Following being launched simply 4 years back, the actual boxlike Scion xB has been totally redesigned for 2008. Descendant claims that entrepreneurs wanted their own xBs being larger. Since it will take three years to generate a fresh vehicle, the asks for to grow the therapy lamp must have began returning early.
The new xB is indeed a greater box, nevertheless it will not appear just like a package anymore. And it is not, since the improved size reduces the rectangularity. The hair styling is significantly improved. Cosmetic surgery around the face makes an enormous distinction, and also the other sides and also perspectives less difficult much softer, creating the actual xB more appealing and less humorous searching.
It's also less distinctive than before, but it's still distinctive compared to other cars of this size. Utility-wise, it's like the Honda Fit (front-wheel drive, five-door with good cargo space), but now it looks more like the Honda Element.
The new xB is One foot longer, on a wheelbase that's just 4 ins lengthier; this means greater overhangs, which works from the trend, since many brand new automobiles boost the wheelbase more than the space, effective product packaging that raises stability. The actual xB will be 2.8 in . wider, though, understanding that provides stability. And the tires have been elevated in dimensions to be able to Sixteen in ., allowing larger disk brakes, front and back. The xB's brakes are extremely good.
The actual xB characteristics electric power steering, which gets rid of belts, levers and also fluid. It's very quick and also entertaining to drive around town.
The bigger package has an increase in shipment capacity, however 4.6 inches associated with legroom has been lost in the front seat, coming from 45.3 in . right down to 40.7; inside the back, the actual legroom remains the same. Therefore if Descendant remodeled the particular xB to meet clients, it must have been those buyers who make use of the xB since sweet small energy vans, not people who bring people. The front chairs lie practically completely, and also the 60/40 rear car seats drop smooth together with one easy take of your lever.
Not visible, and significant, is the whopping Fifty percent increase in energy. The xB today utilizes exactly the same 2.4-liter engine in which powers the fast tCCoupe. It makes 155 hp, an increase regarding at least 55 on the 1.5-liter engine within the 2004-2007 xB. The actual motor employs all Toyota's substantial variable device timing technology (VVT-i), and also receives 22/28 miles per gallon, at the EPA's ULEV-II (ultra-low) pollution levels rankings. The old xB received 30/34, yet reviews are difficult to produce as the 2.4-liter engine provides so much more horsepower, also, since the miles is measured from the brand new '08 Epa standards, which are more realistic compared to before.
2 attacks are available, a four-speed automatic with manual shifting, along with a five-speed manual. The automated shifts nicely, but with Only 4 speeds it leg techinques straight down a lot, particularly from fourth to third. The xB would be smoother with a five-speed automatic, but that's not available.
Model Lineup
With all Scions, there is just one model but a million options. That's the Scion personalization theme. The xB with manual transmission is $15,650 and automatic $16,600.
Standard equipment on the xB includes charcoal fabric interior, air conditioning, cruise control, information display, 160-watt Pioneer audio system with iPod and auxiliary connection, tilt steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, power side mirrors with turn signal indicators, power windows, and door locks, halogen headlamps, tinted glass, 16-inch steel wheels with wheelcovers.
Options include alloy wheels ($795), rear spoiler ($423), navigation system ($2010) and rear seat DVD entertainment system with 7-inch screens in the back of the front headrests ($1599). For those desiring high performance, Scion dealers sell many TRD (Toyota Racing Development) parts, from superchargers to suspension items to aerodynamic kits.
Safety features include Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, a tire pressure monitor, frontal and front side airbags, and side curtain airbags.
Exterior
Surprisingly, the actual Scion xB kind of has got the limo appear opting for this. Perhaps a gangster appear, just like a four door in the '20s. It is which brand new roofline using the heavy C-pillar that is situated completely at the rear of the vehicle, and also the continuous darkish colored home windows. The actual roof-to-floor B-pillar is actually concealed between your doorways, included in areas of the actual dark structures round the home windows.
