Road tests

No, this is not the box that they ship MINI Coopers in, it’s a 2004 Scion xB.  If you shop at Wal-Mart, watched every episode of American Idol, and think a Disney cruise is the be-all, end-all of vacations, then you’ve probably already said to yourself, “That’s the ugliest car I’ve ever seen,” and moved on.  You’re probably not even reading the rest of this review.

And that’s just fine with Scion, Toyota’s new division.  When it comes to the 2004 xB, as this little mailbox of a car is known, Scion doesn’t expect the mainstream to Get It.  This is a car with attitude, a no-compromise, cutting-edge car aimed straight at the urban fashion makers and trend-setters of the world.  Scion isn’t just a new way for Toyota to sell compact cars to first-time buyers.  They’re purveyors of what they call “cars with opinions.”

Then again, we’ve heard all of that marketing fluff before, and it’s certainly not our job to cram advertising down your throat.  You decide for yourself what the xB is; we’ll tell you about the machine itself.  The xB is a sharp-edged, cube-shaped subcompact.  It’s based on a Japanese-market car called the BB.  Box-shaped cars have been all the rage in Japan lately, but only Honda’s Element and the xB have attempted to bring the straight-edge look Stateside.  Compared to the BB, the xB has wider tires and a lower stance.  Luxury and handling items have also been added, to appeal to American buyers unaccustomed to the Spartan nature of Japanese-market economy cars.  Comparisons between the Element and the xB are unavoidable, but they’ve got little in common.  The Element is several sizes larger and about $10,000 more expensive than the xB, and they’re nothing alike.

Size-wise, the xB actually compares to another recent hipster darling, Chrysler’s PT Cruiser.  It’s a bit shorter in length and taller in height than the PT, but interior room is comparable.  The design aesthetic is a hundred and eighty degrees different, though.  The xB is smooth, as if made of cloth stretched over a frame, instead of metal.  The front bumper is huge, with a deep airdam and stacked grilles.  The windshield and delicate grille are at similarly vertical angles, and the xB’s windows and corners are pushed out as far as they’ll go, to maximize interior space.  As a result, the xB has a lot of presence; it takes up as much visual space as it possibly can, even though the car is almost two feet shorter than a Ford Escape.  The back end is a sheer, painted cliff, and the taillights are frosted.  We think it’s cool-looking, but the xB is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it car.

Behind the wheel, it’s hard to get a sense of the xB’s size at first.  The high roof, short body, and wide interior conspire to create a car with stubby dimensions that doesn’t feel the least bit stubby.  The vertical windshield is far away from the driver, but once you’ve gotten used to that you’ll find that visibility is quite good.  The seats are tall and comfortable, rear-seat legroom is astonishingly cavernous and the centralized instrument panel is about two sizes too small to be easily read.  It’ll fit five with space to spare.  When the xB’s not being a fashion accessory, it’s a pretty useful–another similarity to the PT Cruiser.  It’ll swallow 43.4 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded, and the dashboard is a storage revolution, with shelves and cubbies tucked into every possible cranny.  In spite of the goodness of the economy-car parts, it’s hard to imagine going out to get groceries with an xB.  This car feels like a giant raver’s accessory, whose only purpose in life is to go club-hopping at night.  The sound system is borrowed in part from the Lexus ES300, and the display’s color can be changed to suit your mood.

It doesn’t look like a sports car, but Scion tuned the xB for responsiveness.  With MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam suspension in the rear the suspension is firm without being sports-car stiff.  On rough roads it will punish drivers with sensitive behinds, but the tradeoff is excellent handling on smooth city streets.  Nipping around town is a delight in the xB thanks to the suspension and responsive rack and pinion steering.

Power is provided by a 1.5 liter four-cylinder. Toyota’s variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) helps it make the most of the 108 horsepower on tap.  We didn’t have a problem with the xB’s urge anywhere except on freeway onramps, where the little box runs out of steam just before it’s going fast enough to keep up with traffic.  Eventually it’ll keep up, but there are a few tense seconds between fifty-five and sixty-five miles per hour where the outcome is in doubt.  The xB is happiest on city streets.  We liked the standard five-speed manual transmission better than the four-speed automatic we sampled.

Scion’s little box is more than ready to be your best friend, with a lot of standard equipment, especially considering the low starting price of $13,680.  Stability control, an MP3-capable CD player, power windows and air conditioning are all standard at that price.  Optional accessories for maximum personalization abound, from graphics and body trim for the outside, to instrument panel trim and sound equipment for the inside, to Toyota Racing Development go-fast parts for the underside.  The Scion xB may not be for everyone, but for those who Get It, it just may be the perfect automotive companion.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Scion xB, which we tested.
Length:         155.3 in.
Width:            66.5 in.
Height:            64.6 in.
Wheelbase:        98.4 in.
Curb weight:        2395 lb.
Cargo space:        21.2 cu.ft. (seats up); 43.4 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:         $13,680
Engine:         1.5 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain:         five-speed automatic, front-wheel
Horsepower:         108 @ 6000
Torque:         105 @ 4200
Fuel capacity:        11.9 gal.
Est. mileage:        31/35