2008 Scion xD Review

Toyota ’s youth-oriented Scion division adds a new model, the xD hatchback to its lineup later this summer. The xD, based on the new-generation Toyota Yaris, is about the same size as the xA it replaces, yet it’s notably sleeker and more athletically styled than the xA and offers more power, with a 128-hp, 1.8-liter engine.

When Toyota first rolled out its newly branded Scion line of urban-oriented small cars to the West Coast in 2003, the company had been convinced that the stubby xA hatchback would significantly outsell the xB, the boxy MPV.

We said it then, and we’ll say it again now. That the xB would be the hot seller of the two is a no-brainer. The xB was a box, unlike any other vehicle on the road, which made it very fresh and fashionable on the street, while the xA was a little…well…safe and conservative-looking, even if there were some flashy accessories available.

Now Scion has revamped those two models. The xB (mostly) keeps its boxy silhouette, but is a completely new vehicle inside and out, moving up a full size and no longer closely sharing its underpinnings with its smaller sibling (graduating to an excellent, torquey powertrain, plenty of back-seat space for adults, and cavernous cargo capacity). And the xA, fresh out of fashion boot camp, emerges about the same size but remarkably more sleek and svelte-looking than before, with more power to match, and earns the new designation of xD.

A racier new look

The resulting xD is much less snub-nosed and slab-sided than the former xA, looking more like a two-thirds-scale take on a performance-oriented crossover vehicle. On the outside, the xD has a more distinctive, upscale (for lack of a better word) look than the xA, with its arched “pagoda roof” and curvier sheetmetal, but overall it’s close enough to see that this is the xA’s successor. The xD does have a significantly more macho stance, though, thanks to wheel wells that flare out more prominently, filled with large 16-inch steel wheels. That’s not the end of it though; there are 17-inch alloys with a black finish, and special TRD 18-inchers, which really stuff those wheel wells and make the xD look like a seriously racy hot hatch.

There’s a bit more power underhood to match that image, too. The 1.5-liter engine, which provided peppy performance provided you were willing to keep the revs up, is now gone and replaced with a more robust mill, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder making 128 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. As before, it’s offered with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.

The new engine employs Toyota ’s Dual VVT (variable valve timing with intelligence) system, which helps improve emissions, efficiency, and response through the rev range. It has a much stouter torque curve than the engine it replaces, which means you don’t have to rev the engine into its upper range to access the power needed for demanding urban driving situations, like scooting quickly into gaps, which also makes it a much better partner with the available automatic transmission. Like most of Toyota’s four-cylinder engines that haven’t been tuned for high-performance applications, the 1.8-liter produces more noise in its upper rev range without much additional reward, but ease of the throttle, keeping the revs in that sweet spot in the middle of the tach, and this is a very torquey, smooth and civil engine.

But despite the added power and drivability, the new xD isn’t really going to be that much faster than the outgoing xA in all-out acceleration numbers. Looking at the xD’s actual power-to-weight ratio, it’s improved only slightly over the xA’s 108-hp engine, as the xD weighs about 300 pounds more than the xA. Though, at around 2600 pounds, the xA isn’t particularly heavy in this day and age for a small car.

Fuel economy is quite impressive. With the federal government’s new way of figuring gas mileage, which is supposed to more closely mirror rear-world driving, the xD is rated at 27 city, 33 highway with the standard stick. Although that’s quite a bit lower than last year’s xA estimates, the EPA has converted previous year’s results at www.fueleconomy.gov and the difference looks to be only about one mile per gallon, which will probably shake itself out considering the engine doesn’t require as much revving in real-world driving.

The rest of the driving experience is about as expected for a small car with a sporty edge. With MacPherson struts in front and a torsion-beam setup in back, handling is nimble overall but not in the same realm as, for instance, the MINI Cooper or the Mazda3. The xD rides quite firmly, hopping over minor bumps and clunking through potholes, though it yields in front to understeer as any safe small car should. The braking system uses discs in front and drums in back, but anti-lock is standard and there’s plenty of stopping power and a good pedal feel. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is the sole factory option.

All the other safety features you might find on competing vehicles in this price range are standard on the xD. That includes front-seat side airbags, side-curtain bags, and active head restraints. And the automaker anticipates that the xD will receive a “Good” rating in both frontal and side impact crash tests.

At less than 155 inches long and about 68 inches wide, with a wheelbase of about 97 inches, the xD is a very small car by American standards. Inside, the xD has a fair amount of space considering its very compact outside dimensions, but with 84.5 cubic feet of passenger volume and 10.5 cubic feet of cargo space, it’s a bit smaller inside than the equally sprightly and easy-to-park Honda Fit, which we would estimate to be the xD’s primary competitor. It’s largely the price of fashion, as the Fit’s shape is a little blockier, its roofline not tapered like the xD’s.

