Does Toyota still make Scion?
Toyota does not currently manufacture Scion-branded vehicles. The Scion brand was discontinued in 2016, with its remaining models either retired or rebadged as Toyotas. Today, there are no new Scion cars on the market.
Background and timeline
The decision to wind down Scion came after years of restructuring within Toyota’s U.S. operations. The following milestones provide a concise view of how the brand transitioned away from a standalone lineup.
- 2003: Scion brand launched in the United States to appeal to younger buyers, with models like the xB, xD, and tC.
- 2012: Scion FR-S introduced as a joint effort with Subaru (sold in the U.S. as the FR-S; globally known as the Toyota 86).
- 2016: Toyota announced the discontinuation of Scion; the brand’s stores were consolidated into Toyota Stores, and sales of Scion vehicles ceased.
- 2017: Several Scion models were rebadged as Toyotas as part of the consolidation plan (see “Model fate” below).
- Post-2016: Remaining Scion inventory was sold through Toyota outlets, and the Scion name largely faded from the market.
The period between 2003 and 2016 marked the rise and fall of Scion as a separate marque, culminating in a strategic move to simplify Toyota’s American branding and dealership network.
Model fate: which Scion cars live on as Toyotas
The cars that carried the Scion badge were either retired or converted into Toyota models. The following mappings illustrate how some former Scion nameplates continued to exist under the Toyota banner.
- Fr-S/FR-S -> Toyota 86 (launched as the Toyota 86 in 2017; sold globally under the Toyota name)
- Scion iM -> Toyota Corolla iM, later renamed Toyota Corolla Hatchback
- Scion iA -> Toyota Yaris (sedan; rebadged as a Toyota model and sold under the Toyota Yaris name)
- Scion xB and Scion xD -> no direct Toyota equivalents in the U.S.; these models were not continued under the Toyota badge
In practical terms, the Scion lineup was absorbed into Toyota’s lineup, with a few models continuing under Toyota badging while others were discontinued without direct replacements.
Dealership network and branding changes
Alongside the model changes, Toyota restructured its sales network to remove the Scion brand. The U.S. Scion dealer network was folded into existing Toyota stores, and new Scion sales or service centers were not established after the brand’s end.
- Scion dealerships were converted to Toyota stores or closed; service and warranty work for remaining Scion customers was moved to Toyota locations.
- No new Scion-branded vehicles were introduced after 2016; the brand effectively ceased to exist as a separate entity.
These changes helped Toyota streamline its distribution, while preserving support for customers who owned Scion vehicles through existing Toyota channels.
Current status and the prospects for revival
As of 2025, there are no official announcements from Toyota about reviving the Scion brand. The company continues to sell vehicles under the Toyota name, with several former Scion models living on as Toyotas. Industry observers have occasionally speculated about a possible revival of Scion or a new sub-brand, but Toyota has not indicated plans to reintroduce Scion.
What this means for buyers today
For consumers seeking Scion-era vehicles now, the market is limited to used cars. The new-car market offers Toyota-branded equivalents of several former Scion models, with ongoing support and parts through Toyota’s network.
- New purchases: Only Toyota-badged models are available; no new Scion models are sold.
- Used market: Scion-branded vehicles from the 2003–2016 era remain a niche segment for collectors or enthusiasts, particularly in good condition with complete maintenance records.
If you’re considering a purchase that mirrors the old Scion experience, you’ll likely look at the Toyota 86 (FR-S), the Toyota Corolla Hatchback (successor to the Scion iM), or the Toyota Yaris (successor to the Scion iA in markets where offered).
Summary
The Scion brand is no longer active, having been discontinued in 2016 and absorbed into Toyota’s broader lineup. Some former Scion models continue as Toyotas, notably the FR-S becoming the Toyota 86 and the iM/iA relabeled as Corolla Hatchback and Yaris, respectively. The dealership network was consolidated, and there are no current plans to reintroduce Scion as a separate brand. For now, Toyota remains the sole path for new, mass-market vehicles in the former Scion segment.
Why did Scion fail?
Scion failed due to a combination of factors, including a misjudged target audience, a poorly received product lineup, changing market trends, and a lack of a clear brand identity, which ultimately led to declining sales and Toyota discontinuing the brand in 2016.
Product and market missteps
- Quirky and unappealing designs: While the initial designs were novel, some, like the iQ, were poorly received, and the overall lineup aged without enough exciting, new models.
- Failed to connect with the target demographic: The brand was created to appeal to a younger, Millennial audience, but it ultimately failed to connect with them, partly because many could not afford the cars and younger buyers' priorities shifted away from radical styling and towards practicality, technology, and fuel efficiency.
- Lack of SUVs and crossovers: The lineup was heavily focused on smaller cars, and as demand for SUVs and crossovers grew, Scion was not positioned to meet this trend.
- High costs of accessories: The brand's business model relied heavily on profits from accessories, but financing became difficult during the 2008 recession, impacting sales significantly.
Brand and strategy issues
- Lack of a clear identity: Scion's vehicles were essentially rebadged Toyotas, but the brand's identity was not distinct enough from its parent company. This created a confusing path for customers, and over time, some Scions simply looked like other Toyota models, which diluted the brand's purpose.
- Poor marketing: The marketing efforts failed to build a strong, lasting connection with the target youth market and did not establish a clear brand identity separate from Toyota.
- Infiltrated by older buyers: The brand's initial quirky appeal began to attract older buyers, diluting its intended purpose of capturing the youth market.
External factors
- Global recession: The 2008 recession had a significant negative impact on Scion, which was heavily reliant on younger buyers who were particularly vulnerable to the economic downturn.
- Changing consumer priorities: As time went on, younger consumers, the brand's target demographic, began to prioritize factors like technology, fuel efficiency, and practicality over the "out-of-the-box" styling and customization Scion offered.
What car replaced the Scion?
Toyota 86
Scion Cars | Scion Lineup
Scion FR-S 2013-2016 (Rebranded as Toyota 86 for the 2017 model year.) Scion iA 2016 (Rebranded as Toyota Yaris iA for the 2017 model year.) Scion iM 2016 (Rebranded as Toyota Corolla iM for the 2017 model year.)
Is Toyota bringing back the Scion?
No, the Scion brand is not coming back as an automobile marque, but Toyota has revived the Scion name for a new off-road side-by-side concept vehicle called the Scion 01. The original Scion brand was discontinued in 2016, and its models were absorbed into the Toyota marque. The new Scion concept uses a hybrid powertrain and was created as a testbed for future mobility ideas, not as a successor to the old brand.
You can watch this video to learn more about the Scion 01 concept vehicle: 40sPlanet Car NewsYouTube · Nov 4, 2025
- No, the Scion brand is not returning. Toyota officially discontinued the Scion brand in 2016, and its models were integrated into the Toyota lineup.
- The name is being used for a concept vehicle. The Scion name has been revived for a new, one-off concept vehicle called the Scion 01, which is a powerful, hybrid-powered off-road side-by-side.
- It is not a car. This is not a car or a car brand, but a powersports vehicle designed to test new concepts and technology.
- It's a way to experiment. Toyota created the Scion 01 to serve as a "laboratory" to develop and test new ideas, leveraging its expertise in hybrid powertrains and off-road vehicles.
What is the Scion called now?
So this is a 2.4 L hybrid system like you'll find in a lot of their roadgoing cars. And trucks. And trucks yeah and they're saying around 300 horsepower which in a sidebyside would be tons.
