ANGELO ELIA
SENIOR REPORTER

Toyota-owned Scion is set to release their youth-orientated vehicles in Canada next year but Ken Cummings, industrial design program manager, said buying a car is still costly and unpractical for most students.

“For saving money the best thing you can do is to try to get on the transit line. The cost of a new car isn’t just the cost of buying it. You have insurance which is always expensive for younger people,” he said. “We have heard of students who had to sell their car just because it is too expensive.”

Cummings said Toyota is releasing Scion in Canada because Toyota doesn’t have a sporty compact vehicle to youth like Honda’s Civic.  “Scion is an opportunity for them to appeal to the youth market more,” he said.

Melanie Testani, manager of public relations for Toyota Canada, said  “The youth market is 25 per cent of the population and a lot are looking for compact, affordable cars. People want something really hip and cool and Scion defines that.”

Cummings said even though it is difficult for a student to own a vehicle, Scion is a youth-directed company.  “Scion is a good seller with young people so it gives more choice at the lower-end of the market which is where we need to have robust competition.”

Testani said the prices have not been released as of yet but Toyota offers students a discount when they purchase their first vehicle.

“Toyota has a discount off the purchase of your first vehicle for students called the Toyota Grad Program. We haven’t confirmed anything yet for Scion but it gives a break to students,” she said.

Testani said Scion models, the tC, xD, and xB will be available and come with a line of customizable parts and performance upgrades.

“There are lots of options to make it your own vehicle and to make it look different than others,” she said.

Testani said there will be 45 Scion dealers in Canada, including 20 in Toronto, 18 in Montreal and seven in Vancouver. They will be housed inside Toyota dealerships.