2006 Scion xA Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2006 2005 2004
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
31 -32 City / 37 -38 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
103
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sherri
I LOVE my Scion!
I bought my Scion in 2014 with roughly 202,000 miles on it. At the time I had never seen one before. I was out looking for a cheap used car and came across this hatchback and I instantly thought, my god what an ugly vehicle, I have to have it! Flash forward five years later, and it now has 305,000 miles on it. In those five years I had to replace 2 coil packs, the battery, brake pads and an alternator. But it finally stopped running and I have No ideas what's wrong with it, no one does. But, I love my Scion SO much I'm getting ready to buy another one JUST like it. Scions get great gas mileage and you wouldn't believe it but, they're pretty fast too. They are way more spacious than one might think as well. I once fit a futon in it... And my son's full size bike fits in the back too. I also like the fact that it can fit into almost any parking spot. I can't tell you how many times I've been able to find parking because my car is small enough to fit in places that most other cars can't. I may just drive Scions for the rest of my life... That's how much I love them. My only real complaints are that they don't climb hills very good, and they do get blown around in high wind. Other than that, I just can't say enough nice things about them!
accountCircle Stephanie R
Unfortunately Toyota does not make this vehicle (or any Scion vehicles) anymore.
The most reliable car we've ever had. It has over 140,000 miles on it and is still going strong.
accountCircle Tangie Y
Great car for its value with efficient gas mileage.
Great turning radius, good gas mileage, runs great even after all these years, required no major repairs, great for moving, no recalls.
accountCircle Christopher T
It is just right to get me on my commute to work and it can accommodate my kids when our main car (mini-van) is being used by my wife.
I love that it was the first car I ever owned. I love that it is small and great on gas mileage. It is a stick shift and those are harder and harder to find these days.
accountCircle Annie H
I've owned this vehicle for 12 years. It only has about 62,000 miles on it. It's a great little car for my needs. Gets about 240-260 miles on a full tank of gas. Only maintenance has been regular oil changes, battery replacement(once), brake service(twice), tire replacement(twice), headlight bulb replacement(once), and miscellaneous service. Only issues I can come up with is not very insulated against noise when driving and driving in snowy conditions(it's a light car).
Good little compact car. Great for city driving and gets good mileage.
accountCircle Chaya A
Cool compact car of 21st century.
The look can be deceiving; very spacious inside; compact / easy to park; great for city dwellers. Cool exterior; modern interior. Excellent mileage. Minimal maintenance. Love it a lot; even after a decade. Got lots of complements when it first came out! Highly recommended quality brand (spun-off Toyota).
accountCircle Ana R
Saves money on gas and inexpensive maintenance.
Likes: gas efficiency, inexpensive maintenance, size makes it easy to find parking anywhere. Dislikes: slow to pick up speed, foot gets tired from pressing the gas when on highway on road trips, no cruise control, need bigger trunk.
accountCircle Bill L
Great car with good gas mileage.
It has been extremely reliable with great gas mileage. I have no complaints about this car at all. It is easy to drive.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Danielle C
A smart car with a trunk.
It's been pretty reliable. Has over 200, 000 miles but nothing has needed major repair. It looks like a smart car with a trunk i.e. It is ugly. Nor is it very big. There’s not much leg room especially in the back or room for car seats. It is a hatchback.
accountCircle D C
There's not much leg room so if you're tall, forget it
It gets me from point a to point b. There's not much leg room especially in back and you feel every bump. It's lasted for over 200000 miles tho
accountCircle Doni C
Tiny car that keeps going and going.
It has over 250, 000 miles. It is like a smart car with a trunk; not a lot of room. It is a silver hatchback. Because it is so small, it does not have a very good shock system so you feel every bump. There’s not much leg room, and if you put a car seat in the back you cannot push the front seat all the way back either.
accountCircle Dan S
I am looking forward to getting rid of it. We need a larger family car.
It is so small. It was my wife's car before we got married. It fits more stuff than you would think but it drives like a roller skate.
accountCircle Lisa H
Gas efficiency is a sole plus.
It is great on gas mileage and fairly reliable. Other than that, I hate it. It is small, uncomfortable and the power options have already gone out. It sits so low to the ground that any raised pavement has the potential to really mess your car up. You cannot go just anywhere in this car.
accountCircle Rana N
2006 Scion Xa still going strong.
The 2006 Scion Xa is a five-door subcompact hatchback with a 1.5L 4 cyl engine. It came with the option of a 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual transmission. Mine is automatic. It is very comfortable to get in and out of. It's not low to the ground like a sports car nor excessively tall like a SUV or truck. The interior is roomy for a smaller car. It has 5 cloth seats and carpeted floor mats matching the carpet color. The factory stereo, a Pioneer, is quite good. It has an auxiliary port to plug in mobile devices. The steering wheel adjusts up and down to two settings, allowing for a comfortable driving positioning. The front seats slide forwards and backwards with the control lever in the base of the seats to allow more or less leg room. There are manually adjustable headrests. The front seats can be reclined or leaned forward with a side control knob, which can be helpful if loading something long into the vehicle. The back seats can be completely folded flat to make a larger hauling area. There is no trunk, but the hatchback area with the back seats laid down flat provides an ample amount of room. The spare tire and equipment reside under the hatchback floor area. It has power windows, power side mirror adjustments, and a child proof lock that disables the ability to roll down the windows when on. I have had no major problems or repairs needed. In my experience this car will perform for many years as long as it's serviced regularly and has been very reliable. The 1.5L 4 cyl engine does make it difficult for the car to get up to speed as quickly as newer cars, or those with a larger engine. For a car of that year and style, it has a comfortable ride. No jarring sensations from going over bumps or shaking of the car as it accelerates. I have been driving it for years and hope to continue driving it for many more. It is a good quality vehicle that performs well.
accountCircle Gladys N
The one important thing is that is was made by a well known brand Toyota.
I bought it used after my other car was totaled in an accident. I like it because it has Toyota parts so it should have good performance. I really dislike that it vibrates when I am stopped at a red light. It makes me nervous; however, it drives well on the roadway.

