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2008 Scion xD Review

August 19, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

aggressive short, squat stance
Kelley Blue Book

a polarizing design
Car and Driver

more traditional driver centered dash
Automobile

dash is simple and easy to navigate
Kelley Blue Book

A unique exterior and a functional interior mesh for a funky, utilitarian aesthetic in the 2008 Scion xD.

From the outside, the 2008 Scion xD has a very aggressive style, with flared wheel wells filled by standard 16-inch wheels or optional alloys that range up to 18 inches. Says Car and Driver, “anyone who remembers the rounder version of the bean-and-box duo that launched Scion in the U.S. will be hard pressed to see the xD as anything but a replacement for the xA.” Critics generally like the departure from the xA’s rather generic duds, with adjectives such as “polarizing” (Car and Driver), “sharper,” (Automobile), and “dramatically styled” (Road & Track). Concludes Automobile, “sharper styling, a wider stance, and tighter wheel-to-fender clearance eliminate the jellybean comparisons that plagued the xA.”

The interior also shows that Scion learned lessons from the slow-selling xA. Gone is the awkward center-mounted speedometer, replaced by “a more traditional driver centered dash layout,” though it does have a nontraditional arrangement of speedo and tach in the same circular housing, “with their respective needles fluttering independently,” says Automobile. The “dash is simple and easy to navigate,” according to Kelley Blue Book.

Conclusion

The 2008 Scion xD makes a more compelling statement than its predecessor, the xA.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:aggressive short, squat stanceKelley Blue Booka polarizing designCar and Drivermore traditional driver centered dashAutomobiledash is simple and easy to navigateKelley Blue Book A unique exterior and a functional interior mesh for a funky, utilitarian aesthetic in the 2008 Scion xD. From the outside, the 2008 Scion xD has a very aggressive style, with flared wheel wells filled by standard 16-inch wheels or optional alloys that range up to 18 inches. Says Car and Driver, “anyone who remembers the rounder version of the bean-and-box duo that launched Scion in the U.S. will be hard pressed to see the xD as anything but a replacement for the xA.” Critics generally like the departure from the xA’s rather generic duds, with adjectives such as “polarizing” (Car and Driver), “sharper,” (Automobile), and “dramatically styled” (Road & Track). Concludes Automobile, “sharper styling, a wider stance, and tighter wheel-to-fender clearance eliminate the jellybean comparisons that plagued the xA.” The interior also shows that Scion learned lessons from the slow-selling xA. Gone is the awkward center-mounted speedometer, replaced by “a more traditional driver centered dash layout,” though it does have a nontraditional arrangement of speedo and tach in the same circular housing, “with their respective needles fluttering independently,” says Automobile. The “dash is simple and easy to navigate,” according to Kelley Blue Book. ConclusionThe 2008 Scion xD makes a more compelling statement than its predecessor, the xA.  2008 SCION XD STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: “aggressive short, squat stance” Car and Driver: “a polarizing design” Automobile: “more traditional driver centered dash” Kelley Blue Book: “dash is simple and easy to navigate” A unique exterior and a functional interior mesh ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Compared to the 2008 Scion xD, the Aveo5 has a more spacious, comfortable interior, but it lags in nearly all other areas, with a shorter features list, sluggish performance, and questionable safety. The Kia Rio5 is a better alternative, with a sportier driving feel and spacious interior, but it doesn’t match the xD either in terms of features for the money. The Nissan Versa feels like a bigger car, with the poise and a settled ride that’s a step above, but it doesn’t feel especially sporty from behind the wheel. Finally, the Honda Fit is probably the most practical choice of this group, while still feeling quite sporty to drive. Its plentiful headroom and a backseat large enough for adults, along with the Magic Seat design that expands to an impressive amount of cargo space, are unbeatable.

Next Steps:

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See the Scion xD in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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