Overview & Reviews

Attracting the coveted 18-to-34-year-old age group is job one for Scion, the youth-oriented division of Toyota, and its xB wagon is the fashion centerpiece of the brand. Although the Scion xB has the body of a miniature delivery truck, even in its second generation this box still casts a distinctive silhouette.

We liked the first-generation xB for its distinctiveness; after all, it was little more than a rebadged version of a Japanese-market Toyota. Scion had the American market specifically in mind when it made the second-generation model bigger and more powerful, though some of the original's character was lost in the process. But overall, a new or used xB is a fine pick for a small and stylish wagon.

Current Scion xB
The Scion xB is offered in two trim levels: base and limited-production Release Series 10.0 (or RS 10.0). Standard features include air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a six-speaker Pioneer sound system (with a CD player, HD radio, an iPod/USB audio interface and an RCA output). The RS 10.0 adds unique exterior and interior trim, a rearview camera and wireless charging of applicable smartphones. Options are limited to transmission choice and dealer-installed items such as upgraded audio systems, a navigation system and different wheel designs.

Every xB sports a 2.4-liter inline-4 that produces 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is optional. Fuel economy is disappointing, however, as it is similar to that of many compact SUVs.

Inside, the xB's boxy lines translate to a surprisingly roomy interior that allows you to transport three to four friends with no complaints from the backseat. It's so roomy that some cities even employ xBs as taxi cabs. When the time comes to haul stuff rather than people, the 60/40-split rear seats fold flat, revealing an impressive 70 cubic feet of space. That's actually bigger than many compact SUVs.

In road tests of the current xB, we found it feels fairly stable at highway speeds, although its slab-sided styling makes it vulnerable to crosswinds. The xB is responsive and confident at lower speeds, though over rough surfaces the ride can get a bit bumpy. We've never liked the centrally mounted primary gauges, but the climate controls couldn't be any easier to use and the standard touchscreen interface is fairly user-friendly – especially if you belong to Scion's younger, target demographic.

Used Scion xB Models
The present Scion xB was introduced for 2008, featuring larger dimensions and more power than the first generation. In its first two years, the steering wheel featured only a tilt adjustment, meaning taller drivers had an uncomfortable reach when driving. The later addition of a telescoping adjustment helped somewhat. Besides minor styling tweaks for 2013, the main difference points were the frequent changes, updates and additions to radio faceplates. The ones produced for 2010-'13 could be fairly complicated, but provided iPod control at a time when many other cars in its price range did not. Throughout the years there were also so-called "Release Series" models that featured special paint and interior trim.

The first-generation Scion xB was sold from 2004-'07. Initially it was sold only in California, and Scion gradually rolled it out to other big markets like Florida, New York and Texas. Nationwide sales began for the 2005 model year.

Standard equipment was better than average for a low-priced economy car, as every xB came with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, air-conditioning, an MP3-compatible CD player and power windows, mirrors and locks. Fifteen-inch steel wheels with your choice of plastic wheel covers were also standard, but you could get alloy wheels as a low-cost accessory. Side and head curtain airbags were optional.

The power source in every first-generation Scion xB was a 1.5-liter, inline-4-cylinder engine. In 2004 and '05, it was rated for 108 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. For the 2006 model year, new SAE certification procedures dropped the ratings to 103 hp and 101 lb-ft, although actual performance was unchanged. We recommend sticking with the five-speed manual transmission if you can, as it gives this xB respectable point-and-shoot capability in freeway traffic. With the four-speed automatic, acceleration can be sluggish.

For the 2006 model year, the xB's stereo head unit was redesigned to incorporate an MP3 player jack. Additionally, dedicated iPod owners had the option of purchasing a specialized unit that allowed for player control and recharging through the xB's stereo controls. Other accessories included a subwoofer, satellite radio, sport pedals and shift knob, and for the truly bored, backlit footwells and cupholders (in a variety of colors). A limited-edition Release Series 3.0 package for 2006 even provided a rear entertainment system with dual 7-inch LCD screens mounted in the front headrests.

User Reviews:

• 

  Out with the old, in with the new - 2011 Scion XB
  By Chris - February 8 - 7:16 am

  I reluctantly traded-in my 06 xbox after reading about the new improvements (telescopic steering wheel, better seats, gauges, etc). I wasnt a fan of the 2nd gen initially, but eventually it grew on me. A week later, I am loving my new 2011 xB. I was pleasantly surprised by this new gen 3 version: the comfort and power were the first two things that jumped out. The ability to shift the auto transmission manually is a nice bonus. The dash/stereo controls are a little confusing at first, but theyre starting to make sense now. Gas mileage (24 MPG) is definitely lower than my old box (~31 MPG), but the trade-off of more power is worth it. The ride is smooth and quiet.

