Entered CNET Catalog: 04/29/2005
SKU: CARSCIONXB
Manufacturer: Scion
Product summary
The good: Plenty of space; solid list of standard features, especially electronic driver aids; unique styling; surprisingly pleasant handling.
The bad: Lacks power; tiny tachometer on single central instrument pod; no Bluetooth or other high-tech cockpit gadgets.
The bottom line: The 2005 Scion xB offers style, utility, a roomy interior, and a surprising amount of safety technology for the price.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/08/2005
Roomy, with a view
The xB's airy interior is a welcome place to be, with high, supportive front seats and lots of room in all directions. The view out the front is excellent, with the center-mounted gauge pod allowing a low, sweeping dash that further enhances the feeling of roominess in what is a relatively small overall package. The gauge cluster itself, with multiple dials in a single circular binnacle flanked by the clock and warning lights, takes some getting used to, and the tachometer should either be larger or closer to the driver to be readily visible. The rear seats, with three three-point seatbelts and three headrests, are split 60/40 and fold flat to maximize load space. Rear-seat leg room is excellent even with the front seats all the way back, allowing use of the thoughtful small-bag hooks on the backs of the front seats. The comfortable seats in the limited-edition Release Series 2.0 we tested sport special color-keyed fabric inserts matching those in the doors and the exterior paint. As with the balance of the interior, the materials aren't exactly top quality, but they feel and look good enough for a car in this price range. The climate controls and the MP3-compatible CD stereo are laid out logically, and the six-speaker setup provides rich sound through Scion Sound Processing (basically, three preset equalizer settings). XM Radio is a $695 factory option, plus subscription.
On the road, the xB feels light and handles predictably, our test car no doubt helped by the seven-spoke alloy wheels included in the Release Series 2.0 package and the addition of an optional $225 front strut-tower brace from Hotchkis Performance. Sprouting from the center console, the manual transmission's shifter seems lengthy, but the grip falls readily to hand and, despite long throws, feels natural, finds its slots readily, and makes keeping the engine in its peak power band a welcome task. A tilt wheel makes getting comfortable easier.
Hidden technology
Technologies such as intelligent variable intake-valve timing, antilock brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle stability control, and traction control may seem relatively common these days, but the combination is an especially good value here and works well in providing efficient power and good road-holding. With only 108 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque from its 1.5-liter motor, the Scion took some revs to climb the steeper San Francisco hills, but acceleration was generally adequate, and highway cruising was stable in the absence of strong crosswinds. A traction control system with an override option assists with front-wheel slippage under acceleration, and torque steer was never an issue, given the engine's modest output. Toyota's variable timing mechanism, VVT-i, helps deliver impressive fuel economy ratings of 31mpg in the city and 34mpg highway, according to the EPA, when equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission as our test car was (for another $800, the automatic is rated at 35mpg highway). This mileage and the car's LEV emissions rating are impressive, considering its shape and its predictably high drag coefficient of 0.35Cd, but in our testing, interior noise levels suffer at 75db while cruising at 60mph.
Most of the xB's impressive technological wizardry is the kind you hope you'll never notice: selective throttle intervention and/or braking of individual wheels when sliding is detected front or rear, brakes that adjust the force at each wheel in response to differences in wheel speeds, and a system to generate additional braking if pedal pressure and travel suggest more may be needed in an emergency maneuver. Standard dual-stage front driver and passenger air bags are present in addition to the active electronics designed to keep occupants safe. The brakes, vented discs in front with drums at the rear, are effective if not impressive, with the standard ABS kicking in when needed. Seatbelts offer adjustable upper anchor points for front-seat passengers, a nice touch, given the seats' height in the vehicle. Side-impact door beams provide help with crashworthiness, while rugged hooks allow the addition of cargo nets (not included) to ensure items stay put in the event of a collision. A comprehensive three-year/36,000-mile warranty is standard, extending to five years or 60,000 miles for the power train. Also standard is five-year unlimited mileage corrosion protection. Three complimentary oil changes are included with every new Scion.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21out of 21 user reviews
Scion XB , In Need Arecal RECALLLLLLLLL!
Pros: Space for Dead body,
Cons: A lot problem from Toyota scion, made in Japan, weak engine, checking engine light on and off all time, Trac light, Stability light on for one week, off for one week, so many owner report this problem, & the Japanese do not issue a RECALL!!!!!!
out of 21 user reviews
ONE UGLY BOX!!!!!!
Pros: NONE FOR THIS CAR
Cons: DESIGN OF THIS CRAP
out of 21 user reviews
GREAT, practical, economical car
Pros: I love the spacious comfortable ride and economical gas mileage
Cons: Lack of color choices
I fell in love and could not stop thinking about it until I decided to go ahead and buy it. Since then I have been totally overjoyed that I made that decision.
Plus....it's a Toyota product. One of the best if not the best automaker available.
out of 21 user reviews
Why didn't they think of this before?
Pros: Tons of space, very practical
Cons: Lacks a little oomph on the Hills
The first time I sat in one I couldn't believe how big they were inside, it's incredible, there's even plenty of Leg Room for rear seat Passengers!!
The engine is smooth (up to a point) the auto tranny works beutifully, it will even learn the way you drive and up/downshift the way you like it. It's also a very smooth ride for such a small, lightweight Vehicle, most road surfaces are no problem. I just checked my Gas mileage after the first week and it was 28mpg, this is for mixed highway/traffic Jam driving, I expect it will improve after 1000 miles or so. The xB is built in Japan, it's extremely well put together, after all, it is a Toyota.
There are tons of things one can do to customise it, the list is endless. Mine came with the upgraded stereo which is iPod compatible and Custom Leather interior.
One thing to consider with overall running costs is that they depreciate very little, they're cheap to insure and of course they have legendary Toyota reliability.
