Is a Scion a Hyundai?
No. Scion is not Hyundai. Scion was a distinct brand created by Toyota to appeal to younger buyers, while Hyundai is a separate South Korean automaker with its own lineup. The Scion brand was discontinued in 2016, and its remaining models were folded into Toyota branding.
The Scion brand: origin and history
Scion was launched by Toyota in 2003 to attract North American buyers with affordable, stylish cars. It operated as a separate sub-brand for more than a decade, using Toyota platforms and technology while marketing under a distinct Scion badge and dealer experience.
Origins
Established in 2003, Scion aimed at younger buyers with a contemporary design language and approachable pricing, differentiating itself from Toyota’s mainstream lineup.
Notable models
Early Scion offerings included the xA, xB, and xD hatchbacks, followed by the tC coupe. A sports coupe, the FR-S, joined the lineup later and became popular among enthusiasts.
Key milestones in Scion's history:
- 2003: Scion brand launched by Toyota in the United States and Canada to target younger buyers.
- 2004: Scion xA and xB debut, with additional models like xD and tC joining later.
- 2012: Scion FR-S (developed with Subaru) debuts, expanding the lineup into sportier territory.
- 2016: Toyota announces the discontinuation of the Scion brand; remaining models are rebranded or retired.
Concluding paragraph: The Scion era concluded in 2016, and its vehicles were either folded into Toyota’s lineup or retired, rather than marketed under Hyundai. The brand’s design language and some platforms lived on within Toyota, not under a competing marque.
Relation to Hyundai
There is no corporate or brand connection between Scion and Hyundai. Hyundai Motor Company operates independently in South Korea with its own models and strategy. While both brands compete in the same global market, Scion never became or was owned by Hyundai, and there is no ongoing partnership that would merge or convert Scion into Hyundai.
What happened to Scion models after the brand was retired?
When Scion was discontinued, its remaining models were transitioned into Toyota’s lineup or retired. Some models were renamed and continued as Toyota products, while others were discontinued without direct replacements.
Examples of model transitions:
- Scion FR-S became the Toyota 86 in 2017, continuing as a sport coupe under Toyota’s badge.
- Scion iA was rebranded as the Toyota Yaris (sedan) for the Toyota lineup.
- Scion iM was rebranded as the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, adopting Toyota’s naming and branding.
- Other early Scion models (like xA, xB, xD) were retired or absorbed into other Toyota offerings without direct one-to-one replacements.
Concluding paragraph: As of 2025, there are no active Scion vehicles or a Scion brand. Toyota has integrated or retired those models under its own branding, while Hyundai remains an independent automaker with its own product lineup.
Summary
No, a Scion is not a Hyundai. Scion was a distinct Toyota-led brand created to attract younger buyers, later discontinued in 2016, with its surviving models folded into Toyota branding. Hyundai operates independently and has no official link to Scion. If you’re researching older Scion vehicles today, you’ll find they’re either sold as Toyota-badged models or retired from the lineup altogether.
