Saturday, September 7, 2013
2008 Scion xB review
The new xB is much better than the xD inside and out. I guess Id fork over the extra thousand or two to get the xB over the xD.If you go to accessories, apparently a nav system with DVD capability will be avaliable, as well. Hopefully, itll have Bluetooth, too. That would make the Scions so much more appealing to the tech nerd in me.
If it has Bluetooth, then even better. Thatd spur me to shove pictures of the Scions in my parents face until either of the cars gro on them. XD Yes, theyre so appealing that Id be willing to give up the Prius.
The all-new xB is powered by a 2.4-liter dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) which produces 158 horsepower, 55 more than the previous generation. The xB features either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic with sequential shifting, a first for automatic four-speeds in the Scion line-up.
Aside from a new engine, the xB is based on a new platform. It has a four-inch longer wheelbase than the old xB and is also three inches wider, while the overall length grows by a foot. The result is a better ride and a substantial increase in cargo volume behind the rear seats from 21 to 29 cubic feet.
Despite its increase in size, the upcoming xB still has the iconic boxy look that has proven so popular. Somehow Scion designers have managed to update this box with more rounded corners. Noticeably at the front where the deep bumpers are so well integrated into the front fenders that they help make the box look even boxier. The roof is one of the flattest roofs seen in a long time. Yet it adds to the character, especially where it drops almost vertically down to the large C-pillar. One advantage of this commercial look is a large tailgate that makes it easier to get bikes and surfboards into the back.
The interior is accentuated with an unusual instrument cluster that features four round gauges overlapping each other in a horizontal pod mounted up high on the dashboard just to the right of the steering wheel. Its not quite in the center as in other models but is slightly slanted toward the drivers line of vision.
The shifter, linked to either a five-speed manual or a sequential-shift four speed automatic, is mounted high up so it easily falls to hand. The new xB sports 16-inch wheels, an inch bigger than those on the current xB.
In addition to the electronic gadgetry, the t2b boasts a surprisingly roomy cabin, an impression aided by the wraparound windshield and fixed moonroof panels, as well as the upside-down trapezoid shape of the interior. Cabin flourishes include specially contoured seats, zippered storage compartments (including one in the steering wheel), and a unique floor, where the carpet pokes through long, rubberized slots like perfectly manicured hedges in a row. The concept is built on an all-new platform and is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic. It sits on twenty-inch polished aluminum wheels.
XB models with a manual transmission will have an MSRP of $15,650, an increase of $1,620 or 11.5 percent. The MSRP for automatic transmission models will be $16,600, an increase of $1,770 or 11.9 percent. The new xB will reach Scion dealers in early May.