If you're thinking of buying one go ahead and test drive, you'll be amazed!!
out of 21 user reviews
Great city car.
Pros: Gas-mileage, fun to drive, easy to park and extra space for hauling stuff.
Cons: Lack of power; horrible stereo, lack of dials (especially engine temp)
out of 21 user reviews
Excellent little box
Pros: Easy to drive, comfy and great mpg
Cons: Heater/defrost controls could use a mix between dash/defrost; high rpm at highway speeds
out of 21 user reviews
Mini- Minivan
Pros: Abundance of space for a small car
Cons: No cruise, Goodyear tires
out of 21 user reviews
Fun little econo-box!
Pros: Economical, practical, and just plain fun!
Cons: Much slower with four people inside!
out of 21 user reviews
Fabulous utility and reliability, great build quality
Pros: Interior space, driver visibility, mpg, features for the money
Cons: Underpowered (well, it is an econocar), road noise, no side air bags
So we found the xB. So far it's hauled a full sized futon, cabinets, ski stuff, and all of our camping gear - no problem. Plus our friends are happy to sit in the back.
Yeah, it's a little underpowered - so buy the manual! If you know how to drive a manual properly, you'll be fine merging onto the highway and passing. Or opt for the very tempting after-market turbocharger. And see the recent Road&Track road test - they say this car knocks the socks off a Prius.
Another review said theirs was falling apart after a few months. I've had this car for 18 months and have had NO quality issues. Excellent build quality.
And to the reviewer who mentioned "youth image", my dealer says these are mostly selling to young families, not teenagers.
out of 21 user reviews
It's a Huge Box
Pros: Huge inside; Small outside. Great MPG and Utility. Great car for upgrading stereo. Fun and nimble handling. Excellent Value
Cons: Weak and cheap feeling powertrain; youth image, noisy and unrefined. But it is what it is a inexpensive and efficient little fun car with lots of space.
First impression was how HUGE the inside is(I am a passenger first) and the back seat has more room than my Audi A6 and I get to cross my leg in the back. The digital stereo sounds more impressive on paper than it actually sounds and I hooked up my brother with 5ch amplified with double DIN Kenwood DVD system and a JL sub and sounded great as we are taking trips. There are lots of space for stereo stuff in the back and needed not a lot of power.
The engine is weak which is not a surprise but the stick shift felt really cheap and so is the feeling of throttle which has very shallow travel but it does get decent mpg of 28 despite constantly lead footing trying to keep up or ahead of traffic. At least the car felt reliable if noisy doing it.
If you like the style of this car, xB makes a lot more sense than the much smaller interior xA. I do not the the exact spec but to me it has the biggest interior space of any sub compact or compact or even most of midium sized sedan. For less than $15000 there isn't much other choices if space and utility is the priority.
However, if you are looking for a fine powertrain with better handling and power, look somewhere else because you ain't getting them with this car. If only this car comes with the 2.4 liter in the tC and a bit better NHV control, I'd pay $1500 more and would make this one of the best buy at $16000 ever. I am just glad that this car will open up door for cars like this which is efficient and make the best use of space it occupies.
out of 21 user reviews
Just a whole lot a smiles
Pros: Room, Mileage, Fun to drive
Cons: They all don't have a DC Sport Muffler
out of 21 user reviews
bold statement, low costs...tough market
Pros: toyota engine quality, fresh new look, good gas mileage
Cons: no speed or power, screaming for attention, thin market
out of 21 user reviews
This is one foxy box.
Pros: Roomy, good gas mileage (30+), seats fold down for cargo space.
Cons: No arm rest.
out of 21 user reviews
Don't look too deep into this thing...
Pros: Cheap and considered high style.
Cons: Cheap, poor quaility, slow.
out of 21 user reviews
Phenomenal fun and value
Pros: gas mileage safety room inside
Cons: not a speed demon
out of 21 user reviews
I luv the Scion XB, It cute and economical
Pros: Lots of room and lots of leg room no matter where
Cons: The Front seats, the back rest does not return, automatically
out of 21 user reviews
Both my wife and I lover our Box that why we each own one.
Pros: Great gas milage(32 Mine, 35 Wife) & both cars cost less that $28,000 out the door
Cons: Cup holder is in a very $##&%$$ bad position
out of 21 user reviews
Scion XB is great!!!
Pros: Great value, surprisingly roomy, great visibility from all internal viewing angles, 30+ MPG, inexpensive to customize lots of choices of aftermarket ad-ons, plenty of leg room in back seat
Cons: Low power engine, AC takes a while to get really cold on a hot day
out of 21 user reviews
Practical tested 100% Japanese Car
Pros: Stablilty,handling,sound package,mileage.controls
Cons: windshield wipers,
acceleration and reliability. The interior is calm and understated. The center gauge has made me a better driver since I do not have to search for it I wish my other cars had it.
The view is superior all vans and most SUVs at a fraction of there prices. Speaking of prices the 30mpg comes in very handy. The speaker system that is standard is a Pioneer
Stereo that must be heard to appreciate. The standard ABS and Traction Control work well together. Do not be decieved this car has been in production in Japan for many years. It is one of the few cars that are 100% Japanese = Quality Car. As for the idiots who look at it and say it is a ugly car. They are the same people who looked a early Japanese Cars and laughed at them who now pay premium prices for Acura's and Lexus' NO I am wrong after so many poorly built Pontiacs they can not afford a well built car
out of 21 user reviews
Afoordable, but butt ugly value
Pros: Lots of room inside, mp3 speakers, Toyota quality
Cons: ugly like sin. Underpowered
out of 21 user reviews
A fun car, that is affordable and roomy.
Pros: hassle free buying, easy handle, lots of options
Cons: power, 3 yr warranty-would of liked 5yr
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