I've been driving our 2008 Scion xB for almost two weeks now. And I'm still not quite sure what I think of it. Rationally, there's a lot to like. It looks distinctive, is roomy, can be fitted with a lot of customizing accessories and has decent pep from the 2.4-liter engine...
And lots of people love their first-generation xBs.
Yet when I look at or drive our xB, I'm left feeling largely indifferent. If somebody secretly switched out our xB overnight for a Brand X Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser or Mazda 3, I certainly wouldn't be broken up about it.
Perhaps the xB lost some of its mojo at the generation switch. When it got bigger, roomier and more powerful, it became more like everything else.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 10,152 miles
orangutan says:
11:52 AM, 12/ 3/07
They should've changed the name like they did with the xA.
texases says:
12:33 PM, 12/ 3/07
Any idea how overall sales are going? I don't see many 2008s around Dallas. Also, what's the overall mpg to date?
bromans says:
12:53 PM, 12/ 3/07
Texases: I was wondering about sales as well. I looked at them this morning. According to Automotive News, 38,207 xBs have been sold through October 2007. Same time last year, 54,495 xBs had been sold. That's a big drop, but I do believe it's misleading. I think Scion tapered off production/sales of the first-gen xB earlier this year while getting ready for the release of the new model.
I'll report on fuel economy later this week. -- Brent
sodaguy says:
12:57 PM, 12/ 3/07
Brent, are you going to post a service visit report for this vehicle some time? I noticed that it is already at 10k.
06scooby says:
01:32 PM, 12/ 3/07
man up here in Reno they are everywhere as cabs!!! some cab company started to buy a ton of them and I see the 2008's as white cabs! I've only seen a couple that didn't have a phone number plastered down the side and a sign on top!
jriz says:
01:48 PM, 12/ 3/07
It's funny you should mention that they are cabs in Reno. My first reaction after sitting in the xB's back seat was "this would make an excellent cab!" Comfy seats, tall roof, good leg space, spacious cargo area and good fuel economy (at least compared to Crown Vics and other cabs). For the same reasons, the Prius makes a good cab too -- I saw quite a few of them in Vancouver -- seems like a good way to test a hybrid's long term reliability.
stovt001 says:
02:31 PM, 12/ 3/07
Yeah, the new xB would make a great cab. They seem similar in size to the typical British taxis here in England.
louiswei says:
02:59 PM, 12/ 3/07
xB sales in 11/2006: 3,481
xB sales in 11/2007: 3,842
jriz says:
03:04 PM, 12/ 3/07
"Yeah, the new xB would make a great cab. They seem similar in size to the typical British taxis here in England."
They're not that good. Nothing beats London cabs for space efficiency. Three-spot bench seat, two rear-facing jump seats and luggage space next to the driver. Plus it runs on diesel. I've actually seen a few in Vegas.
texases says:
03:24 PM, 12/ 3/07
Thanks, Louis - I may be missing them in Dallas because of the drab color options on the xB. All the colors are dark, boring, or both!
stovt001 says:
04:14 PM, 12/ 3/07
Yeah James, I do love the cabs here. I only used them once, as the exchange rate has me walking everywhere, but fitting two people, four suitcases, and four carry-on bags was pretty darn impressive. Nothing beats them, but I still think the xB could be a good cab. At least it is a bit more fuel efficient than a crown vic.
roar02ram says:
11:22 AM, 12/ 6/07
Nothing beats the London cab because the London cab has a very tiny trunk. In reality, the xB is really close in size to a London cab and probably would be similarly roomy if its trunk were reduced to a size similar to that of the London cab.