2008 Scion xD - Or what happens when you shrink a xB.

To help Americans forget about the not-so-cool xA, Toyota has completely changed the name (or the letter) of its entry-level compact for the youth oriented Scion brand: now titled xD. The xD competes against the mass of compact econo-hatches on the market, including the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, and Dodge Caliber.


Styling: 9/10

The one pitfall that the most likely lead to the xA's sluggish sales was its road presence or lack thereof. Where the xB grabbed our attention immediately with its avant-garde design, the xA failed to offer the same je ne sais quoi of the xB. Fast-forward three years and Toyota has ever so quickly realized that if it was going to make the xA a sales hit (like the xB), it would be smart to imitate. That being said, the new xD looks much like the newly redesigned xB, albeit on a smaller scale. Compared to the xA the new xD offers more angular lines giving it that boxy look that was devoid from the xA, a more aggressive front fascia, and an overall road presence that can't be ignored.

Performance:

Unlike most cars that have a trim level designation after their model name, i.e. the Camry "LE" or Corolla "XRS" to signify standard amenities, the xD is devoid of any segregating trim level designations. Under the hood of all xD's is Toyota's 1.8-liter VVT-I 4-cylinder (the same engine that sits under the hood of the 2009 Corolla) making 128 horsepower and 126 lb.-ft of torque. Transmission options include a standard 5-speed manual gearbox (equipped in my tester) and a 4-speed automatic for an additional $800.

Acceleration: 7/10

Although 128 horsepower and even less torque made to move almost 2,700lbs of mass isn't a recipe for thrills, the xD provides enough grunt for just about any driving situation. Flooring the throttle at a stoplight certainly won't pin the driver in the xD's seats, however it's enough power to move this hefty little wagon without too much fuss. The new xD also provides much more confidence when merging from on ramps into fast paced traffic. Where the xA needed to be revved hard just to get up to highway speeds, the xD can achieve the same feat without necessarily having to floor the throttle or take the engine to red line between shifts. If the xA was a turn-off with its high revving 1.5-liter engine, the xD's larger more tame 1.8-liter 4-cylinder should be welcomed. It should be noted that Toyota does offer a few performance upgrades for this car. For a very slight increase (if that) in performance, Scion offers the option of a TRD K&N-type air filter ($80) and an aftermarket performance TRD muffler for $409.

Quality 8/10

The biggest difference with the xA and xD's engines is the amount of engine noise. Where the xA emitted a nasty buzz under full or even partial throttle, the xD's 4-cylinder is more tame: emitting only a harsh note above 5,000 RPM. Because much of the xD's power can be exploited below 5,000 RPM, engine noise is usually not an issue and is comparable with the noise levels of the 2009 Corolla, at least at lower speeds. The one gripe that I do have with the xD's engine is its tendency to get noisy above 70 MPH. The xD has a lower top gear ratio than most of its competitors and less insulation (or so it seems) making engine noise a sad reality at 70 MPH.

Transmission 5-speed 8/10

While the xD's 5-speed manual gearbox is better evolved than the 5-speed in the xA, I would have liked to have seen Toyota make this gearbox more sporty. Toyota markets the Scion brand as a Toyota for the younger crowd, so a slick shifting 5-speed would have been welcomed. Don't get me wrong there are much worse gearboxes in this class (the Versa’s 6-speed to name one), but I would have liked to have seen Toyota shorten the throws of the shifter and make gear engagement smoother. On a positive note, this transmission’s gearing is just about perfect for the small engine that it's coupled to. The xD's manual is geared low enough so the engine doesn’t bog down significantly when up-shifting under full or partial throttle, but it also provides a short enough 5th gear ratio as to keep the xD's engine from bogging down on he highway while climbing steep terrain or when passing big trucks.

Handling & Braking: 8/10

Despite being based on the same platform as the clumsy Toyota Yaris, I found the xD to be adequately nimble on twisty roads. On curvy roads the xD doesn't feel sporty by any stretch of the imagination, however it also doesn't feel unstable. Take a turn too sharply and xD exhibits only moderate body roll and thanks to the relatively large (for this class) 16" 195/60 all season tires, the xD always seemed firmly fixed to the road, even with its old fashioned semi-independent rear torsion bean suspension. The one gripe that I do have (as with most new Toyota products) is the xD's electric steering. While some cars in this class, i.e. the Nissan Versa, still provide decent feedback with their electric power steering, I found the xD' steering to feel completely disconnected from the road: much like the new Corolla's electric steering system.

Braking ranks well above average. Unlike some of its competitors, the xD is able to come to a stop from high speeds with little effort. It should also be noted that the safety of ABS brakes comes standard on the xD, something that is still just an option on some of the xD’s competitors.

On the highway: 7/10

Although the Corolla and the xD share the same engine, you'd never guess they were the same by the differing noise levels on the highway. Where the Corolla is almost silent at highway speeds, the xD emits a moderate groan at highway speeds and flirts on the verge of being harsh at 70 MPH. The fly in the ointment here is the xD's relatively low top gear: a taller 5th or even a 6th gear would have been a nice touch. The payoff of a low top gear, however, is that the xD's modest engine power is almost always accessible on the highway, with no need to downshift the 5-speed gearbox on even steep inclines. Unless you live in the Rocky Mountains or Sierra Nevada, I don't see the xD posing much of a problem here: it certainly is better suited for mountainous terrain than the base Dodge Caliber or the Honda Fit. Aside from engine, the xD also suffers from a fair amount of wind and road noise. Toyota undoubtedly ditched a lot of insulation to save on weight and cost.

