2010 Scion xD

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

Put simply, the 2010 Scion xD simply doesn't have the chops to compete with class leaders like the Honda Fit or Kia Soul when it comes to cargo capacity or interior comfort. However, what continues to make the xD a viable option for car buyers is an impressive list of interior features that rivals that of more upscale cars.

• "The interior is awash in hard plastics but avoids looking really cheap. High-mounted audio and climate controls are easy to reach and decipher. The available navigation system incorporates some audio controls, complicating their use. Some testers dislike that the stereo's power button is separate from the volume knob." -- Consumer Guide
• "Your teen...will love this car and its modern-looking instrument panel and center stack, which you'll like because the climate-control knobs are so easy to use." -- Mother Proof
• "Scion xD's interior is comfortable and engaging." -- AutoMedia.com
• "The xD is certainly not a roomy vehicle, but when you're a Generation-Y consumer looking for economy, room is not likely the top priority." -- Denver Daily News

Front Seats

Like its platform-mate, the Yaris, reviewers generally agree that the Scion xD's front seats offer only adequate comfort and provide somewhat limited legroom. If a roomier front cabin is important to you, check out the Kia Soul. It has plenty of head and leg room, surprisingly comfortable seats and a base price that is around $1,300 less than the xD.

• "Good seat comfort and driver positioning, but the seat lacks height adjustment, and taller folks might find headroom and legroom tight. The long of leg also might wish for a longer seat cushion for proper thigh support." -- Consumer Guide
• "The xD's seating position is upright, but taller drivers may complain of a legroom shortage. The steering column doesn't telescope, which will further annoy the longer of leg." -- Edmunds
• "Our only wish would be for softer, more contoured front seats for a more comfortable drive overall." -- AutoMedia.com

Rear Seats

The xD's back seat is unique in that its rear seats can both slide back and forth and recline up to 10 degrees. While this is appreciated by some, for others it seems more like a parlor trick than a feature that actually increases comfort. If carrying rear passengers in comfort is a priority, take the Kia Soul for a test drive. It has a back seat that reviewers describe as "roomy" and a starting price that is over $1,000 less than the xD.

• "The seat is high set, but entry and exit suffer from fairly narrow door openings. Limited legroom means even smaller passengers will be cramped. Fore and aft sliding seats seem more like a novelty than a benefit to passenger comfort." -- Consumer Guide
• "Two rear passengers will find ample space thanks to the reclining seatback and sliding seat bottom." -- Edmunds

Interior Features

Scion has come to be known as a brand that offers vehicles with hundreds of customization options, and the xD is no exception. While its list of standard features is above average for a compact and includes amenities like a tilt steering wheel and a console screen that displays track and artist information, reviewers agree that it's the optional add-ons that make the xB stand out. While some of these optional features are on the pricey side -- XM satellite radio costs around $500 and navigation costs around $1,200 -- the fact that they are even offered is impressive.

For 2010, Scion has added another optional feature to the list -- a stereo upgrade. Now for around $500 extra, buyers can get the Alpine Premium audio system which includes all of the features of the original system with the addition of a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, HD radio technology, and front and rear speaker hook-ups. The one downside is that there is no option for better quality or more speakers, which some reviewers see as a let down. If an amazing stereo is important to you, check out the Nissan Cube, which has a base price around $700 less than the xD and a base stereo that reviewers are generally happier with.

• "The optional Alpine audio system's touchscreen replicates the functions on your iPod, which is a nice touch; however, the standard speakers aren't anything special, and the Alpine system doesn't bring any upgrades in this regard." -- Edmunds
• "Locking doors with the remote keyless entry generates a nice ring-tone instead of an obnoxious horn sound." -- AutoMedia.com
• "Now, I know those young people like their black-colored interiors, and most teens aren't bothered if they're dirty. But not me; black interiors make me crazy. Scuffs show up at the blink of an eye, and sand is a major nuisance because it's so visible on those floormats. Lint, nose monkeys and other detritus from kids are laid bare for all to see in a black interior. Why is this an issue? Because Scion doesn't offer any other interior colors, only Dark Charcoal. That's a deal-breaker for this otherwise very-interested-in-a-Scion mom." -- Mother Proof

Cargo

Reviewers have mixed feelings about the available cargo space in the 2010 Scion xD. On the one hand, they appreciate that the initially stingy 10.5 cubic feet of cargo space can be expanded to accommodate as much as 35.7 cubic feet of cargo when the rear seat is folded down. Nonetheless, the space doesn't compare to the convenience and configurability of other hatchbacks. The Honda Fit, for example, offers a maximum 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space and is in the same general price range as the xD. The xD's big brother, the Scion xB, provides a class-leading 69.9 cubic feet of cargo space and is only about $1,000 more.

• "Although not as capacious as other compact hatches, the xD provides a useful 35.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded." -- Edmunds
• "The large cargo area includes underfloor bins, but there's only room for a few grocery bags with the rear seat up and shoved back to accommodate passengers. There are plenty of in-cabin slots and pockets, but some of them are too small to be really useful." -- Consumer Guide
• "The cargo space can manage a moderate-to-large-sized grocery trip (for my four-person family), so that was fine. When running multiple errands, you'd probably end up using some of the front passenger space for packages." -- Mother Proof