2008 Scion xB Review

What We Drove

Our test xB was a relatively base model sprayed in Hypnotic Teal Mica. With the $580 destination charge the base price came out to $17,180, not bad for a decently sized five-door with 158 horsepower. The only two options were a $155 set of floor mats and Scion’s $465 security system, which brought the total to $17,804. Even so, our tester was far from a stripper, and in addition to the usual array of power windows and locks boasted an iPod connector, a good sounding stereo, stability control, cruise control and air conditioning.

Performance

The most welcome change to the xB is the new engine. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder shared with the Scion tC produces 50 more horses than the old engine, and the extra power is evident from a dead stop to passing and everything in between. So is its newfound thirst; we averaged only 21.1 mpg, albeit via some aggressive driving. The four-speed automatic did its best to ruin any fun we tried to have; it’s slow to shift, and even in manual mode it up and downshifts whenever it wants. If you’re looking for sport, get the stick.

Handling

Scions are meant to be a blank slate, and that applies to handling, too. In its bone stock form the xB’s ride motions are controlled, and it’s a good commuter. But push it and it pushes back. We blame the tires and soft springs, and suspect that if you tick the box for the TRD lowering kit and 19-inch wheel and tire package, handling would improve exponentially. The brakes on our car started to smell after hard use, but we didn’t detect any actual fade.

Visibility

One downside to the new design is reduced visibility. The gunslit windows and thick pillars look modern from outside, but once you sit down the view is decidedly pinched in every direction. The windshield is far from the driver, which means you’re looking out over a big flat dash top and that the windshield pillars intrude. The rearmost pillars are about two feet thick, creating massive blind spots to the rear. We actually found ourselves wishing for a reverse camera on this otherwise small and maneuverable car. At least the outside mirrors are decently sized.

Fun to Drive

There is a lot of potential here, and in its base form the xB practically begs for extra attention. Tweak the suspension for better handling. Throw on some aftermarket wheels and tires for better stick. Enliven the engine with better breathing. All of which is another way of saying that the basic xB isn’t a lot of fun right off the showroom floor. Strip away the Scion mystique and you’re left with a well-equipped but otherwise basic transportation box. The fun is all in the accessorizing.

Front Comfort

The Scion’s front seat has a good basic shape, which means that once you’ve found your sweet spot you’ll stay comfortable. Finding that spot is easy since adjustments are limited to seatback angle, fore-aft and seat cushion height. The steering wheel tilts but some of us thought it should telescope, too. The wheel itself is soft urethane with divots on the upper spokes for thumbs. The only real comfort drawback was the fold-down armrest on the driver’s seat. It’s too narrow to be comfortable, but it doesn’t fold completely out of the way either, annoying some drivers in either position.

Rear Comfort

The xB’s added dimensions pay off biggest in the rear seat. The bottom cushion and seatback angles are not adjustable, but they’re good enough that they don’t need to, either. The bottom cushion is a little short, but the high hip point means that it’s still comfortable. There’s plenty of leg and head room, and good foot room under the front seats, too. It’s not particularly wide, so three across would be very tight, but two fit just fine.

Interior Noise

This is Toyota’s budget division, not luxury, so we’re not surprised that the xB is noisy inside at speed. Still, it’s not bad for the class. There’s noticeable engine noise when you gun it, and it’s not particularly refined, either. Additionally, the xB’s tall, upright shape generates a lot of wind noise at highway speeds.

Loading Cargo

The boxy xB has 21.7 cu. ft. of cargo room behind the second row of seats, which expands to 69.9 cu. ft. if you fold those seats down. Combine this with a large hatch and low, flat floor and you have a ton of space. Smaller objects can go under the load floor or in small compartments to either side of the cargo area. The seatbacks fold quickly, and there's a small flap that covers the gap between the cargo floor and the seatbacks to keep small objects from rolling into the nether world between them.

Build Quality

Toyota build quality has taken a few hits lately, but the xB is definitely on the game. Gaps are narrow and straight inside and out, seams are almost perfectly aligned, and the whole car is assembled with the kind of pride we’re used to seeing from this company. Even the paint is applied smoothly and without any orange peel.

