2013 Scion xB - Quality Review

The boxy shape of the 2013 Scion xB has its advantages; but it doesn't pay off as much as it should when it comes to interior space and versatility.

That said, the xB is a roomy vehicle, and the versatile hatchback layout, combined with the tall roof, allow lots of space. But the seats in the xB are pretty close to a #fail in our opinion—they're neither extremely comfortable for passengers nor fold in a way that helps truly maximize potential cargo space. Being box-shaped has its virtues--the Scion xB has lots of interior room, and the versatile hatchback yields lots of cargo space. Still, we wish it had better seats.

In our experience in several xB testers, the seats don't yield the kind of long-distance comfort some buyers will demand. After about an hour, the softer cushions can grow uncomfortable, and the seatbacks feel thinly upholstered. There's also enough headroom, and the telescopic steering wheel allows a good driving position.

If you've shopped around among smaller hatchbacks and crossovers, you're bound to be more of a fan of the xB's back seat; with its tall doors and wide door openings, it's a snap to climb into—one of the reasons taxi companies in some cities have pressed the xB into service. And foot space under the front seats for second-row passengers is good, and they sit high for easy entry and exit. There's additional storage room under the second-row seats, plus interior bins and storage areas—especially with the available overhead console.

At first glance, the xB is entirely on its game with respect to seat-folding, but on a closer look there simply isn't as much space as you might expect in this large of a vehicle. The front passenger seat folds back almost flat, but the back seats seem to gobble up too much height when folded—and they don't fold completely flat.

Don't expect a lot of refinement in the xB; it's a vehicle built to a price point, so expect about the same standard of noise and vibration isolation as a compact car. 

The xB tends to ride quite well at lower speeds, but it's less comfortable for long-distance cruising—with pitchiness over imperfect roads with expansion strips or frost heaves.