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:

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  Scion xB - 2005 Scion XB
  By Ian Steele - July 5 - 12:16 pm

  Great ride, fun to drive, more room than you can imagine!

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  Small Outside, Huge Inside - 2006 Scion XB
  By ANTONIO GUERRA - July 4 - 5:00 am

  This car is awesome. I need a roomy, comfortable car for my business and was originally planning to buy a Lincoln to replace my aging Ford van. I test drove the Scion xB on a whim, and completely fell in love with it. I found that it has more head and leg room, front and back, than the Lincoln I took for a spin, and its a lot more fun to drive. My customers love riding in it...no matter how big they are, they have plenty of room to stretch out. I dont get very good gas mileage because of the type of driving I have to do at work and the way I drive, and Im in South Florida so my A/C is always on. I can only imagine how much more gas Id be burning if Id bought that Lincoln.

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  Love my xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By cor337 - July 4 - 1:40 am

  I love my Scion xB! I was hesitant at first, but this car grew on me really fast. It has great interior room and cargo space(60/40 split). It has awesome fuel economy and a great stock Pioneer 160 watt sound system. I opted for the iPod and Sirius radio and it makes my long driving even more enjoyable! I drive this car daily and its a looker. I replaced the stock 15" hubcaps / tires with some 17" 7-spoke gunmetal rims. My xB looks and handles even better! Not to mention my 17" rims match the cool looking Thunder Clound Metallic Scion offers! I have fun driving this car everyday. All in all, it is a great and fun car!

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  It was worth the Change! - 2009 Scion XB
  By stormancast - June 23 - 7:30 pm

  This car had pretty much what I was looking for. 1. Space the back seat room is bigger than my wife 2002 Durango, 2. Good size cargo area, 3. Decent engine size/Power, and 4. Decent Mileage. I have already put 1800 miles on and enjoy driving it. It has a lot of of spunk and great turn radius. I did my research and test drove many compact cars that was in the same price range. Nothing seemed to compare to the XB. When I work from Home my wife steals it from me. The only negatives would be the arm rest, the power plug needs the key in the ignition and door console needs to be higher. overall I love the car.

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  Definately worth the money - 2008 Scion XB
  By jusbuyxb - June 23 - 8:22 am

  Because I have had some experience with Toyotas, I went with the XB. For a toaster on wheels it is not that bad. The 08 has the rounded corners, didnt like the square styling. I heard some issues about heavy oil consumption. What I do is put a honey oil additive in the engine to prevent a lot of these problems. At 70K, still running like a champ. I think most people dont think about the additives to the tranny and eng which definitely make the difference. My wife loves it and coming off an American car binge my whole life, I dont mind the plasticky feel of the Scion. My wife had a PT Cruiser, or should I say PT Loser @19MPG average and now is happy with the XB @24MPG.

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  Gold rush 314 - 2009 Scion XB
  By EntropyGold - June 21 - 8:23 pm

  I just took my 2008 gold rush 5.0 #314 for its 10,000 mile oil change. This has been the best car I have owned. This is my everyday driver to work 100 miles round to NYC, and my toy box on the weekend. Easy to buy without the BS. Very fun to drive. I added a TRD cold air intake and it gets up and goes better then my Hemi Magnum! I have a Thule roof rack for my 17 kayak and bike at the same time. Love it or hate it the Xb is a lot for little money, and gets noticed more and I get more questions then cars I have spent 3 times the amount on. Not the car for you if you like to hide. Enjoy!

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  Great in Snow - 2008 Scion XB
  By Service Tech - June 21 - 1:50 am

  I love how much room is inside with the seats foleded down. I am tall and even I have pleanty of head room in the front and back seat. I live in WI and drive in allot of snow, I have no worries driving in bad weather. Also I drive almost all hwy miles and avg 30 mpg.

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  Wanted it since it came out... - 2006 Scion XB
  By EVLTSTR - June 17 - 10:13 am

  This toaster is everything I wanted. It has great fuel economy, a low operating cost, a simple design, Toyota reliability, styling, features... I could go on and on. I have 2 complaints (both of which I knew going into the purchase). 1) The box has ZERO aerodynamics, therefore, it is impossible to keep all of the bugs off of your windsheild. 2) The gearing in the transmission is very short. Toyota did this to get the most acceleration out of this ice cream truck. At 80 mph in 5th gear (manual transmission), you are at 4,000 rpms. Other than that... Its great. It looks so small on the outside, yet you have so much room on the inside. Plus the aftermarket tuning comminity has taken this car and ran with it.

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  Scion xB2 = Awesomeness - 2008 Scion XB
  By Matrixv01 - June 15 - 8:43 pm

  I love it! Its the perfect blend of slick, unique styling inside and out and urban-living functionality, all at a great price, with a great engine, sound system, and tons of cool extras all standard. I traded in my 2003 BSP Toyota Matrix for a 2008 HTM xB. I liked the xB1 but it had too many flaws for me to consider it for my next purchase. Perfect timing for a redesign. Drastically improved exterior, interior, and under the hood over the previous generation. Still has the unique, quirky-but-cool boxy look, Toyota reliability, low base price, extremely well engineered convenience and functionality, awesome upgrade Pioneer stereo. The xB possesses that "fun-to-drive" factor in excess.

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  FOXXY BOX - 2005 Scion XB
  By Kerry in Vegas - June 15 - 1:30 pm

  I LOVE MY xB!! Cool looking without being over the top. The standard features make this an excellent buy, throw down some more dough for some fun accesories and a killer set of wheels and you are good to go!!