32 to 38 mpg.

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I drove a Scion xB for two years. It averaged 26 mpg and the brakes didn't have to be redone until 30000 miles. I preferred the head room in this model. Also there was better visibility and the feeling of being in a larger auto.

Price is great
Stands out compared to peers
Toyota built
5 Speed manual feels zippy
Gas mileage

Interior quality and design is so/so, but to be expected at price.
Speedometer in center will be annoying after a few speeding tickets.
Somewhat rough ride over uneven ground.
Highway noise is pretty impressively loud, probably why pioneer sound system comes standard.

Great car if you are looking for something economical bordering on fun. In 2004 when I first got this car it was by far the most attractive of the super compact hatchbacks out there. Nowadays I might opt for something else based on looks alone. If you are wanting to have any fun at all in this car get the 5 speed manual, makes it seem MUCH more zippy from the start as well as on the highway. Only problem I have had so far is a disc error with the 6/cd changer that the dealership is fidgeting over fixing, the problem comes and goes always fixing itself before I get to the dealer with it. If you are looking for big interior space get the scion xB instead, this car is not cramped but I often find myself having to put the back seats down for things like laundry baskets / totes. All in all no serious complaints, it is a great first car for someone on a budget, though you will find yourself wanting something a little faster and tougher when your budget allows.

Summary: I like this car alot, but it's a starter car. If they offered a sport trim I would consider buying one again in the future, but as is this one will be my first and last.

The car says "Toyota" all over it;literally. The engine has a Toyota Symbol on it, not Scion; which is somewhat reassuring. Alloy wheels are a must, keyless entry, tint and stereo. White paint/grey interior.

The armrest is somewhat intrusive when you are driving in the city with a manual, it is in the way. The interior color is very dark, showing every peice of link/dirt/pebbles.

I am so thankful I waited to ordered the 2006 model. The '06 has turn signal lights in the sideview mirrors, and AUX hookup for an IPOD, a new steering wheel with radio controls (the steering wheel from the tC), painted side moldings, new front/rear bumpers, new interior materials, etc. Everything that was lacking on the '04-'05 is now 'refreshed.' I almost bought one in '04 then in '05, I knew there was something turning me off, and now they have covered all of my concerns--the '06 looks less like a 'throw-away car.' Although for the price you couldn't be the '04-'05 in this segment. I ordered mine with keyless entry, armrest, floormats, alum. wheels, tint, 5-spd manual, polar white paint, etc. The car has exceeded my expectations, as did my experience with O'brien Toyota/Scion in Indianapolis. I was a pain to deal with and they were there to help me every step of the way. (Not to mention the salesman was highly attractive!)

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Honda Accord. Great car, but can you say "Boring!" Not to mention if I ever hear the words "You need a timing chain," again, I may just spit.

Looks Gas Mileage Tons of Optional Accessories

Lack of Power Cargo Area Interior Lighting

I purchased my Phantom Grey Pearl Scion xA back in February. Since Scion has a "no haggle, no hassle" policy, the price you see is what you pay. It came to just over 13300 with tax etc. (I opted for the manual 5speed with no accessories). I have approx. 4500 miles on the car and am pleased with it. If you are looking for a small compact car with excellent gas-mileage, a low price, and good looks (if you consider it good looking). I don't really see how you can go wrong with this one. My only complaints are the lack of trunk space when leaving the rear seats in their regular upright position. The somewhat poor interior lighting (need a center dome light) or similar. And the obviously lack of power. It takes quite a bit to get it up to 80mph on the highway, and passing is sometimes out of the question. Of course, the lack of power is probably a good indication of the excellent gas mileage that this car provides. Overall and excellent, inexpensive car and when you come right down to it... its a Toyota.

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Honda Civic

Line of sight for back-seat passengers is good but not great. The ones who get car sick should still sit in front. Removeable head rests for passenger 3, 4 and 5 are a nice touch but work best stowed under the front seats out of sight when driving with an empty back seat. The trunk area offers plenty of storage for five bags of groceries or a tool box and a bucket of parts. You’ll need to drop the back seats to create anything resembling a “cargo area.” The high ceiling combines with dropped seats to offer enough room for some truly functional ‘transport’ space. This is another hightlight of the car. Still, for every doings-about-town, the standard trunk space works well enough. Beneath the trunk is a standard donut and jack in a well large enough for a full-size wheel. I recomend this junk-yard upgrade for anyone embarking on five-and-dime road trip. Hobling along at 50 mph on a donut in search of the nearest Tire, Waffle and Haircare Depot may make a great memory for your sunset years, but I still prefer to drive away from a tire change at 80 mph to any tire shop I wish. $80 buys Scion floormats. $15 buys automart ones. You decide. Even more money buys other clap-trap that your dealer probably doesn’t know how to install anyway. No driver-area ‘pop’ for the hatchback is a real downer. Did I mention all the hard plastic? That’s a bummer too. No arm rest, no good place for CDs, very sharp platic used in the O.S. handles, 2. Driving Feel The first thing I notice in a car, when thinking about actually having to drive it every day, is the steering wheel itself. Scion’s steering wheel is the same used in many of the Toyota compact line, and agian incorporates harder-than-average plastic in a not entirely pleasing textured surface. The wheel is also probably smaller than whatever you are driving now, and this gets tough on the wrists when driving for long periods.

Its reduced size is supposed to give the driver more legroom, or the sense of it anyway, along with a “race car driver” feel. A lot of car makers are doing it these days and I can’t wait for them to stop. On the Scion’s wheel you do get knobled finger grips which are absent in an alarming number of cars these days. “Tilt” is included, but seems to have been included only for that Toyota could tick the box on the features sheet. Literally, you can adjust the steering wheel from about 10 degrees to 12.5 degrees. That’s it. It’s a sick joke. Money would have been better spent on a faux leather feel for the steering wheel. Once on the road, the driving is pure Toyota and, for the money, nothing beats it. I have driven Chevy Aveo, Saturn Ion, and Hyundai Accent and none feels as tighly wound and ready for action as the Scion. Civic feels at least as refined, but lacks a certain Scion punch that I love. Through the steering wheel expect to feel just marginally more of the road surface than might at first be desirable. With time, this road feeling just adds to an overall appreciation of the cars impeccable handling and should only trouble previous owners of GM cars. The turning radius is suitale to the car’s size and makes doing “U”ies feel like a circus trick. Through sharp turns, I defy you to have even a moments uncertainly about your control, no matter what the speed. The car does not slip. The car does not tip. The wheels do not squeel. The car DOES grip the road like it’s glued and doesn’t let go. I’ve tried and failed to spin out. On a Scion enthusiast web page, I read the account of an owner who normally raced Mustangs, ‘Vettes and Supras. He brought a Scion to the track and beat them all through the turns, where the rest of the pack wound up in the grass just trying to keep up. This is yet another highlight for the car - in spite of its slender weight, it never shimmies or whinnies like a lighter car.

1. External Appearance: The car does capture some of the “future mobile” image seen at Japanese auto shows with its front end sloping almost parallel with the windshild. However, this style can also be confused with the “Caravan” image as seen in a 1985 Dodge showroom. Beware. The small 15” wheels seem dwarfed by the high-riding chassis which carries the stubby car body. Stubby is the word that most epitomizes this car - there is an “undergrown” look about it. The roof is high enough to rival smaller SUVs, while the total car length is roughly equal to a 2-door Volswagen Golf. A gas station attendedt asked the other day, “Hey mac, where’s the rest of your car?” Expect a certain amount of curious glances and a few questions, as the car does present some interesting new ideas the American authomotive consciouness. But if you really want ‘weird,’ get the Xb. 2. Interior Appointments: I haven’t read the owner’s manual cover to cover yet, but I expect that the entire cockpit of the car can be receycled by leaving it on the curb. Hard plastic rules the roost, and fake texturing looks nice but does not forgive the touch or the eyes for long. You’ll find no where that was consciously designed to rest an arm, and the make-shift corners and ledges one finds will shortly numb the bones. In this respect, the car does nigh on nothing to help you forget how much you paid. However, for what you paid, you also got power windows and locks, so cheer up. Four adjustable air vents that resemble jet intakes work well, but adjustment is unintuitive, and frankly, they’re a little ugly. The climate control panel is offered in recompense. It it easy, obvious, and can be fidled without looking. If only the same could be said for the stereo, covered later. Below the climate console is a lighted box with a smoke-colored plastic pop-up door. A friend confused it for a microwave form it’s effusive golden glow. It makes a fairly impractical storage area for CDs, but as this is the only such area, it makes do. The lighting lasts only as long as the dome light is on from a car door being opened and shut (~5 seconds). Then, the only truly unique (and not especially useful) feature of the car disappears into the dash. The box remains dark even when you open it, even though intuition says it should instead light the way to the five CDS wedged inside. The glove box, which has no light at all, is maxed out by the owners manual and an insurance certificate. Rumors exist that you can also stuff a roll of Lifesavers in there, but I’m skeptical. The sound system is the center piece of the Scion experience for a lot of buyers, and it certainly influenced me a great deal. The factory standard unit is a 160 watt CD with digital sound processing and MP3 capability. And it sounds awesome. This is, by far, the best souding audio I’ve ever owned in a car. That’s how I feel so far as it sounds. Using the rotten thing is another matter. The most fuctional looking botton, in the center of the console, a 4-directional jobbie similar to one found on a video game joypad, is the one used least - for switching between CD, AM, FM and optional XM. Volume is instead adjusted by hitting one of two ‘+’ or ‘-’ buttons scattered almost at random on the face of the console. Track switching is done with bottons on the far right of the console, where one has to completely reomve one’s eyes form the road and focus carefully to find them. Other major fuctions (such as bass and trebble) are selected menu-style through numerous rounds of button pushing. Noticed I haven’t mentioned the KNOB yet? There isn’t one. Everything is done thorugh tiny buttons (hard plastic again), and is totally unintuitive. Also, at low volume, the two digital processing settings are very good. Amazing in fact. But push the volume even just a little, and look out homeboy! Both settings employ absurd bass levels! Even edging the bass right off (through about 27 buttons pushes) only brings the bass to within non-window shattering parameters. One dosen’t usually complain about a sound system with plenty of bass, but the Scion’s system really is just a little silly. I’m expecting to ruin my first set of woofers before mile 5000. The front seating is the famously firm Toyota spec and, while it offers almost no adjustments, it makes a fine place to spend an afternoon. The buckets are deep enough to let you appreciate the car’s excellent handling, covered later. Seatbelts are adjustable, as it the case in all cars these days. The back seat is, by sub-compact-car standards, expansive. No longer must one dread the back-seat resentments of third and fourth passengers. Real size adults can sit properly and have room left over to negotiate their knees and feet. This is one of the Scion’s strongest features. A fifth passenger may be added as an interesting social experiement but is not recomended (a seat belt is provided to keep them from leaping out of the car screaming, however.)