• 

  Great Value and Fun to Drive! - 2005 Scion XB
  By Eric_McCalla - February 7 - 8:36 pm

  Picked up my xB three weeks ago, and dont remember last time I enjoyed driving a new car so much! Friends and family are amazed at the quality and the look of the car for the price. They cant believe all the features (safety and otherwise) you can get for under $17,000. Test drive both the auto and the manual versions: they really drive differently. I chose the 5spd stick, as it increases the "fun-to-drive" factor by a lot! There are virtually no blind spots in the rear views, and the forward visibility and seat position cant be beat. I am more at eye level with SUVs and trucks than with my 2001 Volvo S60 which I said farewell to when I got the xB!

• 

  Gas Mileage Poor - 2005 Scion XB
  By charles liddell - February 7 - 6:10 am

  I like the cool factor of the car yet am very disappointed with the in city gas mileage. I have gotten as low as 20 mpg. I dont know if there is something wrong with it or not. I sacrificed a lot of handling and performance to get the promised great mileage. I used to drive a 94 Mazda Miata and got about 22 mpg on average and had a blast driving it. I am planning on taking a huge hicky on the purchase of this car because I will get out of it ASAP and get the 2006 Miata.

• 

  Great car and a great price - 2008 Scion XB
  By Yvonne - February 5 - 8:30 am

  I bought this car in March 08 and I like it a lot. It handles well and it is fun to drive.

• 

  Awesome - 2004 Scion XB
  By jaiviar - February 4 - 10:00 am

  the best car i have ever had

• 

  Scion xB - 2004 Scion XB
  By nkannady - February 4 - 10:00 am

  With the cold air intake system, a car that would be considered slow is actually fairly peppy. Ive never owned a car that attracted so much attention.

• 

  Couldnt be Happier - 2005 Scion XB
  By BobzBox - January 25 - 2:10 pm

  I purchased my xB because my Pontiac Grand AM was getting unreliable and constantly breaking down. I have owned the xB for over a year now and I must say that this is a great car. From the outside you would never guess it is so roomy inside. I was able to fit an entire dorm rooms worth of stuff in it! The gas mileage is amazing. I dont drive slow and I still manage 31 mpg. The fact that it comes standard with ABS, traction control and stability control make this car very easy to drive in the snow. The only downside to owning this car is the fact that bugs do not skip off of the very vertical windshield. They kinda self destruct upon contact and the windshield can get nasty fast.

• 

  Hey, we now own TWO of the things! - 2015 Scion XB
  By Howard Ferstler - January 23 - 3:53 pm

  We purchased our first one (light, metallic silver color) back in September, trading in an 11 year old Scion xA model that had performed superbly, but was a tad too small for serious long highway work. The new xB is excellent for serious long highway work, and is a REAL car instead of a pint-sized runabout like the xA. I love everything about the car but the 4-speed audio, since it tends to "hunt" between 3rd and 4th gear at speeds below 45 mph on hilly roads. However, while the Scion owners manual has nothing but cryptic info about the "S" transmission mode (the standard choice would be the "D" mode), I have discovered that if you leave it in that mode (which allows for manual shifting, but also shifts automatically on up to 3rd gear) the hunting ceases. Use the "S" mode for moderate-speed city driving and you will do fine. The transmission is probably responsible for the only so-so gas mileage but it is probably bulletproof in terms of reliability, just like the engine (which was used as the standard Camry engine until 2011). Anyway, last week we purchased a SECOND xB, trading in our ten-year-old xB, which had been as solid and reliable as the xA first traded. This new one (bright white in color) has the same features (including the 4-speed auto), and seems to run as well. The older xB and xA models had manual transmissions, and it did not take long for us to discover that switching back and forth between the old xB and the new xB required more mental-operation work than we (wife and I) old timers could deal with. Now, both of our cars operate the same way. Right after I got the first one I replaced the ugly plastic hubcap stock wheels, and I will be doing the same thing with the newer one this week. I hate hubcaps, and particularly hate plastic ones. Ugh! Whatever, both cars are terrific and if they are as reliable as the two previous models we will be driving them for a long time.

• 

  Love my Xb - 2005 Scion XB
  By ScionGuy - January 23 - 7:56 am

  The car is awesome. Wish I could say the same about the dealership...I am a former Saturn driver and the dealership could learn a lot from the Saturn dealers. Bu the car is awesome. If you are thinking about one, buy it!

• 

  Disappointed - 2005 Scion XB
  By TVkid - January 22 - 3:20 am

  Loved this car from the moment I saw it. Convinced my wife to get it for our small business as a delivery vehicle. The "toaster" sees a lot of miles, but gets regular service and is only driven by me. Rarely gets better than 29 miles per gallon. Had to replace all four rims and tires - $800 - because of cracks in the rims. Lost the transmission at 89,000 miles. Small back side light managed to vibrate loose and fall out - $175 to replace. Now AC compressor is going out. The Camry we used as a trade-in was much more reliable.