Gleam delicate 1. 5-inch taper in the elevation from the home windows in front from the entrance eye-port towards the back from the back eye-port, contributing to the result associated with decreasing the actual squareness as well as producing the actual xB appear lengthier. The actual optionally available back spoiler, because upon the check xB, stretches the actual roofline much more.
A brand new encounter greatly enhances the actual appears from the xB through head-on, the actual three-quarter entrance position, or even aspect look at. The actual aged face trapped from below the slim grille, however the brand new device is actually cohesive, nevertheless having a slim dark grille however it is nearly get rid of using the bumper beneath this. The actual headlamps tend to be more shapely right now, swept back again, even though these people stand out in the attributes, such as pockets. Beneath the actual heavy plastic material bumper underneath the grille, there is an additional dark grille which sucks within atmosphere for that base from the radiator. From every aspect you will find slim up and down dark rubberized points, evidently designed to end up being imitation atmosphere intakes with regard to brakes. These people give level towards the or else substantial as well as toned valance.
The actual lengthier entire body, broad C-pillar, curved fender flares as well as lack of the actual sticking out face help to make the actual xB appear much less sq ., through any kind of position.
Interior
The interior feels as changed as the exterior looks. There might have been a big loss in front seat legroom, but the driver still has a commanding view of the road. That's exceptional if not unique, for a car of this size. The short nose, big windshield, elevatable driver's seat, and far-away dashboard create this feel. You become aware of the distance to the windshield when you reach to adjust the rearview mirror, which is quite a stretch from your shoulder. The glass is upright, it doesn't sweep back.
There's less of a stretch from the front-seat passenger's knees to the good-sized glovebox. It's mounted low so it folds down, possibly on the passenger's shins. Above the glovebox there is a long thin tray which might be useful if it had a liner that offered some grip, instead of the hard slick vinyl.
Charcoal is the only color for the fabric seats, which are comfortable and well bolstered, although they're shapeless and light on padding in the rear. The fabric isn't as sturdy, outdoorsy or cool as that in the Mazda3, but charcoal makes the most of the cloth. The xB seats five. The three kids who rode in the rear seat of our xB didn't have a problem, but three adults would. Two adults wouldn't be uncomfortable though, because you can easily slide your feet up under the front seats.
For rear seat passengers, there are two cupholders that pop out of the back of the console between the front seats, a bottle holder in each door, and clever trays under the rear seats for storage of flat things like books and portfolios.
That wide C-pillar that enhances the exterior styling creates a blind spot when pulling out onto the highway at a 45-degree angle. Even knowing it was there and trying to peer around it, we managed to pull out in front of a car we couldn't see.
There are no gauges directly in front of the driver, which is a bit weird; but the row of four of them on the dashboard just to the right of the steering wheel makes up for it, because they're good. At the far left, is the information display, revealing things like fuel mileage and range. Then comes the clock, which is highly readable, unlike so many, the color is orange and it has an eave to reduce being washed out by sunlight. The digital speedometer is excellent, with big numbers that are, like the clock, eminently readable. Beyond these are the gas gauge and temperature gauge.
Scion has added a lot of sound dampening material to the xB, and it seems like most of it must be in the firewall. Or else the engine is just quiet. You can't hear much engine noise, maybe because it's drowned out by the tire noise. You have to turn the volume of the 160-watt Pioneer sound system up, running at higher speeds.
Our xB was equipped with the $2010 navigation system, which incorporated the audio system. We longed for simpler controls. But we were thankful for the steering wheel controls for the audio system, which could adjust volume, set the band or mode, and move between the preset stations.
We were also thankful for the halogen high beams during two fast one-hour runs on a dark, winding and lonely freeway. But the flipside was that the projector low beams are treacherously weak. And for some reason there's only one backup light, on the driver's side. Is it a Scion styling thing, like one earring or something?
Scion has put special effort into the air conditioning, and it shows. Four round vents on the dash quietly and quickly blast out cold air.
The automatic shift lever comes out of the center stack at a 45-degree angle, an ergonomic improvement introduced by Honda. The door handles, however, show little thought about ergonomics. They're horizontal, thin, barely two inches long, and tapered to a point.