The xD’s front seats are quite comfortable and supportive, but the lower cushions are just too short for taller folks, a common complaint in small cars. In back the seat slides fore and aft six inches, depending on the size of your back-seat passengers or cargo, and the 60/40-split rear seatback (with three adjustable headrests) can recline ten degrees. If your passengers in back are adults, they may need to recline as headroom is scarce back there.

The xD’s instrument panel is completely different than that of the xA. Most notably, the gauges are now where they belong — in front of the driver. We never warmed to the idea, in the xA, of having the gauges in the center of the dash. The gauges themselves in the xD are quite distinctive; the speedometer and tachometer are positioned concentrically, and the circular gauge face reminds us of the chronograph-inspired ones used in the last-generation Lexus IS. And there’s a standard trip computer that can display average fuel efficiency, remaining range, and average speed.

Even though the interior isn’t absolutely spacious, there are plenty of smaller bins for things. The glovebox has two large separate (upper and lower) compartments; there are a total of eight cup and bottle holders (including a sturdy fold-out one at the far right side of the dash); and the bottom of the dash and the center console have useful storage spaces.

The sound systems in the xD are both supplied by Pioneer and include auxiliary-in and iPod inputs. The Pioneer Premium Audio system that’s optional is much like the standard system except it includes the ability to download and play ‘skins’ — short customizable screen-savers or animations that repeat — on the electroluminescent screen. The systems suffer, as aftermarket systems often do, from an awkward interface that we didn’t warm up to through the drive. Sound quality was also an issue; the systems sounded okay provided the volume was in the lower range, but crank it up — as Scion owners are probably more likely to do — and the sound quality suffers, with the bass getting noticeably distorted. To my rudimentary knowledge of car audio, it seemed like a case of the head unit putting out too much power, at too wide of a frequency range, for the speakers to handle. Subwoofers are available, and there are easy outputs for external amps.

There’s also a navigation system available on the xD. The system fits nicely in place of the standard sound system and includes audio and video operations, allowing DVDs to be played when the vehicle is parked. The system also boasts iPod connectivity and is satellite radio ready.

The sheer magnitude of standard equipment is mind-blowing when you compare it to some of the competition. Conveniences like air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, a 160-watt, six-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system that’s MP3 and satellite compatible, a rear wiper, a first-aid kit, and power windows, locks, and mirrors, are all included in the base price, which is expected to be up slightly from the xA’s $13,360 base. In competing vehicles, some of these items are only available as part of expensive option packages.

Typically U.S. dealers aren’t as motivated to sell small cars, or to give small-car buyers the level of attention that would keep them as customers, because the profit margins are so small. But under Scion’s approach, aimed at bringing young buyers into the Toyota/Lexus fold, hopefully to become repeat customers, all the popular conveniences are included in the sticker price, and buyers are encouraged to customize their vehicles at the sale, or afterward, with an extensive array of dealer- and port-installed accessories.

All the signs are there that Scion’s unique approach is working, say company officials, with satisfied buyers averaging about $1000 per vehicle in dealer add-ons, and add-ons can be wrapped into factory financing for up to ten percent of the vehicle price, typically.

Some cosmetic examples include special shift knobs, an interior illumination package with four possible colors, an overhead console, exhaust tips, carbon-fiber trim, illuminated scuff plates, and an enhanced grille.

And for the first time there’s a complete body kit available through dealerships. Supplied by Five Axis, the urethane kit includes front, rear and side lip spoilers that bring, from what we’ve seen, a much racier look.

Then there are performance accessories, most of them under the auspices of TRD, Toyota ’s performance line. Examples include a quick-shifter kit, brake kit, limited-slip differential, sport muffler, lowered springs, anti-sway bar, and cold-air intake.

Weighing the xD in against other competitors like the Nissan Versa, Kia Rio5, the xD seems like the clear winner…until you look at the Honda Fit. The Fit, with a design that’s already several years old, doesn’t have an interior that’s quite as stylishly designed, but it is certainly more cleverly designed and spacious, with about five cubic feet more passenger volume than the xD, more seating space in most respects, and significantly more cargo space — thanks to its trick Magic Seat system, which does for small cars what Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go did for minivans. We also appreciate the Honda Fit’s frisky performance and handling, too, in factory-finished form, pre-modifications, although Honda offers a fair number of accessories, too.

Ultimately, though, we think most will agree that the xD is better-looking than the Fit, and for fickle young buyers, eager to make a statement with what they drive, that may make all the difference.

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Engine: 1.8-liter in-line four, 128 hp

Drivetrain: Five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Length x width x height: 154.7 x 67.8 x 60.0 in

Wheelbase: 96.9 in

Curb weight: 2625 lb

Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 27/33 mpg

Safety equipment: Front-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags, active front headrests, anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist, first-aid kit; optional stability control

Major standard equipment: Power windows/locks/mirrors; air conditioning; keyless entry; cruise control; split-folding rear seats; rear wiper; tilt steering wheel with audio controls; six-speaker, trip computer; 160-watt, MP3-compatible CD sound system w/ iPod connectivity

Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles