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2009 Scion xD Review

November 12, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

a Special Edition package, which includes unique trim and a lowered suspension
ConsumerGuide

a unique mix of hatchback and Mack truck
Edmunds

Snappy sheetmetal
Car and Driver

urban America meets Tokyo design
MyRide.com

Smaller and less boxy than its big brother xB, the 2009 Scion xD sports a distinctive shape that’s a mix of rounded, wedgelike, and boxy styling traits.

The 2009 Scion xD "looks pugnacious and utilitarian," writes Edmunds, calling it the "Bulldog Look." 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 Magazine), and "dramatically styled" (Road and Track). Concludes Automobile Magazine, "sharper styling, a wider stance, and tighter wheel-to-fender clearance eliminate the jellybean comparisons that plagued the xA." MyRide.com says the 2009 Scion xD "stands out in a good way from other cars in this segment."

Edmunds describes the interior environment as "avant-garde." With "golf ball-like dimples [that] cover most of dashboard and door panel surfaces," they say it's "nothing if not distinctive." The interior 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 Magazine. The "dash is simple and easy to navigate," according to Kelley Blue Book. MyRide.com notes, "The center stack also has some contouring instead of just a flat front."

Conclusion

The 2009 Scion xD is less polarizing than the bigger xB but still stands out in the crowded compact wagon class for its unique sheetmetal.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:a Special Edition package, which includes unique trim and a lowered suspensionConsumerGuidea unique mix of hatchback and Mack truckEdmundsSnappy sheetmetalCar and Driverurban America meets Tokyo designMyRide.com Smaller and less boxy than its big brother xB, the 2009 Scion xD sports a distinctive shape that’s a mix of rounded, wedgelike, and boxy styling traits. The 2009 Scion xD "looks pugnacious and utilitarian," writes Edmunds, calling it the "Bulldog Look." 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 Magazine), and "dramatically styled" (Road and Track). Concludes Automobile Magazine, "sharper styling, a wider stance, and tighter wheel-to-fender clearance eliminate the jellybean comparisons that plagued the xA." MyRide.com says the 2009 Scion xD "stands out in a good way from other cars in this segment." Edmunds describes the interior environment as "avant-garde." With "golf ball-like dimples [that] cover most of dashboard and door panel surfaces," they say it's "nothing if not distinctive." The interior 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 Magazine. The "dash is simple and easy to navigate," according to Kelley Blue Book. MyRide.com notes, "The center stack also has some contouring instead of just a flat front." ConclusionThe 2009 Scion xD is less polarizing than the bigger xB but still stands out in the crowded compact wagon class for its unique sheetmetal. 2009 SCION XD STYLING | [7 out of 10] ConsumerGuide: "a Special Edition package, which includes unique trim and a lowered suspension" Edmunds: "a unique mix of hatchback and Mack truck" Car and Driver: "Snappy sheetmetal" MyRide.com: "urban America meets Tokyo design" Smaller and ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

Compared to the 2009 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, nor does it have Toyota’s reputation for reliability. 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.

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See the Scion xD in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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