Most of the slim space between the seats is taken by two fixed cupholders, a slot for a cellphone, and the parking brake lever, leaving room for only a small console compartment rearward between the seats.
The 60/40 rear seats fold flat in a heartbeat, creating good cargo space behind the front seats. Scion says it's grown by 8 cubic feet, but the measurement systems and standards are all over the place, so comparisons are difficult. The front passenger seats recline, and that's good for naps, but with the passenger seat down there isn't any more practical cargo space because it reclines right on top of the folded rear seat, so it sticks way up there. The Honda Fit and Mazda5 remain the masters of cargo space in a small vehicle.
Road Test
The 2.4-liter engine borrowed from the sporty Scion tC might not move the xB out of econobox territory, but it certainly powers the xB to the front of the field. Just think, all you owners of 2004-2007 xBs: 50 percent more horsepower.
In terms of fuel economy, our average 26.0 miles per gallon over 420 miles, most of it leadfoot running on the freeway. The 2008 EPA measurements say 22/28 mpg City/Highway for the xB, so we were right on the money. The xB falls under new EPA test procedures, which are closer to reality than the pre-2008 procedures.
Throttle response is excellent, and, unlike the xD, it's steady. You get a lot of smooth acceleration out of just a little bit of pressing down of your foot. The revs climb right up through the numbers on the tach, until the transmission upshifts at 6100 or 6200 rpm (even if it's in manual mode). The engine doesn't feel like it's working hard, it feels like it's loving every chance it gets to leap between 3000 rpm and 6000 rpm.
Just don't forget that the Scion xB is not a sports car. We passed a truck going uphill on a two-lane, and with our foot on the floor we wished for even more quickness. Or maybe it was the five-speed manual transmission we were wishing for. Or a five-speed automatic.
The four-speed automatic kicks down a lot. This might be an annoyance if the xB weren't so eager about wanting to zoom forward. Every time it kicks down to third, it's happy. Give it a bit more gas at 75 mph on the freeway, and it kicks down to third and tries to get you up to 85, even if you hadn't quite intended to go that fast.
Seventy miles per hour in fourth gear is a comfortably low rev range, so there's lots of room for the engine to play, without screaming. The engine makes its peak torque of 162 pound-feet at 4000 rpm, and you can feel the engine come on there.
It's fun and nimble to drive around town. The electric power steering gives good feedback to the steering wheel, and the extra 12 inches of length is not an issue.
The great brakes add to the around-town fun, not because you use them hard in the city, but because they're smooth, tight and responsive, with pedal pressure that's just right. And when you need them, they'll be there. The front and rear rotors are both big for a small car, about 11 inches, and the front rotors are ventilated so they stay cooler under hard use. The rear brakes on the former xB were drums, so four-wheel discs are an upgrade. They're equipped with ABS, of course, and with EBD, which balances the front and rear forces, and Brake Assist, which gives more braking than you asked for. Basically, sensors read your foot and overrule your brain.
If you take the xB out on back roads to play, don't expect the manual mode to be very manual; about half the time it doesn't listen to the driver. Also, if you plan to drive the corners hard, you'll want to invest in TRD suspension components from your Scion dealer. The xB wasn't made for that. The wheels jounce around on bumpy surfaces.
But worse than that, the ride isn't quite up to sharp spots on the freeway. There's a stretch we often drive that has a row of steel expansion strips over some uphill-downhill curves, and at 75 mph the xB had us going "oomph" over the worst of them. These sharp jolts occurred in other places. It wears on you, in short order.
Summary & Specs
The all-new Scion xB is very different than the previous model. It's longer, wider, faster, and less quirky looking. It offers some fine features, including a good fabric interior and 60/40 rear seats that easily fold flat, creating an excellent cargo compartment behind the front seats. From the driver's seat, the xB provides an unusually high feeling of command for a small car. It's nimble, fun to drive, and the brakes are outstanding, although the ride can be jagged over certain types of bumps. [Source : automotive.com]
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