A Review: Scion XB

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 is built on a mundane subcompact car platform, it has the body of a miniature delivery truck, and even after three years on the market, it still casts a distinctive silhouette. Additionally, Scion has made it easy for its customer base to personalize their xBs by offering an extensive list of aftermarket-type accessories, including wheels, body kits, lighting and mild performance modifications, right at the dealership. Pricing is no-haggle style, and Scion builds your vehicle to order in about a week.

Inside, the xB's boxy lines translate to a surprisingly roomy interior that allows young socialites to transport three to four friends with no complaints from the backseat. The 60/40 rear seats fold flat making the Scion xB the ideal cargo hauler for the move back into the dorms or out of the dorms and into apartments. Although the quality of the furnishings is about what you'd expect in a $14,000 economy car, the cabin's crisp lines, unusual colors and standard Pioneer stereo give it a surprisingly upscale feel.

Typically cars in this price range aren't much fun to drive but the Scion xB, while it is not an especially quick car, its suspension and steering are tuned to deliver crisp handling, furthering the impression that you're getting more than you paid for when you buy this compact wagon. With all these advantages, it comes as no surprise that the Scion xB has indeed proven popular with the younger clientele the company was hoping to attract. However, its appeal has not been lost on older buyers, who need a lot of room but don't want to spend a lot. It is not uncommon to see 30, 40 and even 50 year old men and women sporitng around towns and down the highway in this supposed teen car.

The Scion xB was introduced as a 2004 model in June 2003. Initially, it was sold only in California before 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 is better than average for a low-priced economy car, as every xB comes with ABS with a panic brake assist feature, 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 are also standard, but you can get alloy wheels as a low-cost accessory from the dealer or go out and get them from any rim shop. Side and head curtain airbags are optional.

The power source in every Scion xB is a 1.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine. In 2004 and 2005, it was rated for 108 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque, however, for the 2006 model year, new SAE certification procedures dropped the rating to 103 hp and 101 lb-ft. The xB's engine and acceleration were unchanged, though. We recommend sticking with the five-speed manual transmission if you can, as it gives the xB respectable point-and-shoot capability in freeway traffic. Acceleration can be sluggish with the four-speed automatic. Fuel economy on the compact wagon rates a frugal 31 mpg in the city and 34-35 mpg on the highway.

For the 2006 model year, the xB's stereo head unit was redesigned to incorporate an MP3 player jack. Additionally dedicated iPod owners have the option of purchasing a specialized unit that allows for player control and recharging through the xB's stereo controls. Other accessories to consider include 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 provides a rear entertainment system with dual 7-inch LCD screens mounted in the front headrests, for under 17k.

If you are looking for a roomy, hip car with out the traditional hip price tag the xB is totally worth looking into.