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Scion xB - What the Auto Press Says

Reviewers like the xB for its defiantly unstylish appearance, its beefed up four-cylinder engine, its safety features, and its reasonable (but growing) price tag.

When it first appeared in 2003, the Scion xB caught the imagination of a sizeable group of buyers who were attracted by its low price tag, its customizability, and its anti-stylish, boxlike form.  Scion's marketing strategy included a no-haggle price and a surprising lack of factory options, with features that aren't in the base model mostly installed by the dealer rather than the manufacturer. After skipping a model year -- there was no 2007 xB -- Scion is back with a redesigned hatchback that is bigger, sleeker, and more powerful than the original, and it ranks in the top tier of the hatchback class. Reviewers mostly like the changes, but a few feel that by increasing the price and making the xB look marginally prettier, Scion has diluted the very characteristics that made the car a hit in the first place. "I remember the original xB as being more fun," says Car and Driver. "I was in the mood for a scoop of funky and was hugely disappointed."

In the past, the xB's appeal has partially been its bargain price, and some note the redesign has sent that price upward. "Part of the first Scions' appeal was their budget-conscious nature," says AutoWeek. "The redesigned xB may see some consumer resistance when accompanied with...a significantly higher sticker price." Nonetheless, Car and Driver feels that that sticker price "is a good price for any car, but the xB is more distinctive than anything else in this price range." 

The 2009 xB is also now available, with very few changes for the new model year. Other small cars with hatch appeal include Kia's Rio5 and Spectra5.

• "If you're into quirky vehicles, you'll lament the disappearance of Toyota's (TM) boxy little Scion xB, which hit the market in 2004 and looked like a miniature bread truck. For most buyers, though, the new, completely redesigned 2008 Scion xB will be an improvement over the previous model -- with one glaring exception: Fuel efficiency is way down." -- BusinessWeek
• "This is still not an average-looking vehicle, just a more sophisticated one, especially with its smoother ride, crisper handling, more comfortable interior and an upgraded engine." -- Detroit News
• "It's bigger, heavier, unquestionably more mainstream, with a kind of American hot-rod conventionalism (the chop-top roof) supplanting the Asian preciousness." -- Los Angeles Times
• "While some bemoan the loss of the hard-edged styling, there's no denying that this all-new, softer-edged xB is a better car." -- Road and Track
• "Overall…the new xB is a larger, more refined package at the same bargain price. And that certainly appeals to us." -- Popular Mechanics
• "Built off a new, larger platform the original's lunchbox-on-steroids look has been refined into a kind of appealing postmodern transportation device worthy of a bit part in 'Blade Runner.'" -- Motor Trend

xB Performance - 7.3 (Good)

The redesigned 2008 Scion xB is larger and more powerful than the previous model, and reviewers mostly find it an enjoyable (albeit noisy) way to get around town. "Fun, peppy and cheap," says Car and Driver, "the xBox is a great car for short hops." Read More

xB Exterior - 8.2 (Very Good)

The 2008 Scion xB adds some curves to the earlier model's squared-off styling and slightly increases the wagon's dimensions. Some reviewers find this to be an improvement while others feel it doesn't make much difference. To Motor Trend, "the original's lunchbox-on-steroids look has been refined into a kind of appealing postmodern transportation device worthy of a bit part in 'Blade Runner.'" Read More

xB Interior - 7.2 (Good)

According to reviewers, the interior of the 2008 Scion xB is spacious, has lots of headroom and legroom, and is stocked with a surprisingly large set of standard features. Road and Track says, "The cavernous interior is functional while having some newfound form," whereas CNET notes the cabin's "extensive list of tech options and more usable cargo space than the airy cabin of the original xB." Read More

xB Safety - 9.5 (Excellent)

The 2008 Scion xB does well in government and insurance industry crash tests, and potential purchasers can rest assured in the xB's excellent standard safety features. Read More

xB Reliability - NA

The xB is covered by a 36-month/36,000 mile basic warranty. Read More