Although the xD wagon doesn't have the softest suspension in this class, the ride isn't any more harsh than, say, the Nissan Versa or the Dodge Caliber. Yes, those road reflectors can be felt, but for a car in this class I thought the xD did a good job keeping moderate pot holes isolated from the cabin. Also nothing in the Cabin rattles over rough road surfaces: typical of Toyota.

Fuel Economy: 9/10

The xD was made to be an affordable wagon, not only to buy, but also to drive. Despite its bigger engine, heftier weight, and increase in power over the xA, fuel economy has only suffered marginally and comes very close to the fuel numbers produced by the Honda Fit and smaller Toyota Yaris. According to the new EPA ratings, the xD will achieve 27 MPG in town (26 MPG with the automatic) and 33 MPG on the highway (32 MPG with the auto).

Interior:

Styling: 8/10

The interior of the xD is painfully geared for those who value unique styling over function. Inside the xD's charcoal black interior (black in the only color scheme) you'll find a host of interesting shapes, wonky gauges, and a laminated center stack that Toyota has made look like a vertical boom-box. The overall result is a fun look that will undoubtedly be appreciated by youngsters (even the HVAC dials look like they are for turning up the fun factor of the vehicle), however function has been slightly compromised. For example, the HVAC controls are placed far too low on the dash, the clock is well below eye level, and the cruise control is still in an awkward place behind the steering wheel (Why Toyota didn't put the cruise control on the steering wheel is beyond me). Despite overall poorly thought-out ergonomics, the xD does offer one huge improvement. Unlike the xA, where the instrument cluster was placed on the top of the center of the dash, (a horrible idea that thankfully few car manufactures have copied) the xD's cluster is conveniently placed behind the steering wheel. The not so conventional part, however, is that Toyota has turned an otherwise simple instrument cluster into a sectional unit with the middle section housing a tachometer and speedometer on the same dial. While this new gauge cluster isn't terribly hard to read while driving, it does take some time to get used to.

Quality: 2/10

Apparently Toyota is betting the farm that those who are on the market for an xD will favor its funky styling enough to forgive its shoddy interior materials. While I don't expect a car costing around $15,000 to have a Lexus inspired interior, I am completely disappointed with Toyota's blatant use of cheap interior materials. From the flimsy door plastics to the thin seat fabric, the xD's cabin is painfully reminiscent of something out of Kia's or Hyundai's parts bin from the 1990’s. Compared to the competition, the new xD's interior ranks about as low as you can get in this class, alongside the Chevy Aveo and Hyundai Accent. The Nissan Versa, the Honda Fit, and even the VW Rabbit all offer superior interior materials.

Amenities: 8/10

For a $15,000 car, the xD comes well equipped. Standard on all xD's comes AC (no interior pollen filter), a single disc 160 watt CD player by Pioneer with 6-speakers (set-up for iPod and MP3), power windows/locks/mirrors, rear wiper, tilt steering with audio controls on the steering wheel, enough cup holders for everyone ( a total of 5), dual front/side/curtain air bags, and a tire pressure monitoring system. For a complete list of standard amenities you can visit Scion.com. Note: audiophiles will need to upgrade the stock system. Though the base sound system offers good base, it sounds harsh above half volume: this definitely isn’t Pioneer’s best. Toyota conveniently offers a Pioneer premium upgrade for an additional $400.

Like the Scion xB and tC, Toyota offers a big list of optional custom features for customizing the xD. A smart move by Toyota, no doubt, since most consumers will opt for at least one or two of the 40 optional accessories for the xD. From the option of cup holder illumination to an array of alloy wheels, the xD can be had with almost anything to make your ride conform to your lifestyle.

Seats: 3/10

Though the seats in the xD offer plenty of cushioning (can't say the same about the Fit) they do have some major pitfalls. The cloth Toyota has used is uber-cheap, there is very little in the way of support, and the driver's seat offers only 4-way manual adjustments (no height adjustments). With this being the case, it's difficult to find a good driving position. The rear seats retain the same cheap seating surfaces, however they do provide 3-way head restraints; a nice touch for an economy wagon.

Room storage: 7/10

Despite looking like a small wagon on the outside, the xD is surprisingly roomy on the inside. At 5'6" I felt no shortage of leg, head, or elbowroom. I imagine most potential buyers up to 6'2 won't have too much of an issue with room offered in the front of the cabin. Rear room is also good, Toyota allows you to move the rear seats further back allowing for enough legroom for 6 footers, easily. Because of the linear roofline from front to rear, the rear of the xD offers just as much head room as the front. Storage room is also good. Inside there is plenty of small storage areas including dual glove boxes. For those who need tons of rear storage space, the xD is not your wagon. While the rear hatch area offers good storage space with the rear 60/40 split seats folded flat, you'll be lucky to fit 3 or 4 grocery bags in the back if you have a rear passenger.


Price/Warranty:

With a base MSRP of $15,170 the xD is competitively priced, however it's only about 500 dollars less than the bigger and better-equipped xB. There are also some tough competitors in this segment, i.e. the more fun-to-drive Honda Fit and Nissan Versa that start out at nearly $1,000 less when comparably equipped. With this being said, the Fit and the Versa are two cars that I do recommend test driving before making any final buying decisions. As for the warranty, if anything happens to your new xD, Toyota Motors backs the xD up with a 3 year/36,000 mile bumper-bumper warranty and a 5 year/60,000 mile power-train warranty.

Final Thoughts:

Although I do have my gripes with the new Scion xD, i.e. it is littered with horribly cheap interior plastics, has a huge C pillar rear blind spot, and not much storage space: this little wagon is very hard not to like. The xD offers surprisingly good fuel economy, good performance, has a roomy interior, and is styled funky without being cheesy. If you are on the market for a small wagon and don't necessarily need a ton of storage room, the Scion xD is recommended 100%.

Thanks for reading!