Materials Quality

Generally, the quality of materials is first rate considering its class. There is a lot of hard plastic, but the grain is good and none of it feels thin or cheap. Still, Hyundai manages to get soft-touch plastics in its Elantra; it’d be nice if Toyota could do the same. The cloth on the seat feels durable as does the carpeting. The only cheap bit of trim is the fiber headliner. We don’t expect mesh cloth in this class, but mousefur would be better than this. Overall everything here feels durable, if not luxurious, and on par for the class.

Styling

The original xB was a plain-looking dorkmobile that lended itself to the accessory market because of its overall blandness. The new xB has a lot of style, but much of it is questionable. What’s with the ultra-thick rear pillars? Why does it have a cow catcher, and why are there fake vents in it? Why is the reverse light uselessly off to one side of the rear bumper? Overall the style works from some angles, doesn’t from many others, but has enough built-in flair that we wonder if it’ll be as popular with the aftermarket as the original.

Storage

Storage compartments abound in the xB, but most of them are on the small side. The door pockets are small, but feature bottle holders for today’s thirsty youth on the go. The center console bin is also small. Two cup holders on the center console are handy, and there’s a small, shallow pocket near them for, presumably, an iPod. The shelf above the small glove box is handy for things like pens, but not much else.

Infotainment Controls

At first glance the audio system is simple to use, but it has its quirks. For example, unlike 99 percent of other audio systems, this one has a separate button for power rather than just pushing on the volume knob, and it’s a bit of a stretch. The “multi selector” button for choosing stations is a little overdone, although it’s probably handy for iPods. Speaking of iPods, there’s a jack for one in front of the center console as standard equipment, in addition to the AUX input next to it. However, these are practically quaint now that Ford’s Sync system is available.

Climate Controls

Climate controls don’t get simpler than this. There are three big knobs, one for fan speed, one for temperature, and one for vent selection. It’s simple enough that a blind man could use it, and it moves plenty of cool or hot air, albeit with a little extra noise.

Secondary Controls

Toyota’s reputation for high-quality switchgear survives in this Scion. Window switches, mirror adjustments and control stalks are right out of the Toyota parts bin, which is a good bin to draw from. Scion still puts the gauges in the center of the dash instead of in front of the driver in the xB. It’s an annoying arrangement that serves little purpose, but at least the gauges are big enough to see without difficulty in the new car.

Competition

Take away the hip urban appeal and the Scion xB is just another small car competing in a tough segment. While Scion may have a lock on a certain group of people, for the same money you can get into a Mazda 3 hatchback, a Dodge Caliber, a Volkswagen Rabbit and soon, a Saturn Astra. There’s also the Ford Focus, which isn’t as hip looking but offers a very compelling option in Sync, the digital media management system introduced this year. Given a choice between a peculiar looking box with an iPod port and a dorkmobile with Sync, well, it’s a tough call.

2^nd Opinion – Beamesderfer

Everything the old xB lacked the new model has except the one thing that made it cool in that counterintuitive, old people don’t get it way: the boxy charm. Sure, the larger, more powerful engine gets to speed quickly. There’s a sport shift mode, although only a four-speed gearbox and it has a few quirks. Handling is OK, steering feels heavy at slower speeds though. Brakes are quite good, discs all around, antilock and electronic brake distribution. All in all, it’s a fun drive that won’t set the asphalt afire. But did all of that need to be in a bigger vehicle with all the exterior spiffiness rounded off?

Bob Beamesderfer

2^nd Opinion – Chee

Like a high school football star who grows up to be a jelly donut eatin’ cop in a small town, it’s just not the same when it grows up, and that’s what the Scion xB did: it grew up and got, well, ugly, pudgy and not even very charming. The first xBox is better because, though the engine was limp and the car would fairly rock around corners, it was unique and offered voluminous cargo room in a small package. This version doesn’t accomplish that same edgy uniqueness, and feels too big inside in all the wrong ways. Consider this: it’s not a successful Scion, but it is a damn successful Toyota…

Brian Chee

2^nd Opinion – Heywood

You heard all the jokes about the xB’s looks the last time around. Owners even went so far as to make fun of the gawky little car on their license plate frames and vanity plates. Little has changed with its revamping. It will still draw pot shots for its looks, even though the sheet metal has been completely reworked. Gone are the squared off corners, replaced with rounded ones and they are no longer connected by straight lines, but instead by slightly curved ones.

Vernon Heywood