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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  Love this box... - 2004 Scion XB
  By nosymp - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I absoluley love this box! A lot of my friends knock it, untill I let em drive it. For 108hp, it feels pretty peppy. I absolutley love driving it, the stereo sounds nice, and still lets you hear the engine, the automatic felt underpowered to me, so I bought the manual trans, and its been a great drive ever sence...

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  Best car value out there - 2008 Scion XB
  By tomrass4 - August 21 - 12:10 pm

  I traded in my 06 xB for the 08 model because it addressed the weak motor and added side air bags. I loved my 06 xB and it is a perfect urban car where you drive in congestion and less than 45 MPH. I do a lot of freeway driving and the new version is vastly superior in this area. I currently have over 400 miles on it and here are my 1st impressions: more solid, safer feel; performance is way up; ride noise is down; better base stereo; improved instrument cluster; mileage is down (28.7 mpg in mixed driving so far); visibility is down but still very good. In conclusion, I believe this is the best car value out on the market for what you get and end up paying.

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  Black Cherry Pearl - 2005 Scion XB
  By River Styx - August 16 - 3:36 am

  I like it. Roomy, comfortable, hauls lots of stuff (if you leave the children at home), a real eye catcher... Good gas mileage & it rides nice for such a small car. It DOES NOT DEPRECIATE like a FORD or CHEVY or a DODGE. I would definitely purchase another.

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  2006 Scion xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By nzl - August 9 - 8:03 am

  It can be a fun car and for most people it probably is, but the construction is POOR. If I had to do it over again I wouldnt buy it. If you want a car that is fuel efficient and performs reasonably well on the freeway, this car is it. But it is really noisy. All the doors and dashboard rattle so loudly that you can hear it over the radio, unless you set the volume high all the time. Its been to dealer three times, the first two times they fixed it, now they claim they dont hear any unusual noise. If you dont mind loud rattling noise they buy this piece of junk. Note: the dealers loaners with less than 10,000 miles were extremely bad with rattling noise as well, so this is a pattern is all their cars.

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  2006 Scion sB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Johnny Vegas - August 3 - 2:23 pm

  Heres why I purchased the Scion sB: Im 6ft tall and I have plenty of room. The rear seat has plenty of room for the kids. It gets 35mpg and it never breaks. Not ready for a Corolla or a minivan. It has performed beautifully in these areas. One of the main reasons I bought the 2006 was the gas mileage. The 06 has enough power and performs really well at the pump!

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  Lovin My Scion - 2006 Scion XB
  By msusnicknel - July 31 - 4:03 am

  My qualifications for picking a new car were simple, low ownership cost and big space. At 63", 300+ pounds, this eliminated a lot of the under 20 grand cars out there. It boiled down to the Chevy HHR, Chevy Aveo, Pontiac Aztec, Mazda3, and the xB. The xB was the last one I test drove and I immediately fell in love with it. There is an insane amount of room (even for me). The price is fantastic, and when you figure in the low insurance costs and great gas mileage, it gets even better. Not to mention I LOVE the no haggling pricing system. I got mine nicely equipped (even got the blue lights....ooh pretty) for around $18,000 out the door. Hands down this is the best car for the money!

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  Lots of Room, Fun to drive - 2004 Scion XB
  By Dan B. - July 23 - 10:00 am

  Im 64" and can comfortably sit and drive or sit directly behind someone my size. Has more room than anything I looked at and is at least $2K less. The interior room, standard equipement, gas mileage, and driveability makes this a great Cali commuter vehicle. Great for outings for my family of 4. Like someone else said, accels just as fast as my old F150, good enough!

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  I Love This Car - 2006 Scion XB
  By Rhonda J. Kuykindoll - July 22 - 1:13 am

  I love driving this car. It is so roomy. I am very comfortable driving my xB and I am glad I bought this vehicle. I was skeptical at first but when I test drove it for the first time I was immediately sold. It has a unqiue design which is why I also chose this model. Every time I see another person driving an xB I wave and they wave and smile back. It is fun to drive:)

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  best little big car this side of Japan - 2004 Scion XB
  By Amadeus - July 16 - 2:00 am

  A fantastic car. Its a definite attention getter with double takes and lots of questions. It rides solid and tight around corners and curves. Toyota did not waste space with extraneous features. It is really spacious inside front and back with nothing wasted. It feels like youre in an SUV and then you get out and realize (again) its a compact wagon. Finally, this car is excellently priced with all the goodies as standard features. Its not a gas guzzler (31/35mpg) I only extended the warranty. Everything else you could want is already included (with playful type options if you want them). Bottom line--its a fun, cool, cute, practical car.

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  2008 Scion xB - 2008 Scion XB
  By egotistical77 - July 12 - 6:33 pm

  Ive only had the xB for about 24 hrs, but already Im very, very impressed. The interior is is one of the features of the car that I was impressed with. I love the placing of the gauges, and the comfort of the drivers seat. The halogen headlights are awesome! I can see clearly at least a 1/4 mile away. Anyone considering purchasing one of the new xBs should really pick one up.