08 Scion xB -- smoothed edges, larger, and more power

By ALAN GELL (6/07)
Automotive Journalist
 
The Scion xB was introduced just about 3 years ago and the little square box has almost become an icon in that short space of time.  It was funky looking, was great for attracting attention, and accepted by younger drivers as well as older folks.  The target audience by Scion was supposed to be the 20 and 30 year old range, but many buyers were in their 50's and 60's. 

The xB was planned to be personalized right from the git-go.  Today's youth grew up in a world that personalizes everything, even the ring tone on your cell phone to your computer screen display.  A cup of coffee isn't just a cup of coffee anymore.  Cream & sugar?  It goes way beyond that.  Starbucks, for example, offers 4 cup sizes, three types of cups, four types of coffee, four levels of caffeine, six types of milk, four ways to whip it, four levels of foam, three temperature variations, 15 flavored syrups, four toppings, and six different sweeteners.  This information was provided by Mark Templin, Vice President of  Scion, who noted that Starbucks appeals to that youth market who can order their coffee in almost 80 million different combinations at a Starbucks.

The Scion xB is designed for self-expression, and the Scion engineers listened to many of the present owners for input to make changes.  The 2008 Scion xB is longer -- by almost a foot.  It's wider -- by about 3 inches.  The standard wheels are now 16-inch size compared to 15 inch on previous models.  If you fold down the rear seats, the cargo volume has increased from about 45 cubic feet to about 70 cubic feet -- almost a 50 per cent increase.  And those rear seats fold flat, so that the cargo floor is flush and level, which also matches up with the back cargo door opening.

The new xB has a new steering wheel with audio controls and cruise control built in.  A storage box is hidden under the rear cargo floor.  Another storage tray is hidden under the seat cushion to keep laptops or cameras out of view.  Appealing to the younger market again, the audio system that comes standard is a Pioneer AM-FM-CD system with six speakers, an iPod adapter and an auxiliary input.  The controls for all this can be manipulated from the steering wheel, the audio unit in the dashboard or from the iPod itself.

If you were a fan of the TV show featuring Tim, the Tool Man, you remember him always asking for "More Power."   The most vocal xB owners were like that also.  So the new 2008 model has jumped up the engine to the 2.4 liter, 16 valve, 4 cylinder drive train that is used in the Scion tC.  It provides about 60% more power -- quite an improvement!

The previous models of the xB were chiseled looking, square cut, box-style looking.  The 08 has a softer, more rounded look.  The front windshield is slanted, or raked, more.  The back has so many more curves and features.  All the edges have been rounded slightly.  I'm sure the Scion engineers knew what they were doing, but the loss of that square box look is like having Volkswagen bury their beetle-bug image.  It doesn't make sense to me.  I want to run out and buy up a couple of the older model xB's.