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A lot is said about accelleration on the Scion, and it’s true that 1.5 liters, no matter how you tune it, ain’t a lot of horses. This is the constant question to the smaller car driving set, ‘But isn’t it slow?’ A few days learning the gearbox reveals that the 3-4000 RPM range offers power seemingly disproprtionalte to the car’s needs. I wasn’t used to driving an engine this hard, but the Scion loves it (so far anyway) and gives back scorching accelleration in return. Having said that, note that at 80mph the car is doing over 4000 rpms and sounds anxious if not unhappy. It is loud, and you’ll have to be a music lover not to notice. I enjoy the sound of the tight little 1.5L reving up to speed on local roads, but it gets tiring after an hour on the freeway. It seems unlikely that Toyota will offer a 6 speed in a $13,000 car, but if they did, the car would leap forward in my estimation as the finest solution to the ‘small car question.’ Even at legal speeds, the engine noise is more than I hoped for. The car itself is very quiet for an econobox. Wind noise is minimal, tires are nearly silent. It’s only when the RPMs are kicking the jams that noise becomes an issue. And this wouldn’t be an issue the the car was geared properly. The gap between 4th and 5th is almost useless, and either 5th should be several notches higher or a 6th speed should be added. It musn’t stay the way it is. That being said, gears 1-4 pack a lot of punch and make the car feel spontenous and ready for adventure. Braking is smooth and solid, though the car’s light weight forces the ABS on more often than one likes. But hey, the ABS was free and we’re glad to have it, so no more said.

Gas Mileage Roomy Interior Sporty

Trunk Space Needs Sunroof

This is a great car to own. The gas mileage is excellent and it is very fun to drive. For the price of this car you cannot beat the deal. This car is pretty quick in the city and drives just as good on the highway. The scion shifts very smoothly and I would highly recommend the manual gearbox. I drove both the automatic and the manual and own the manual. Im over 6 feet tall and still fit comfortably in this car with plenty of headroom left over. This is the best car that I have owned.

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Design and function - You will not be able to get a similary equipped vehicle for the money. Sure you could get a Kia or Hyundai for less but these are not comparable cars in build quality, reliabiltiy, or resale value to Toyota and Honda. Low MSRP with all the options you will need already included in the price (anti-lock brakes, AC, power locks & windows) and a Honda beating 5 year 60k powertrain warranty all though you will probably have no use for it with the Toyota heritage and this powertrain has already proven itself in the Toyota Echo.

The driving comparison is very similar to the Civic but does feel sportier. However, you will never get the attention this car brings driving your grandmas civic. The Scion has 7 fewer horsepower than the civic but is almost 300 pounds lighter but a few extra ponies or a little more torque would make around the town driving much more enjoyable. The center stack speedometer is fine with me but the unit needs to be a little larger for easy reading. I do wish there was a center console with armrest, cruise control, sunroof option, and a center dome light. Also, the rear outer headrests need to be the same size as the center head rests for better rear view visability and come on - isn't it about time manufacturers include floor mats at no additional charge.

While searching for a economical commuter car I found myself staring at a phantom gray Scion Xa. I'm definitely not the targeted demographic being 32 with a 6 figure income but I found myself lusting after this car which so seemlessly combined form over function. After a test drive I was hooked. With comparable build quality and reliabiltiy as the current leader (civic) the Scion has something extra - this car makes an immedite emotional connection with you (you either immediately love it or hate it). Other comparable economy cars do their job and do it well but not with the styly and uniqueness as the Scion.

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Honda Civic