Photos: 2008 Scion xB and Scion xD
Scion held a launch event in San Francisco for its updated xB and all-new xD. Scion cars rolled into showrooms across the country only three years ago, and the unique shape of the xB gave the new brand immediate iconic status. For the 2008 model year, the xB gets a significant remake. Scion also dropped its xA model completely, replacing it with the xD. The new xB is hitting showrooms now, while the xD rolls out in a few months.
Scion extended the xB by almost a foot and smoothed over the body. The front and sides are simpler, while an overlarge D-pillar extends from the rear side window to the back of the car. In our drive, we didn't feel the rear visibility was compromised much, as the rear window is still sizable.
The back of the xB is as boxy as ever, while the reverse light gets offset to the left of the bumper. The car appears tall, but it handles reasonably well. Antilock brakes, electronic brake distribution, and brake assist are all standard.
The rear seat in the xB offers a surprising amount of room. One attendee at the launch event suggested it would make a good taxi. The 2008 model gets standard 16-inch wheels, 1 inch bigger than the previous generation.
The new xB gets a 2.4-liter engine producing 158 horsepower at 6,000 RPM, and 162 pound-feet of torque. The car we drove had a four-speed automatic, and showed good acceleration. A five-speed manual is also available.
Both the xB and xD get LED turn signals built into the side mirrors.
The dashboard gets a makeover in the xB, with a digital speedometer, tachometer, and other gauges moving to the center. Checking our speed required a glance to the right, which wasn't entirely convenient.
Scion offers a lot of customization for its cars. The xB and xD come with a choice of three stereos, each with six standard speakers. This top-end Pioneer unit features GPS navigation.
The four-speed automatic includes a manual gear selection mode, but with so few gears to choose from, it's of limited use.
The all-new xD is built on the Toyota Yaris platform. It's a big departure from the xA, so Scion gave it a new model name. This car's more conventional look makes it less of a statement, but still a high-quality compact car.
The xD is substantially bigger than the xA. But one of our taller colleagues pointed out that there isn't much rear headroom.
The xD has the same large roster of accessories as the xB. We drove one that sported a few Toyota Racing Development upgrades, which improved greatly on the shifter, which was mediocre with the standard five-speed manual. The car's standard 1.8-liter engine is adequate but unexciting.
This picture shows the base-level stereo in the xD. Audio controls on the steering wheel are standard in both the xB and xD.
This Pioneer stereo is the midlevel unit available in both the xB and xD. Its screen can show owner photos or short animations. We're not crazy about the joystick/knob, which feels a little fiddly.
Both the xB and xD come with ports for a minijack and an iPod. The iPod integration is excellent, letting you select songs from the stereo interface.
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