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2011 Scion xB

Base MSRP: $16,000 to $18,405
Reviewed
August 2011
2011 Scion xB

Budget wagon

Pros
  • Spacious cargo and passenger room
  • Unique looks
  • Good audio systems
  • Responsive engine
Cons
  • Fuel economy disappoints
  • Center-mounted gauges
  • Some cheap interior bits
Where to Buy
 
 

Originally billed as the funky answer for younger buyers looking for a freshly-styled and hip-looking cheaper car, the xB is mellower now than when it was first introduced.

New for the 2011 model year are small exterior styling tweaks, a telescoping steering wheel, a clock separated from the other dashboard instruments and a new center armrest for the front seat. The Release Series trim level is now in its 8th iteration (hence Release Series 8.0) and features VooDoo Blue paint and blue interior accents as well as a body kit and a sunroof. Otherwise, the xB stays generally unchanged over the past couple of years. For a detailed analysis on this model, see our full report on the 2009 Scion xB (*Est. $15,750 to $16,700).

One of the original "box" cars (it's since been joined by rivals like the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul), the xB's square profile helps considerably in terms of cargo room and passenger space. Indeed, the xB's cargo capacity -- 21 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 70 cubic feet with them folded -- rivals or exceeds many small SUVs and crossovers like the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox (Base MSRP: $22,995 to $28,570), whose numbers are 31.5 cubic feet with the seats up, but only 63.7 cubic feet with them stowed. Reviews say that audiophiles will likely appreciate the xB's standard six-speaker Pioneer sound system, which includes iPod compatibility. An Alpine stereo upgrade adds a touchscreen interface.

One potential drawback to xB ownership is gas mileage. The Scion's 158-horsepower, four-cylinder engine is responsive, but it manages only decent fuel economy for a vehicle its size. Its 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined Environmental Protection Agency rating isn't bad, but newer vehicles such as the 2011 Kia Sportage (Base MSRP: $18,295 to $25,795) compact SUV put up better highway and all-around numbers. The Kia pulls down 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway/25 mpg overall. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the 2011 Scion xB, with a four-speed automatic available as an option. Again, newer hatchbacks and compact SUVs commonly feature five- or six-speed automatics nowadays.

Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, front-seat side and full-length curtain airbags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2011 Scion xB its highest rating -- Good -- in all tests, naming it a 2011 Top Safety Pick. The Scion has not yet undergone the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's stricter 2011 crash tests.

Base Scion xB models begin at an even $16,000, while the better-equipped, limited-edition Release Series 8.0 starts at $18,405.
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Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

Edmunds.com editors have little to complain about with the Scion xB except for its gas mileage. Passenger and cargo room in the boxy wagon are very good and the powerful standard and optional audio systems are a highlight. Edmunds notes a variety of tweaks made for 2011 and provides thorough assessments of the Scion's peppy driving demeanor.

Review: 2011 Scion xB, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. FuelEconomy.gov

At 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway24 mpg combined, the 2011 Scion xB returns respectable mileage according to these results from official government tests, but it still falls short of newer (and larger) vehicles like the Kia Sportage compact SUV.

Review: 2011 Scion xB, U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency

3. IIHS.org

The independent and nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the 2011 Scion xB a Top Safety Pick. The small, boxy station wagon aces all of the organization's independent safety tests.

Review: 2011 Scion xB, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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