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2008 Scion xD Quality Review

August 19, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Toyota-like solid feel
Car and Driver

pragmatic transportation
New York Times

Buy it cheap and make it your own
Automobile

slightly less interior and cargo room” (vs. xA)
Kelley Blue Book

lots of tire noise
ConsumerGuide

Improved ergonomics and solid Toyota quality found in the 2008 Scion xD are let down by smaller interior volume and a lack of refinement.

Up front in the xD, ConsumerGuide finds “good seat comfort and driver positioning, but the seat lacks height adjustment, and taller folks might find headroom and legroom tight.” Automobile also gives the xD’s interior a demerit for “limited headroom.” Perhaps as a concession for the lack of headroom also found in the back of the xD, the rear seats “slide six inches and recline up to 10 degrees,” reports Automobile. Still, ConsumerGuide is not impressed: “The seat is high set, but entry and exit suffer from fairly narrow door openings. Limited legroom means even smaller passengers will be cramped.”

Kelley Blue Book notes there’s actually “slightly less interior and cargo room” in the new xD versus the xA it replaces. They appreciate its “storage for odds and ends up front, including an upper and lower glovebox on the passenger's side.”

Materials are deemed of good quality, with more Toyota quality seemingly baked in than in the xA. “Its doors close with a reassuring thunk,” says Car and Driver, “and bumps don’t rattle through the cabin.” Automobile, though, finds fault with the xD’s refinement: “all of the xD's square edges don't help with wind noise, which at speed competes with road noise that's translated through relatively wide 195/60HR-16 tires.” ConsumerGuide reports similar complaints, claiming “the engine buzzes under acceleration, and there's lots of tire noise on all except smooth asphalt.”

Conclusion

If not for the similarly priced Honda Fit, the lack of refinement in the sub-$15,000 might be understandable.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Toyota-like solid feelCar and Driverpragmatic transportationNew York TimesBuy it cheap and make it your ownAutomobileslightly less interior and cargo room” (vs. xA)Kelley Blue Booklots of tire noiseConsumerGuide Improved ergonomics and solid Toyota quality found in the 2008 Scion xD are let down by smaller interior volume and a lack of refinement. Up front in the xD, ConsumerGuide finds “good seat comfort and driver positioning, but the seat lacks height adjustment, and taller folks might find headroom and legroom tight.” Automobile also gives the xD’s interior a demerit for “limited headroom.” Perhaps as a concession for the lack of headroom also found in the back of the xD, the rear seats “slide six inches and recline up to 10 degrees,” reports Automobile. Still, ConsumerGuide is not impressed: “The seat is high set, but entry and exit suffer from fairly narrow door openings. Limited legroom means even smaller passengers will be cramped.” Kelley Blue Book notes there’s actually “slightly less interior and cargo room” in the new xD versus the xA it replaces. They appreciate its “storage for odds and ends up front, including an upper and lower glovebox on the passenger's side.” Materials are deemed of good quality, with more Toyota quality seemingly baked in than in the xA. “Its doors close with a reassuring thunk,” says Car and Driver, “and bumps don’t rattle through the cabin.” Automobile, though, finds fault with the xD’s refinement: “all of the xD's square edges don't help with wind noise, which at speed competes with road noise that's translated through relatively wide 195/60HR-16 tires.” ConsumerGuide reports similar complaints, claiming “the engine buzzes under acceleration, and there's lots of tire noise on all except smooth asphalt.” ConclusionIf not for the similarly priced Honda Fit, the lack of refinement in the sub-$15,000 might be understandable.  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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