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Scion xB - What the Auto Press Says

Reviewers like the xB for its defiantly unstylish appearance, beefed up four-cylinder engine, safety features, and reasonable price. But they have problems with the car's fuel economy and poor ergonomics.

When the Scion xB first appeared in 2003, it caught the imagination of a sizeable group of buyers attracted by its low MSRP, customizability, and anti-stylish -- yet appealing -- boxlike form. Scion's marketing strategy included a no-haggle price and a surprising lack of factory options, with optional or aftermarket features mostly installed by the dealer rather than the manufacturer. Skip to 2009, and the Scion xB is bigger, sleeker and more powerful than the original, but still claiming much of the charm that impressed reviewers at first. In fact, the 2009 Scion xB is a Consumer Guide Best Buy based on its size, price and market position. Kelley Blue Book selected the 2009 xB as one of its top 10 coolest new cars under $18,000, thanks to its trailblazing style.

But as the xB's novelty has worn off, so have some of the positive feelings. Though it still makes a strong showing in both small car and hatchback classes, its cavernous interior has some hard-to-use features, and its EPA rating falls below the bar set by other hatches. If gas mileage is your number one issue, check out the Honda Fit or Scion xD. In addition to pleasing fuel economy, both cars' design has the counter-cute appeal that might have drawn you to the xB. Plus the smaller xD will allow you to trick out your car the way Scion always intended.

Kia has also introduced new competition for the xB that has the familiarly funky and angular shape but a more intuitive interior. According to Car and Driver, the new 2010 Kia Soul is a "practical, upbeat, errand hopper whose fun-to-drive quotient isn't in the basement."

• "Overall…the new xB is a larger, more refined package at the same bargain price. And that certainly appeals to us." -- Popular Mechanics
• "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
• "The Kia Soul and Nissan Cube may be the new kids on the block, but they might not have found their way to North America if not for the groundwork laid by the xB." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "A quiet, comfortable, spacious, well-built, and relatively inexpensive car. It's also a gross disappointment." -- Car and Driver
• "It was everything the original xB was and more. It was still boxy but also bigger and more powerful. The boxiness -- the edginess rounded -- was tamed, however and somehow, the funky interior was less so." -- Washington Examiner
• "The new Scion xB has lost its bold exterior creases and some of its character, but has also grown up a bit and now represents one of the best tech values we've seen in a new car." -- CNET
• "The Bottom Line: Bigger, more powerful -- and thirstier at the gas pump." -- BusinessWeek

xB Performance - 7.8 (Good)

There are a lot of plusses about the 2009 Scion xB's performance. Test drivers say a more powerful engine and more engaged driving experience is among them. But the car also has its pitfalls on the road -- shifting can sometimes be rough, and the expected fuel numbers might leave you disappointed. According to the EPA, you should expect 22/28 mpg city/highway with the 2009 xB. Read More

xB Exterior - 8.2 (Very Good)

The new Scion xB is undeniably curvier than previous generations, but whether the still-boxy car is attractive is a matter of taste. To some the xB is just as ugly as before, but Motor Trend thinks "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 - 7.8 (Good)

A few cheap fixings and hard-to-use entertainment features don't do much to dampen the appeal of the 2009 xB's cabin. Road and Track says, "The cavernous interior is functional while having some newfound form." Read More

xB Safety - 9.4 (Excellent)

The 2009 Scion xB gets good scores in both federal government and insurance industry crash tests. Read More

xB Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2009 Scion xB reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The xB has a basic warranty good for the first 36 months or 36,000 miles. Read More