Scion xA Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
4dr HB Manual
103 HP 35-35 MPG 5 Seats
car
4dr HB Auto
103 HP 35-35 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2006 Scion xA Owner Reviews

4.52
84 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 65%
4 stars 26%
3 stars 4%
2 stars 5%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Misty C on March 7, 2021
Mine is a limited edition, it's numbered. Has a limited edition color. Came from factory with ground effects, gauges are in the middle of the dash. The radio changes color.
Never have any problems, only need regular maintenance. Cheap on gas. Can park it almost anywhere. Easy to drive. Seat are comfortable for long trips. Able to put two car seats in the back.
accountCircle Lina R on March 5, 2021
Title: scion ax: a commuter car.
This car is a money saver. As a college student I do not have to worry too much about gas given how gas efficient this car is. The size is also great because it fits 5 people but is still small enough to park in many tight spots. A cons is that the trunk is extremely small, makes shopping challenging and I often have to use primarily my back seats. Given this car is a 2006 model, the electronic safety features are not there such as blind spot sensors, automatic braking, no backing camera, no lane departure correction, and no cruise control. It is a very comfortable car and great for using on smaller distances.
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Pros from Owners

likeFilled Corey B.

Can go thru snow and has power! I like the color and design! I like that it has four door can transport my family and friends. I like that it is manual not automatic easier to drive! Has good mileage.

likeFilled Gigi R.

The Scion Xa has a hatchback and folding seats to carry things. It handles well and is easy to park. It gets good gas mileage. It can comfortably seat four people. My car is fun to drive. I like using the manual shift.

likeFilled Rama N.

Great gas mileage. No major problems have arisen since purchase (original owner). Hatchback area is surprisingly large. Can fit a full size recliner in it with the seats down. Seats 5 comfortably. Roomy inside despite being a compact hatchback.

likeFilled Robin B.

They are all pros. Low maintenance, high gas mileage, great drive. I am sorry they are no longer manufacturing scions as I would surely buy one again. I have even considered buying a used xd just because I love the car so much.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Corey B.

Nothing really has all the features I requested and needed and handles good needs more safety features and storage! I like the style and design! Definitely would buy another one! I think it needs a lift kit.

dislikeFilled Gigi R.

It is sometimes hard to start - you have to use the clutch and the gas at the same time, and the timing has to be just right. The suspension could be smoother - if you have a passenger in the back, and hit a pothole they are uncomfortable.

dislikeFilled Rama N.

The air conditioner enjoys cold air at a steady flow, but it could be a bit better. The engine has a hard time powering up hills sometimes. No speed control was included, which was common for 2006 model cars.

dislikeFilled Robin B.

The only con is that there is no cruise control. It is really meant to be a city vehicle. It is so small that it can be parked anywhere. And, even though it's small, the inside is super roomy. Maybe another con is that the back seat has very little leg room, but I seldom have back seat passengers.

Ranks #2 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2006 Scion xA has an average owner rating of 4.52 out of 5 which ranks it #2 of 19 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2006 Honda CR-V
4.54
2
car
2006 Scion xA
4.52
3
car
2006 Toyota RAV4
4.41

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2006 Scion xA has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #1 of 19 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2006 Scion xA
38 MPG
2
car
2006 Scion xB
34 MPG
3
car
2006 Ford Escape
33 MPG

Is The 2006 Scion xA A Good Car?

My scion xa is the best vehicle I have owned in my 40 years of driving. It is dependable, fun and has great storage.
Marie P.
Yes. It is very reliable. The air conditioner is good for a car with a smaller engine. It is excellent on gas mileage and can use any grade gasoline. It is roomy and comfortable for a smaller... Read More
Ahmed M.

How Reliable Is The 2006 Scion xA?

100% reliable and trustworthy. I have had zero problems with this vehicle that I bought new in 2006.
Marie P.
Very reliable. I have had no problems. I do have it serviced regularly to maintain it's condition.
Courtney L.

Is The 2006 Scion xA A Good Value?

At the time it was around $18,000. It is been a great value as I had it paid off quickly. The only thing you have to do with this vehicle is get the oil changed and buy new tires.
Marie P.
Kelley Blue Book has it around $2000, but it was around $15,000 new, I believe. For a used car in today's market, with a pre-inspection done by your mechanic to verify it has no issues, it is an... Read More
Roxanne C.

Related Articles for 2006 Scion xA

From the Vehicle History blog

car
Why Was Toyota’s Scion Brand Discontinued?

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test
(Not Tested)
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety