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CA Passes Landmark Law Requiring Many More Zero-Emission Vehicles
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Last Friday, the influential California Air Resources Board adopted new emission rules that will... Read More
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Experts from TheCarConnection.com drove the Scion xD to write this firsthand road test summary. TCC has also compared the 2010 Scion xD with other small people movers to give you alternatives as you shop for your next vehicles. For the companion full review, TheCarConnection.com studied a wide range of expert-written reviews from other sources, to bring you a comprehensive look at the Scion xD. High Gear Media drove a manufacturer-provided Scion xD to produce this hands-on road test.
Likes:
- High value for low price
- Good crash-test scores
- Safety equipment
Dislikes:
- Front seats too thin
- Minimal rear headroom from stadium seats
- Subpar speakers for premium sound system
For 2008, the Scion xD replaced the xA as Scion's smallest model. In its third year, the 2010 Scion xD shares some mechanical parts with Toyota's subcompact Yaris, but befitting a line of cars aimed at young buyers, its styling is more aggressive inside and out.
From the outside, the 2010 Scion xD can seem slightly menacing. Some liken it to a bulldog-meets-Mack-truck look; others have compared it to blocky footwear. Such an upright profile provides lots of interior space, but the wind noise is notably higher than in sleeker hatchbacks. The standard 16-inch wheels sit inside flared wheel arches, with alloys ranging up to 18 inches offered as options. Inside, all Scions go to town. The gauge cluster of the 2010 xD resembles a clock face, and it's mounted on the steering column and moves as the wheel tilts.
The 2010 Scion xD has only one engine option: a 128-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder. It offers both more power and better gas mileage than the smaller engine in the Yaris, and it works well with either the four-speed automatic or the five-speed manual transmission. The xD has plenty of pep to keep up with traffic, even when hauling a full load of people and gear. And its fuel economy is on a par with that of the smaller, slower engine in the previous xA: 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway. The xD's automatic isn't quite as fuel-efficient as the five-speed automatic in the Honda Fit, and it forgoes a manual shift mode, a strange omission.
